In order to see the light, we must also face the darkness. For me, in order to find my spirit and help it to grow; meant looking inside the darkness. The darkness, where the pain and fears live. Things I had to confront and deal with. This can be the hardest part as no one likes to look within themselves and relive all the pain and face all their fears nor do they want to look at their negative side and faults. This is not something you do over night. It's an on-going process but one that will help you grow as a person and nourish your spirit. 
 

The "climbing the mountain" exercise helps but I also found I had to deal with my fears, pain, and things about myself that I didn't like. You can't become a better person unless you know what things you want to change and enhance. But in facing the darkness you bring into the light, strength, courage, and a feeling of being free because you are now free of the chains that held you in the dark. We also have to realize that darkness is not bad because you cannot appreciate the light unless you have been in the dark. It's the same as you can't appreciate the good things in life unless you have experienced the bad. 

Darkness also teaches us. When I looked in the dark, I not only faced my fears and pain but I also learned to look around and look for beauty in everything. As I did, the darkness would diminish. I could learn to look for the good in people. Instead of concentrating on what I didn't like about somebody, I learned to look for the goodness in them. I learned to look for the good in the bad. Sometimes it was hard to find it but I knew it was there. Instead of taking a bad situation and dwell on it and feel self-pity; I learned to look at it and see what it taught me. It may have taught me to be stronger or it may have taught me to be humble; but there was always something to learn that would help me. 

There are times in our lives that we feel completely submerged in the dark and feel there is no way out. We ask "why?" We blame others and we blame God. I start to realize that at these times, I always blamed God for  anything bad and all my misfortunes, but I don't think I ever thanked him for the good things. Oh sure, I would say my prayers at church, say the blessing at dinner, but these were automatic and I don't even think I stopped to think what I was saying. But did I think to thank him/her each day for the good things that happened no matter how small they might have seemed? 

I had to step back and look at things objectively to find the light. You may want to try this and see if it works for you. At the end of the day I would sit outside with my cup of coffee (weather permitting, if not, then just gaze out the window). I would just look around me and listen to the sounds. I live in a rural area so I would hear the crickets, night owls, and the geese that live down the road. For those that live in a city or suburban area, this still works. Just look at the sky and listen to the sounds. I would reflect on how my day was and think about what I could have done to make it better for me or even for someone else. Maybe someone at work or an acquaintance could have used a smile or a call. Then I think about each good thing and I remember to give thanks for each thing. I am thankful for a healthy family, for my job, for the food I ate, the home I have, the friends I have, etc. If a stranger or someone I know said a kind word, I am thankful for that also. Each time I am thankful, I am brought closer and closer to the light. 

I also take a few minutes in the morning before going to work to watch the birds eat from the feeders. I look around at all the things surrounding me; the trees, birds, grass, sun, etc. This to me is God's greatest masterpiece for each thing is beautiful and is part of the web of life. We are connected in some way. Even in the winter months, when everything seems to be dead, I can look at the trees and remember their magnificent colors and how beautiful they will be again. I think of the winter as the darkness and things are dormant and look ugly (unless covered by snow) but then they spring forth in magnificent glory in the spring and come to life once again even stronger and more beautiful than before. I call my dark times my winter but when I come out, I will be stronger than before and hopefully my spirit will be more beautiful than before. 
 

I've been through many dark times in my life, but each one has made me stronger and I know I never walk them alone. I always have an Angel to help me and I know when the burden seems to heavy, I only have to give it to God, and he/she will carry it for me. 

Now that you have learned how I have dealt with the dark times (and I hope you have learned also), let's go on to the light times. 

Next