Recently, I began taking an online course from the DailyOM. It's called, "Heal Yourself with Writing," and in this week's particular lesson, we're discovering our dark side. It appears that it is in the darkest times that we are given the best lessons (good news for me at the moment). To me, bravery is all about facing our dark side; the darkness that life deals us just as we are minding our own business and humming along. One day, it deals us a card that we don't know how to play. What follows then, are my three favorite take-home messages from this week's lesson: "Standing in the Light, Facing the Dark." They are helping me to build a better hand.
First, Identify the Darkness.
It's first important to identify the darkness (says author Catherine Ann Jones), to understand the message it holds for us and then bring that message forward in a positive way. For me, it's easy to identify the biggest blow to my dark side as of late: Losing my job and my father's business. Fine! Says the author, but the even greater question is: "What does this event hold for you -- what is the universe trying to say?" My only interpretation is -- that's it's time to be enterprising; it's time to dig deep and discover what gifts life has bestowed on me -- and how I can utilize them for the greater good. Can you identify yourself and your life events in this question? I do hope that I'm not alone here.
Using Our Gifts and Talents Are the Most Important Thing to the Universe.
This is where the rubber hits the road. According to author Jones, we are most in the flow of life when we are working under the guise of our calling. I do believe this, but this is where the bravery comes in -- we have to trust that the universe will support us if we bring our gifts out into the light. What if we're not sure about our gifts? Is my question. And the answer is -- I assume -- to trust. In that sense, I feel like this world I'm creating; this blog, these interwebs, will be the proving ground for my purpose. Yet, I still feel like a school-child getting on the bus for the first time without her mother. It feels so unsafe. I feel so scared.
Personify the Darkness and Move It Into the Light.
You would think that being brave would involve slaying these dark demons. Not so, according to Jones. Instead, she asks us to personify our dark side and identify it. For me -- I have a cement garden angel that reminds me of my dark side. When I think of personifying it, that is what I think about -- an angel that wants to fly, but her wings are made of stone. Can you identify and personify your darkness? I like this quote: "The dance between darkness and light will always remain -- the stars and the moon will always need the darkness to be seen, the darkness will just not be worth having without the moon and the stars." -- C. JoyBell C.
The question then becomes: "What is the light that the darkness is illuminating?" I'm searching my soul for the answers, and I hope you will as well. It seems to me that true bravery is bringing forth that light of our soul's calling and making that available for all to see. If I keep working at it, perhaps my angel will be able to fly. And, as always if you're struggling, I hope the same for you.
Talk to Me:
Is there something dark in your life that is trying to emerge in a positive way? If so, what have your experiences been like? I’d love to know. If you’d care to share, please leave a comment below the post on the website. As always, thank you for reading and do consider sharing Body Talk with your friends.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Laura M. Turner, journalist, author and Certified Natural Health Practitioner is the creator of the Body Talk eZine: Nature's Anti-Aging Treasures Website. She invites you to join her "10 Years Younger" Campaign and to learn more about living younger, healing yourself and those you love with quality retail or wholesale Young Living essential oils and essential oil-based products. Visit today and begin a healthier tomorrow.
Some great thoughts, Laura. I love the idea of personifying your darkness. Somehow looking something square in the face - even our darker side - is empowering.
Posted by: Joy | May 21, 2016 at 07:15 AM
Hi Joy -- thank you for reading this. It is a very difficult exercise. But, you are right, it helps to face our fears/darkness and hopefully use them to create something positive. This course is helping me a lot. XO
Posted by: Laura | May 21, 2016 at 12:58 PM