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Leadership Lessons for Life: April Showers & May Flowers

When you hear, “April showers bring May flowers,” what do you think of?


If we did not have flowers in May to look forward to, what would you think about April? It seems a lot of people would be left feeling gloomy and blue. An old nursery rhyme comes to mind: “Rain, rain, go away. Come again some other day.” This brings up the image of rain interfering with how we want things to be, and what we want to do. It seems as a kid, the rain meant we couldn’t play outside like we would otherwise do.


Similarly, there is the song, “Don’t Rain on My Parade.” It has lyrics like, “Don't bring around a cloud to rain on my parade,” and “Nobody, no, nobody is gonna rain on my parade!” This use paints a picture of rain bringing down our mood and spoiling our fun. It is the idea that we can’t have a good time if rain is present.


Looking at the absence of rain we have a song like, “Blue Skies.” It has lyrics such as, “Never saw the sun shinin' so bright,” and “Never saw things lookin' so right.” We seem to loathe rainy days and instead wish to bask in the sun. We long for the light, for sunny days.


So, what is the lesson in “April showers bring May flowers?”


I think a key message is gratitude. When we invoke this saying, we invite gratitude for the rain because of the beautiful flowers they will bring. Instead of getting stuck on being gloomy because of the storm, we open ourselves up to happiness by finding the silver lining in the situation.


Another key point comes from a LinkedIn Learning course called Nano Tips for Finding Happiness Through Empathy with Shadé Zahrai. It shares that a bronze medalist is more likely to be happy than a silver medalist. The silver medalist often uses upward counterfactual thinking, such as, “I could have had gold.” This leads to less satisfaction and greater disappointment. By contrast, the bronze medalist is more likely to compare downwards, “I almost placed fourth and would not have received a medal.” This brings them more happiness through greater gratitude.


Another aspect of this is something I heard from Steve Harvey. He shared a small wording change to shift us into gratitude. The change is going from “have to” to “get to.” Instead of, “I have to go to work,” or “I have to lose weight,” instead try, “I get to go to work,” or “I get to lose weight.” This helps you find the gratitude in your situation and more joy


In the Netflix special, Brené Brown: The Call to Courage, we learn that gratitude is a common attitude of people that lean into joy. There is a fair bit in the special about gratitude and its benefits including happiness.


So as with the saying, “April showers bring May flowers,” look for the silver lining in your situation to maximize your happiness.


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Here is my Shield success framework and planning tool (and be sure to reach out to me if you want support filling it out):


Take Command and Unlock Your Potential

Five Steps to Transform Your Life to One You Love


Create a vision for your life you are passionate about that includes putting fun into your days and giving back to others.


2. #Why

Know the powerful reason or reasons you want to make your vision a reality. Be clear how the world and your life will be better.


Set goals at least monthly and pick one thing each week you most need to do right now.


4. Small #Wins

Begin each day taking action and build a circle of support around you as you embody your vision one step at a time.


Take steps daily to fuel your tank, treat yourself with love, and take care of yourself.


Remember:

Success is a journey, not a destination. Believe in yourself and begin living into your vision today.



(For steps 3 and 4, you can get supporting books through my affiliate links which may earn me a commission: https://amzn.to/3ZD4WNS andhttps://amzn.to/423KRlo)


If you’d like more support, please do reach out to me via email (info@CoachJohn.help) or phone (text or call 616-287-2340). I also offer a free consultation call via https://www.coachjohn.help/book-online. No matter what you decide, I’m here to help you Follow Your Heart, Live Your Best Life and Change the World. I’m rooting for you!


I hope that you find this content helpful with creating a life you love. I am helping warrior leaders take command of their personal and professional lives, to create a life they love including a legacy of service to others. Your dreams absolutely can come true.


The warrior in all of us is desperately searching for something heroic, transcendent, or self-sacrificing." cac.org



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