The Gift of Darkness Will Bring the Light
During winter, everything is colder, wetter and darker. Especially during the pandemic, things have been hard on many of us. You are not alone if you’ve been experiencing depression, loneliness or fear.
These type of emotions can feel extremely uncomfortable. So uncomfortable that we would rather avoid them or push them away than face them.
In my work with my clients, we move towards the fear, shame, guilt and all of the “not enough” stories that we make up about ourselves. It can look something like: I’m not a good enough artist, I’m not smart enough, I’m not lovable enough.
Many times, my clients make themselves wrong for even having these thoughts and feelings. They worry something must be wrong with them from even thinking or feeling this way.
Do you have that experience too?
Sometimes called double arrowing– we compound our pain with shame. This shame about our pain can be harder than the original pain itself.
I know it’s easier to intellectualize this than really integrate and embody this but please try take this in:
There is nothing wrong with the pain, the shame or anything you are dealing with.
We truly don’t have to fear the darkness.
EVERYTHING we are confronted by is intended to teach us something.
When “fail” or when we don’t get our expectations met, instead of judging people or judging ourselves, we get to face the pain and grow from it.
Whatever we are dealing with is pointing to where we get to grow.
Today, the winter solstice, is the longest night of the year. The word solstice is derived from the Latin sol (“sun”) and sistere (“to stand still”), because at the solstices, the Sun’s declination appears to “stand still.”
Now is the perfect time to pause and stand still. This winter, this pandemic, is the best time to go within and explore whatever is there. For me, instead of wallowing in my loneliness, I have taken on deeper reflection and self-awareness than ever before. I am more aligned and happier than ever.
When we move toward the darkness, and be with what is, the light eventually emerges. We don’t have to force it or will it. Eventually the days will get longer, the sun will get brighter and our hearts will grow warmer.
Photo by parinay clickers on Unsplash
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