Spiritual Awakening
Sometimes the darkness envelops us. The fears that followed us into our dreams still hold a tight grip around our hearts and chests as we wake. We are scared to let the light in and prefer to escape back into the abyss of unconsciousness. We want to lie curled in the fetal position with the covers pulled up and pretend a new day has yet to arrive, instead of greeting the sunrise whose golden beams and magnificent brilliance will stretch to the heavens and grace the sky.
Depression can be paralyzing and debilitating. It’s like having a barrier in front of you that you cannot see beyond. The merry-go-round of thoughts inside our heads can become louder and louder, and faster and faster. We feel incapable, frail, weak, and afraid. In this time of discord, know that you are so much more than the fear raging inside your heart, or the voices of uncertainty and self-abuse surging through your mind. Depression and anxiety often walk hand in hand.
When our heart's sorrow feels immeasurable, the significance of reconnecting with our essence becomes especially profound. Listening to the small voice whispering from within the corners of our being becomes our guide to personal freedom. These tender, loving words can remind us that, as birds begin their morning chorus each day, so too can our hearts sing again. Realigning our minds, hearts, and souls provides the blueprint needed to unite with love, joy, and inner peace. By cocooning our hearts in self-love, compassion, and understanding, we can loosen the resistance that is weighing us down and begin to rise towards our higher selves. Even in our crippling vulnerability, when we are surrounded by our darkest shadows, we are loved, and we are supported. We are seen, heard, and protected. Placing your hand on your heart, Whisper, “I love you. I hear you. I am listening, and I am here.”
Allow your mind to embrace the stillness and silence of this moment, breathing deeply and filling your lungs with nourishing air. Our breath gives us life and expands our souls. Now connect with all the emotions inside your heart and really allow yourself to feel. Sit with your emotions; they are valid, and they exist to protect you. Even in your vulnerability, do not run or hide from your pain, but instead make peace with the feelings, even when they are devastating. You must allow yourself to feel all of the turmoil raging inside before you can begin the healing journey home to peace and wellness.
Acceptance and awareness are paramount during times of unrest. Take a moment to just focus on the sensation itself and look beyond the label. As you focus solely on the feeling itself, never giving it a name or any authority, notice how it starts to soften and fade. Continue to breathe deeply, feeling your chest rise and fall like the rhythm of the tides, while making space for faith, trust, and hope. Surrender yourself to the tranquility. Imagine yourself floating in cool, calming waters—floating gently, and breathing deeply, surrounded by sparkling, shimmering sunlight acting as a barrier of fortitude. Raw emotions of detachment cannot penetrate this sanctuary. They cannot live here. You are safe. You deserve love, because you are love.
Just let life unfold in all its beauty. Relinquishing control allows life’s energy to flow with faith and trust to distant landscapes of mystery and miracles. Being gentle with ourselves during times of great suffering is an act of bravery and an accomplishment; every act helps us to feel stronger and prouder, and provides us with a sense of hope, direction, and purpose.
We no longer remain prisoners of our own minds. Instead, we choose to move forwards, no longer feeling incapable or frozen in time. Each baby step we take brings us further from the bondage of toxic rumination, freeing us from whirlpools that drag us down. Such courageous and vital choices can now propel us forwards, so we can step back into the light, leaving any shadows behind. It is in this moment of stillness that we can hear our inner voice whispering to us once again. “You are battling sadness and fear with love, hope, faith, and trust, and you are winning. You are winning. Victory is yours.”
