The Eye of the Hurricane

Staying Calm in the Storm

‘Karen and Jay share thoughts on how to stay calm, find peace and be effective while the winds of the storm swarms around you.’

There are times in our lives when everything seems to be out of control. Demands on our time. Events conspiring to reck havoc on our plans. Pressures on our relationships, our finances, and even our health. Often, all at the same time. It can seem so overwhelming.

It’s in these moments that we need to be able to take a deep breath – and develop a sense of calm. We need to think of ourselves as being in the eye of the storm. While the winds may swirl around us, we find a calm – and center ourselves in knowing that we can handle whatever may come. Whatever the troubles, we have the strength, the courage and most of all the confidence that we will prevail – one step at a time. Take a deep breath and take that first step.

There’s something powerful about finding that inner stillness while chaos rages around us. It’s not about pretending the problems don’t exist—it’s about choosing how we react to them. We all know people who seem to have that almost magical ability to stay grounded, even when life is throwing everything at them. And the truth is, that ability isn’t magic at all. It’s something all of us can practice and strengthen, little by little.

Think about someone like Nelson Mandela. Here was a man who spent 27 years in prison—nearly three decades of uncertainty, isolation, and immense personal loss. Yet he somehow managed to remain centered, calm, and filled with purpose. Mandela often described focusing on small routines, quiet reflection, and a deep belief in the future. In the middle of what could have been despair, he stayed in that “eye of the hurricane,” holding onto dignity and clarity. And when he finally walked free, he carried that same calm strength into healing an entire country.

Or consider Bethany Hamilton, the professional surfer who lost her arm in a shark attack at just thirteen. The event could have ended her career, her dreams, or even her sense of self. But instead, she found an inner steadiness that allowed her to get back on her board just weeks later. She didn’t deny the fear or the challenges—she simply refused to let the storm pull her under. By focusing on what she could do rather than what she had lost, she found her center again and went on to become a world-class athlete.

Examples like these remind us that calmness isn’t the absence of storms—it’s the ability to meet them with a quiet, steady heart. We may not face the same dramatic circumstances, but the principle is the same whether we’re dealing with a stressful job, family pressures, or unexpected setbacks. When we choose calmness, we give ourselves the clarity to make better decisions and the strength to move forward without being swept away by fear or frustration.

So, the next time life feels like it’s spinning out of control, remember that you have an “eye of the hurricane” inside you, too. Take that breath. Slow things down just enough to find your footing. Remind yourself that you’ve handled tough moments before, and you’ll handle this one as well. Step by step, moment by moment, you’ll find your way through—and maybe even discover a stronger, steadier version of yourself in the process.

Breathe First, Fix Later

Simple Physical Techniques to Stay Calm When Everything Feels Chaotic

Staying calm in the middle of chaos isn’t just a mindset—it’s a skill, and surprisingly, part of that skill is physical. When life feels like a storm swirling around you, the very first thing to do is pause and breathe. It sounds too simple to work, but the science is solid: slow, deep breathing activates your parasympathetic nervous system and literally tells your body, “Hey, we’re safe. Let’s settle down.” Try inhaling for four seconds, holding for two, and exhaling for six. Do that a few times, and you’ll almost feel like someone dimmed the intensity of the moment.

Another powerful trick is grounding yourself in your body. When emotion starts taking over, do something physical: plant your feet firmly on the floor, stretch your hands, relax your shoulders, unclench your jaw. These tiny actions send signals to your brain that the danger isn’t real—even if the stress feels huge. Some people walk outside for two minutes. Others splash cold water on their face. Some use the “5-4-3-2-1” sensory technique. The trick is to interrupt the spiral before it pulls you under.

The truth is, staying calm when everything is falling apart is hard. Nobody does it by accident. But with a few physical tools in your pocket—breathing, grounding, small body resets—you create a mini “eye of the hurricane” that travels with you. From that place of calm, you can think clearly again, and once you can think clearly, you can act. And once you can act, you can move forward—one small, steady step at a time.

“The Kid Who Tackled the Storm One Step at a Time

An Inspirational Story of a Young Person Who Didn’t Let Chaos Win

Meet Maya—fifteen years old, juggling school, sports, family responsibilities, and more emotional curveballs than most adults deal with. Her parents were going through a tough separation, her grades were slipping, and she had a big regional soccer tournament coming up. To top it off, her best friend moved away that same month. It was like every wind in the storm decided to pick up at once.

At first, she did what most of us would do—she panicked. She felt overwhelmed. She cried. She tried to fix everything at once and got nowhere. But one evening, after a rough day, her coach shared a simple idea: “Storms feel impossible until you break them down. Tackle the next small thing—just the next one.” So she tried it.

She made a tiny plan. First step: organize her homework for the next day. Not the whole week—just tomorrow. Then she texted her teacher asking for clarity on two assignments. Then she apologized to a teammate she'd snapped at. Little by little, she reclaimed a sense of control.

Within weeks, things felt different—not because the problems magically disappeared, but because she’d learned to face them one manageable step at a time. Her grades improved. Her home life felt steadier. She played the best soccer of her season. But the real victory? She discovered she could stay calm even when the winds were swirling. And that lesson, she says now at nineteen, was the most important one she ever learned.

Climbing Out of the Financial Avalanche

How One Person Survived Enormous Pressure—Slowly, Patiently, and Successfully

I suspect you may resonate with this story which illustrates the power of ‘one step at a time.’ There was a man named Carlos who found himself buried under an avalanche of financial stress. A job loss hit him at the worst possible moment—right when medical bills came in for his daughter and his savings were already stretched thin. He had mortgage payments looming, credit cards maxed out, and no immediate prospects. It felt like a mountain collapsing on him.

At first, panic was his constant companion. He couldn’t sleep, couldn’t think straight, and felt trapped. But one morning, after yet another sleepless night, he realized he had to approach it differently. The storm wasn’t going away on its own—but maybe he could find a way to stay steady inside it.

So, he made a simple rule: handle the next right thing. He called his bank and worked out temporary payment adjustments. He picked up a part-time job delivering groceries. He met with a nonprofit financial counselor who helped him prioritize debts. He sold a few things he didn’t absolutely need. He updated his résumé and sent out three applications a day, no exceptions.

It wasn’t glamorous. It wasn’t instant. It took almost two years of small, steady steps. But slowly, the avalanche loosened. He found stable work. He paid down his debts. His credit recovered. Even more importantly, he discovered a sense of personal strength he didn’t know he had. Today, he tells people, “I didn’t just survive the storm—I learned how to stand in the middle of it without losing myself.”

Rebuilding the Hive: The St. Benedict’s Miracle

How One School on the Brink of Collapse Turned Everything Around

St. Benedict’s Prep School in Newark, NJ, has one of the most remarkable comeback stories you’ll ever hear. In the 1970s, the school was on the verge of shutting down completely. Enrollment was dropping, resources were disappearing, and the city around it was struggling. The buildings were worn. The spirit was low. It looked like the end.

Then came an extraordinary leader: Father Edwin Leahy, O.S.B. He didn’t show up with a magic wand. He showed up with grit, vision, and a relentless belief in the potential of young people. Instead of trying to fix everything at once—which would have been impossible—he tackled one issue at a time. First, he rebuilt the community. Then he rebuilt the culture. Then the academics. Then the programs.

And the results have been amazing – nearly 100 percent graduation rate – in the inner city! With 85 percent of graduates going on to college! Miraculous.

He empowered students, made them leaders, and trusted them with real responsibility. He created a brotherhood, a unity, a shared resilience that became the heartbeat of the school. Slowly, the storm that had threatened to destroy St. Benedict’s started to calm. Enrollment grew. Programs expanded. The school became a national model for urban education—and a symbol of what happens when someone leads with purpose, courage, and unwavering steadiness.

Today, St. Benedict’s Prep stands as living proof that even when the winds are at their worst, calm leadership and step-by-step progress can create a miracle. The school didn’t just survive. It thrived.

Profile of the Week: Captain Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger

A Masterclass in Calm Leadership When Everything Goes Wrong

This week we are delighted to highlight a truly inspirational role model – exemplifying the power of ‘staying calm in the storm- - Captain Chesley ‘Sully’ Sullenberger.’

There are leaders who inspire from the podium—and then there are leaders whose greatness is revealed in a single, defining moment. Captain Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger is one of the latter. On January 15, 2009, when US Airways Flight 1549 struck a flock of geese and lost both engines, the situation was nothing short of catastrophic. Yet in those terrifying seconds, Sully remained steady, calm, and astonishingly clear-thinking. His leadership in the cockpit allowed him to land the disabled plane on the Hudson River, saving every one of the 155 people aboard.

What’s remarkable, though, is that Sully’s calm under pressure didn’t come from luck or impulse—he spent decades preparing for difficult moments. As an Air Force fighter pilot, he studied safety, teamwork, and crisis management intensely. Throughout his career, he was known for his patient, disciplined style. Colleagues said he approached every flight with the same thoughtful presence—never rushed, never rattled. It was this lifelong habit of composure that made it possible for him to make brilliant decisions in the blink of an eye when the emergency struck.

But Sully’s story didn’t end with the “Miracle on the Hudson.” In the months that followed, he faced enormous scrutiny, endless investigations, and emotional strain. Rather than crumble under the weight of it all, he handled each challenge the same way he handled the crisis itself—one issue at a time, with honesty, humility, and quiet strength. He became an advocate for aviation safety, using his experience to help improve systems and training across the industry. In his own words, “We all have our own Hudsons”—our own moments where we must summon courage and clarity.

What makes Sully such a valuable example for all of us is that he demonstrates that calm leadership is both powerful and learnable. He wasn’t born with some superhuman ability—he built it through practice, preparation, and character. His story reminds us that steadiness isn’t about denying fear; it’s about not letting fear dictate your actions. When we face our own “engines-out” moments—financial struggles, family pressures, health scares, or work crises—we can follow Sully’s example: breathe, steady ourselves, assess clearly, and act.

At the heart of Sully’s story is a hopeful message: you don’t have to control the storm to overcome it. You just have to control yourself. His calmness saved lives, but his attitude continues to inspire thousands more. And if he were here giving advice, he’d probably say that we’re all capable of that same quiet strength. With preparation, awareness, and a commitment to stay centered, we can meet our toughest moments with the same steady confidence—and maybe, just maybe, create our own small miracles along the way.

Quote of the Week: Staying Calm in the Storm

“If you are distressed by anything external, the pain is not due to the thing itself, but to your estimate of it; and this you have the power to revoke at any moment.”

— Marcus Aurelius, “Meditations,” Book 8