How to Choose Light When Life Gets Dark
2020 has surely been one difficult century. From the COVID-19 pandemic, to the nightmare election season, and countless deaths around the world including several prominent public figures in the Black Community; it’s safe to say that this year has been heavy.
Below I’m sharing 5 ways to choose Light when the life gets dark.
1. Allow Yourself Time to Grieve
We live in a generation where no one wants to express their feelings. We don’t want to “be in our feelings” so much that it’s driving us crazy! Living in sadness creates anxiety and bitterness. It’s time to face ourselves and our pain.
Allow yourself to sit in the moment of sorrow when you feel it, but only for a short period. Acknowledge your emotions and remember that true strength comes from the ability to face your trials and choose light in the mist of our pain.
2. Make a Choice to Move Forward
Staying in situations that don’t serve you doesn’t make you noble. You can’t control anyone’s actions but your own, so control yourself! Don’t let the enemy steal your joy. At some point, we must make an intentional choice to let things go and move forward.
Pain and trauma are no respecter of persons or economic status. We all have baggage, but when your grief moments come (and they will) don’t unpack those bags and live there.
3. Show Gratitude
Although this year has been difficult, it has been a wakeup call. Focus on the now! Life is short and our plans rarely reflect our original blueprint, but we’re here! This is the time to be thankful for what you have. Tell people you love them. Apologize for your misdeeds and grant yourself and others grace and forgiveness. Choose to vibrate higher!
4. Change Your Perspective
It’s amazing what a bit of positive thinking can do! Life gets dark and the world feels cold, but you can have the warmth of sunshine with your positive attitude! It’s easier to let your negative thoughts consume you, but when those nasty words fill your mind, take a deep breath and ask yourself “who told me that?” Don’t let your mind bully you! Fight back with a positive outlook on your situation.
5. Find Joy in the ordinary
Self-care isn’t just bubble baths and massages, it is the simple act of finding moments in your life that spark joy, and we need all the joy we can get, at all times!
Joy can be found in the smallest moments and places. Seek out that joy and amplify it! Celebrating joy in your ordinary life is a necessity!
It’s easy to consume yourself with darkness when it surrounds you. During these tough times, we must work harder to take care of our mental health. Get out of the house and feel the sunshine on your face, call your therapist, and put on that extravagant would-have-been-birthday dress and have a picnic in the backyard (as shown below). Whatever you need to do to return to your highest self, do that!