April Showers

Chatting about the weather is a well-worn British pastime.

Right now, it’s rain we’re talking about :(

Chatting about the weather is a well-worn British pastime.  And, true to name, April this year – so far – is full of seemingly never-ending showers.  Heavy downpours, and strong winds have left many of us longing for the lift that a bit of warm sunny weather provides.  I’m getting somewhat fed up with the dampness and itchy about my garden - usually an important way I practice self-care and decompression.  It’s too cold and wet for doing much in the garden at the moment - so I am left to look out the window and wait.  Summer still seems a long way off!  Of course, Preston has previously been named by the MET Office as England’s wettest city. With around 103.36cm of rain on average per year, and 42% of days in an average year being rainy, Preston folk are no strangers to damp days. Yet, I still find myself longing for some blue skies.  

Trusting that April showers give way to May flowers

I recently learnt that April showers are related to the jet stream.  At this time of year in the UK, we’re in a transition period between the long, cold Winter months, and the warmer Spring and Summer. The jet stream starts to move northwards, which can bring the first signs of warmth, but also tends to make our weather more unsettled due to low pressure systems being driven towards the UK, and so we get rain, showers and strong wind.  In time, these rain showers will – hopefully – give way to warmer and drier days in May, with signs of an emerging Summer.  I’m reminded of the old motto: “April showers bring forth May flowers”.  When I feel cheesed off with the rain, I try to remember how difficult we’d find it if we had endless sunny days – the rain helps nature to blossom and bloom. 

Living under a cloud

And so, as I stare out of the window at the rain showers, I’ve been reflecting on other situations in life that are momentarily unpleasant – but which bring positive results eventually. Times of challenge and difficulty which can lead towards growth and development.  There’s many scenarios in life where we might see glimpses of change or progress but have to wait for a more complete sense of satisfaction, trusting that things will work out in the end.  Many people seek out counselling because they have a sense that things can improve – that there can be a brighter future.  They have a sense that there is life in them that can blossom.  Yet, in the process of finding that, and doing the sometimes very hard work of therapy, they also come face to face with the “rainy days” of self-development.  When I think about my own life – including my own experience of burnout, hindsight lets me know there was a brighter future on the way.  Yet, at the time, it felt like a huge dark cloud. 

Living under a dark cloud is tough.

After rain, we hope for brighter days.

Reflecting on your own rainy seasons

I’d like to invite you to take a moment to reflect upon the rainy seasons of your own life.  What leads you to feel emotionally soggy, cold, and damp?  Perhaps you’re facing one of the following challenging circumstances that make life difficult?

·       Work related challenges?

·       Relationship breakdown?

·       Anxiety about future security?

·       Dealing with grief and loss?

·       Physical pain?

·       Loneliness?

·       Life transitions?

·       Doubting yourself?

·       Low self-esteem?

Just like the April weather, we too can feel unsettled inside.  Physically and psychologically, we can feel battered by pressure.  If you’re in the eye of storm, just now, my hope is that you have support.  Someone to hold an umbrella for you, or a place to take refuge.  And, that you can then begin to be curious about what “summer” might look like for you in this situation, and how you might feel when the drizzle subsides.  Is it possible to hold any sense of hope that things could change, and that this current struggle will eventually lead to growth?  Can you envisage there ever being a rainbow in your life – a sign that the sun has begun to shine, even when there’s rain?  Is it possible to hold onto a belief that you may be able to “sing in the rain”.  And, if not –who or what helps you to weather the clouds? 

Can you envisage there ever being a rainbow in your life?

A sign that the sun has begun to shine, even when there’s rain?

How counselling helps you see a brighter future

These types of questions are part of what I offer the people I work with in my role as a Preston-based counsellor.  Metaphor and imagery are an important part of how I work as a therapist.  An image or a symbol can help to explore and make meaning of painful experiences and emotions. Deep down, I believe that people have creativity, wisdom, and inner strength.  My job is to help a person find hope that sunnier days are coming – or at least that they can develop self-compassion when there is nothing but grey clouds in their life.   

And so, whatever the weather – if you are thinking of considering counselling as a form of support for you, then I welcome you getting in touch.  You may well have questions about what therapy involves.  I’d be glad to chat these through with you and help you to have a clearer sense of how we might work together. 

 And, in the meantime, don’t forget your brolly!