Shining Star

There are times in your life when you retreat to a dark place that no one knows about. It is the place you go to when what you are facing is too difficult or too painful to face in the light. There is nothing wrong with going to this place on rare occasion, as I believe that we all retreat to a place of darkness sometimes. The problem begins when you stay in that place and take up residence there.

Be cautious in the darkness. You will take missteps, run into things, fall, lose your bearings, become frustrated, and you may even sink deeper into the darkness. However, you must realize that if you just focus on the light, everything will become clear. The key remembrance in the dark place is that you are naturally a child of light. Do not be fooled into thinking that once you visit the darkness that there is no turning back. Light is only a thought or a prayer away.

A simple way to think about this is to reflect on night and day. They exist at the same time at all times. While it may be evening where you are, across the country it is morning. Night is defined by the absence of the sun's light; however, the sun has not stopped shining. It is always there—waiting for us to spin on our axis and turn our face towards it once again. It does not move. It does not change. 

As a child of light, you must walk in the light. You are a shining star, and just like the Son, you never stop shining.

MIND: The next time you are facing a crisis or challenge, stop everything. Think about what is happening and before allowing yourself to succumb to the darkness (depression, frustration, sadness, etc.), close your eyes, and focus inward. Make a conscious decision to bring light to the situation. This does not mean that you will not experience the sadness or disappointment; it simply means that you choose to bring light to the situation. Stay focused and committed to this new way of thinking.

BODY: Before you allow your body to react to your mind's initial reaction. STOP! Close your eyes, breathe in deeply through your nose, hold the breathe for three seconds, then breathe out through your mouth. Do this until you feel your shoulders relax and your thoughts come back into focus. 

SPIRIT:  On a warm day, go outside and face the sun. Feel its warmth on your skin and breathe in the energy that it radiates. Write down how this experience made you feel, talk to someone about it, or keep the memory. In the evening, after the sun has gone down, go outside again and face the moon. Feel the cold air against your skin, listen to the sounds of the night, and focus on the fear or apprehension you may feel standing alone in the darkness. Recognize that even in the darkness, the stars are shining—and so are you.

 “Look at how a single candle can both defy and define the darkness.” ― Anne Frank