Hey,
There's something I need to tell you.
Today is a shitty day.
Maybe you don't feel like getting dressed,
Pulling it together,
Or getting out of bed at all.
Today the darkness calls louder than the light.
That ominous space between where you are and where you think you should be feels widened.
It's almost as if many rivers and valleys have come,
Flooding the space between you and your happiness.
Today the feeling of sunshine on your face feels out of reach.
Instead you wrestle with the darkness.
Today maybe the shadows are winning.
Maybe you wonder today how long this doddle will last.
Maybe you're wondering why you continue to fight this fight at all.
But today I want you to realize that you are not as far in the depths as you were the last time that you were here in the darkness.
And if you look down,
Way down,
You'll see that you have only slipped halfway down the rocks.
Today when you look into the darkness,
I want you to know just how far you've come.
And if you squint your eyes,
Really focusing,
You can even see the familiar light.
The promise that your happiness is once again just on the horizon.
Maybe you'll see that if you start climbing tonight,
You'll make it home by tomorrow.
I want you to close your eyes and for a moment just forget where you are.
Take a deep breath in,
Filling all of the space in your lungs,
Your stomach,
And your heart.
With each breath out,
Allow yourself to give a sigh of relief.
I know that your legs are tired,
The light is dim,
And your heart is heavy.
But with each breath in,
I want you to imagine taking one step forward towards the light.
And imagine with each breath,
You're walking forward and with each breath out,
You're letting go of the space and the darkness behind you.
Even the shadows lend a sigh of relief when you start walking.
Of course,
Along the way of this journey,
You must climb amongst fear,
Doubt,
And fear.
Doubt,
Worry,
And sadness.
But as you walk forward,
Pause for a moment to acknowledge these familiar faces.
Instead of turning your back or hiding in the shadows,
Stop right where you are and stand face to face with each feeling.
On your next breath in,
Acknowledge your fear and your worry.
Fear it in the eyes and on your next breath out,
Give thanks for this emotion.
And on your next breath in,
Acknowledge your doubt,
Your sadness,
And on your next breath out,
Extend your hand to these emotions and let them know that they're welcome to join you on this journey.
Today I want you to practice only love and kindness towards these feelings and towards yourself.
Give thanks for the darkness today,
For tomorrow when the sun hits you in the face early in the morning,
Rising on the horizon,
You will be transformed.
You will understand that the light needs the darkness in order to feel awake and alive.
With every step forward and every breath in,
Continue to give thanks.
Remember today that you are human and know that vulnerability,
Fear,
And sadness are actually the feelings that make us whole.
Today accept that our darkness cannot be cured or fixed or removed.
Know that this darkness must only be used as a pause to breathe,
Transform,
To expand your heart,
And use it as a moment to understand fully the ultimate greatness of the light.
I want you to place your hand over your heart and take a moment to give yourself credit for how amazing it is that you can witness such depths and still find your way home.
When you're ready,
Wiggle your toes and your fingers.
Take one last cleansing breath in,
Filling your lungs,
Your stomach,
And your heart.
When you're ready,
You can open your eyes.
And know that today you have accomplished so much more than you'll ever know.
