Quote 45: Calm or Storm? "There are some things you learn best in calm, and some in storm." — Willa Cather
- Dr. ARUN V J
- Sep 21
- 3 min read
Who Was Willa Cather?
Willa Cather (1873–1947) was a Pulitzer Prize–winning American author known for her novels about life on the Great Plains. She grew up in a time when people battled harsh weather, isolation, and uncertainty—yet she found beauty and lessons in both peace and chaos.
Her quote isn’t just poetic. It’s deeply human. She had seen life’s storms firsthand: economic downturns, wars, the Dust Bowl era. And she understood something most of us forget—learning doesn’t only happen in classrooms. It happens in the quiet of reflection and in the chaos of survival.
Why We Wait for the “Perfect” Time to Learn
Psychologists call it the comfort trap. We tell ourselves:
“I’ll start studying when I’m less busy.”
“I’ll practice when I have the right tools.”
“I’ll take risks when things feel stable.”
Schools and colleges train us to think learning requires the right setting: a clean desk, a syllabus, a guide, and exams to measure progress.
But step into the real world—nothing looks like that. There’s no fixed syllabus. No bell that tells you to focus. And storms? They’re inevitable.
Calm Learning vs. Storm Learning
Calm Learning
Happens when your environment is supportive.
Reading books, listening to mentors, following structured steps.
Builds foundation, patience, and clarity.
Storm Learning
Happens in uncertainty and chaos.
You learn by doing, failing, improvising.
Builds resilience, creativity, and courage.
👉 Both are essential. If calm builds the ship, the storm teaches you how to sail it.
Famous Storm-Braver: Thomas Edison
Think about Thomas Edison. He didn’t invent the light bulb in a peaceful classroom. He faced thousands of failed experiments, ridicule, and financial setbacks.
When asked about his failures, Edison famously said:
“I have not failed. I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work.”
The storm of failure wasn’t his enemy—it was his training ground. Every misstep carved out the resilience he needed to create one of the greatest inventions in history.
🌪️ Nelson Mandela – Learning Through Prison Storms
Mandela spent 27 years in prison during apartheid in South Africa. That storm tested his patience, broke his body, and challenged his spirit. But in that storm, he learned forgiveness, resilience, and strategy. Without those years, he might never have led his nation with such calm strength after release.
👉 Lesson: Storms can train you for leadership in ways calm never will.
Why You Need Storms in Your Life
Storms reveal hidden strengths. You don’t know how resourceful you are until you’re forced to act.
Storms toughen your mindset. A little chaos rewires your brain for adaptability.
Storms give meaning to calm. After weathering turbulence, calm feels earned—not given.
Think of your own life. The toughest moments—loss, rejection, pressure—probably taught you lessons no classroom ever could.
Don’t Be the Ship That Never Leaves the Dock
A ship looks safest when it’s tied to the dock. But ships weren’t built to sit still. Neither were you.
If you wait for the perfect calm, you’ll never set sail. The storms will come whether you like it or not. But here’s the truth:
Each storm teaches you something new.
Each storm makes the next one less terrifying.
Each storm builds the courage you’ll need for bigger oceans.
Action Steps: How to Learn in Both Calm and Storm
Use calm wisely. Read, plan, and prepare. Don’t waste peaceful times scrolling endlessly.
Step into storms. Take on projects that scare you. Say yes before you’re ready.
Reflect afterward. Write down what the storm taught you. Storms become wisdom only when processed.
Seek balance. Too much calm makes you passive. Too much storm makes you burnt out. Alternate between both.
Final Thought
Willa Cather’s wisdom is timeless: calm gives you clarity, but storms give you courage. If you only chase calm, you’ll stay at the dock. If you only live in storms, you’ll sink. The magic is in embracing both.
So the next time chaos hits your life, remember: it’s not punishment. It’s preparation. 🌊
💡 Your Turn: What was the biggest “storm” that taught you something you couldn’t have learned in calm? Share it—I’d love to hear your story.
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