TRANSFORMATION

 

"Existence will rush to fill us and overwhelm us 

if we don't meet the outer world 

with an inner life." ~MarkNepo

It is the proverbial making lemonade from lemons. We all experience difficult times personally and collectively but how we prevail... how we write the story into the fabric of our own life is where transformation occurs. 

This reflection is more of a challenge for me to write. Am I able to write about isolation and fragmentation and loneliness? Am I ready to write about the darkness that fills me before the light reaches through? Is it the 'right' voice?

It is a voice that I've often avoided to remain positive and hopeful, yet this deeper darker voice exists within all of us... especially now. For me, this is the voice I start with and move through to get to a more palatable "other side". Can I do it justice? 

Most often when I write I focus on where I end up, not where I start! Once I've traveled my own road of transformation, I encourage people to be hopeful and connect to the Light within them and others. But what if that's not possible? What if what's present is darkness? How do we allow space for that? 

This is where I've learned to PAUSE... when I'm in the depths of the emotions; the anger, the frustration, the irritation... whatever is present. I allow the emotion to course through me.  I may go for a walk or do YOGA - something physical; even journaling allows for movement of thoughts within me. I BREATHE into it for the darkness has a message for us too. It tells us something is not right and then becomes the very foundation that transformation is built. 

At times it is a moment when we need to take a short break away from what's confronting us. Recently, it may have been a season... a longer period of time when these dark emotions are unshakeable. This is when distraction may initially be helpful but ultimately befriending what is happening within us will serve us over time. I seek to understand what the underlying issue is that the emotion is trying to reveal. Then I can work to heal it; to connect with something that will fill my cup or ENGAGE in a discipline that will develop a stronger interior such as meditation.

As we enter into winter and shorter days, darkness [loneliness] becomes a very tangible reality.  For many, this comes on top of the challenges the pandemic presents plus any and all work/family struggles we may be experiencing. I invite you to become soft and open into this time.  Be gentle with others.  Be gentle with yourself! 

Like the seed before spring, allow the darkness to nourish you - to give you permission to do less - rest. 

RESOURCE: https://www.glcymca.org/connect-week or https://youtu.be/hkr0seQwsdM