Darkness - Step out of the Light

Difficulties strengthen the mind, as labor does the body. - Seneca

Difficulties, struggles, darkness. 

The former two often emerge from darkness, from the unknown, from being in a vulnerable state, and from stepping out of the light into uncertainty. 

We generally hang ourselves up on the difficulties and struggles of life. The tough times, that deep down actually serve to strengthen us overall.

Stepping out of the light, what is working and what doesn’t need changing can also create a very uneasy feeling. Disrupting what is functioning to experience and grow in life can be unsettling. Vulnerability and doing it with purpose isn’t easy, it exposes you to possible failure - difficulties and struggles. The more we begin to understand how the darkness can not only lead to lessons learned but to some amazing places, the more often we’ll be willing to step out of the light into the darkness. 

We’re too old to be afraid of the dark, avoid difficult times, and fail at something - in parenting, relationships, work, health, and fitness. If you’re beyond childhood, you’re simply too old to be scared of the darkness. Hiding from the realness of life, masking life’s realities by avoiding what lies around us in the dark. Darkness is everywhere around us, doesn’t matter who you are there is always going to be darkness. Opening up your heart, allowing others in, allowing yourself to be seen for who you are - we all have growth opportunities and hide away from them or cower away from new experiences or turn ourselves from different ways of doing things.

We’re also all afraid of the dark in one way or another. Afraid to face our own inner demons. Afraid to support our spouses through their own darkness. Afraid to face the darkness in our relationships with our spouses, kids, family, friends. We’re afraid to take on something new, it’s dark and scary as we don’t know what is on the other end. We’re afraid, which is why we settle with routines, monotony, avoid really engaging in the struggles of the world around, or truly being a light for others.

How often we allow ourselves to head into the darkness will also determine how often we create safe avenues for others to go into theirs. Embracing darkness as a necessity in life and ultimately a positive to allow some learning and growth, this will allow it to be normalized in your life while spreading to others around. You might actually find yourself searching for the darkness around others and being a light for them to step into it and embrace it. 

I try to remind myself of this, trying to step outside the comfort zone of the light and live life stepping into the darkness. Not being fearful of what might come, but arming myself with the confidence and knowledge to be ok with what’s to come. I could be much better, we all could. It’s a constant struggle, often draining to live life always in the unknown, but worth the lessons and growth within it and often amazing accomplishments. 

Don’t be afraid of the dark, heed lessons from those who have walked into the same darkness and arm yourself as best as possible. At that point, take the step and find the light in the darkness.

DadBud