"When life gives you lemons, make lemonade."
It’s one of those phrases we’ve all heard—probably too often and may feel overly positive (if you are going to be cynic - but more about that later).
Hopefully you'll agree with the sentiment that, "Things rarely go 100% to plan."
And today - when I wrote this post? It rained - as classes resumed and I'd hoped we'd have a good run of having our classes on the deck, in the open air, a fresh breeze, surrounded by nature and some sun.
Despite it being June in the UK with the cricket season is well under way, the skies opened again.
"Why not move the houseplants outside?"
Because while this wasn’t the weather I wanted, it was the water they needed. In our blogs I often share the importance of spending time outside in the fresh air, being in the elements. Whilst not having the science to back it up - surely if it's not too cold the plants should benefit from the rain water.
I obviously can't change the weather—I changed how I used it.
What “Making Lemonade” Really Means To Me
Firstly, to be clear: “Make lemonade” doesn’t mean pretending everything is fine. It doesn’t mean bypassing real emotions of frustration, sadness, or discomfort that we will all experience in our daily lives.
For me, I understand it as:
- Noticing what’s happening
- Accepting that it’s not what you planned
- Asking what you can still make from it
To put it in another way; reframing the “why me?" into a “what now?”.
Reframing
In the context of wellbeing (something that I my understanding is constantly evolving), there is the concept of reframing— a conscious decision to view things from a different perspective.
It’s not just positive thinking. It’s intentional thinking.
You don’t have to like the lemons.
But you can choose what you do with them.
That rain has stopped my having my classes outside; but at least it's watering my plants.
Making Lemonade as a Life Tonic
Here are three small ways to use this mindset in real-time:
Notice the Unexpected Good
- Rained-off plans = extra time indoors
- Cancelled meeting = chance to breathe
- Delayed train = moment to journal or listen to a podcast
Use What’s Already There
- Don’t wait for perfect conditions. Use the rain.
- Literally or metaphorically.
- Sometimes what feels inconvenient… is actually useful in disguise.
Shift from “Why me?” to “What now?”
- We all have moments where things don’t go to plan.
- The reframe isn’t about denying the frustration—it’s about what comes next.
- What can you do with what you’ve got?
A My Life Tonic in Disguise
This moment was small: just houseplants in the rain. But it was also a wellbeing practice.
It was a moment of mindfulness, of adaptability, of gentle problem-solving.
And that’s exactly what the
My Life Tonic Wellbeing Scorecard helps uncover - The tiny tweaks that create everyday resilience.
Having put a positive spin on the rain - I'm now worried that the plants will be overwatered! The joys of a UK summer.
