Imagine a solo day at the beach. The sun is shining, you’re relaxing in a chair with warm sand between your toes, and you get to read that book you’ve been aching to get your hands on for months. Pure bliss is yours and you are loving every minute of it.

Now imagine opening your eyes to see a hurricane hurling itself at you. While you may not be expecting it, you will definitely react to it. Life gets hard, sometimes without warning, like a hurricane. But you don’t need to be unprepared.

Here are some ways to prepare for the hurricanes of life while you are still laying on a warm beach.

Find your family

The adage “it takes a village to raise a child” should have a sister that says, “it takes a village to raise a leader.” People need people. People need communication. People need love and support, no matter what phase of life they may be in. Many find their village in the family they were born into with mother, father, brothers, and sisters, or a combination of extended biological family. Those relationships and connections with those you have a biological connection to can be extremely beneficial!

But what if this isn’t you? Find your own village. Make your own family. Surround yourself with positive people who will pick you up and dust you off when life throws a right hook. Seek out mentors who are living the life you wish to have someday and learn at their feet. Be brave enough to follow their lead.

Find your faith

Faith can be found anywhere. Whatever your beliefs, values, or creeds, finding faith in something beyond yourself can be empowering, motivating, and comforting in the middle of a storm. Being able to seek help from outside sources instills confidence and courage in difficult situations.

Seek out resources that build this resilience within you. Find amazing books from people who have been where you are and succeeded in moving forward. Many amazing motivational speakers and industry professionals have podcasts in which they share their stories and help others to achieve success in many aspects of life. Fill your life with light, values, and truth.

Try meditating for 15 minutes every day to connect with yourself and your faith. Don’t be afraid to sit in silence, to let your mind ponder what you are learning, and what it means to you.

Find your focus

What is your ultimate why? What is it that motivates you to get out of bed every morning and keep moving? This might take some thinking and soul searching, but it is imperative to find and build that focus when life is a day at the beach.

When the hurricane hits, the time for building a foundation is over. The storm is going to be loud and distracting, and it will probably hurt. By having your focus ingrained into your being, you can ignore the distractions and move toward your goals.

It may take time to find this focus. Do the work to decide what will move you forward and what is holding you back from reaching your potential. Sometimes these seasons of change are a great opportunity to rethink your lifestyle, habits and routines, and lead to a stronger version of yourself in the long run.

Unfortunately, the storms of life are inevitable, even for people who are doing everything right. Prepare for the storm while you are still relaxing on the beach. Find your family, faith, and focus, and you will be just fine.

What gets you through tough times? Share with us in the comments below!