Sometimes it feels as if we’re never going to see the end of a stormy period in our lives and the frustration, anxiety and loss can feel overwhelming but suddenly the sun will come out from behind the clouds; the situation will ease; something will change in our reaction and life will feel brighter and the burdens and worries will feel lighter.
Life doesn’t always go according to plan. We set goals, make lists, and imagine how things will unfold only to be met with challenges, setbacks, and the unexpected storms that blow in without warning. It’s in those moments that we often hear the phrase: “Life isn’t about waiting for the storm to pass, it’s about learning to dance in the rain.” But what does that really mean? And how can we actually live it out in our daily lives?
At its heart, learning to dance in the rain is about resilience. It’s about choosing how we respond to situations that we can’t control. We can’t stop the rain from falling, but we can decide whether we’ll hide under an umbrella until it passes—or step out into it and find joy anyway.
Think about the last time you faced a difficult situation. Maybe it was a professional setback, a health challenge, or a personal disappointment. The instinct is often to withdraw, to wait for “better times” before we allow ourselves to feel happy again. Yet life doesn’t pause until everything is perfect. If we spend all our energy waiting for the sunshine, we miss out on the beauty of what’s happening right now, even if it comes wrapped in grey skies.
Dancing in the rain doesn’t mean ignoring your struggles or pretending that pain doesn’t exist. It means making space for joy and gratitude in spite of them. It’s choosing to laugh when plans unravel, to sing along to your favourite song when the commute feels endless, or to take a walk outside even when the drizzle threatens to soak your shoes. These small acts of defiance against gloom help us reclaim our power and remind us that circumstances don’t define our spirit.
Children are experts at this. Hand a child a pair of wellies and watch what happens when puddles appear - they don’t hesitate. They leap, they splash, they giggle with delight. Somewhere along the way, as adults, we start believing that puddles are problems to be avoided rather than opportunities to play. Maybe learning to dance in the rain is really about reconnecting with that childlike spirit: seeing possibilities instead of obstacles.
Of course, it takes practice. Like any dance, resilience is learned step by step. It begins with awareness, catching ourselves when we fall into negativity and gently shifting our focus toward gratitude. It grows stronger when we surround ourselves with supportive people who lift us up instead of pulling us down. And it deepens when we allow ourselves to let go of perfection and embrace life’s messiness.
So the next time a storm comes your way, don’t just wait for it to end. Step into it. Feel the rain on your skin. Smile at the absurdity of it all. And maybe; just maybe; let yourself dance. Because joy doesn’t have to wait for sunshine. Sometimes the most powerful moments of growth happen in the middle of the storm.