A bit of light

I've been thinking further about a thought from last week, about finding peace with my moodier self, the low, cloudier one that sometimes greets me without warning.

I didn't mean that I intend to give into it, saying 'what the hell, I'm going to be horrible sometimes'.

I wonder (and I can only try) whether the dark side has a place in the mix.  Whether it can be channelled - a darker shade in a well rounded rainbow.  Or something.


There are three elements to my theory, an action plan if you will;

1) Celebrate the struggle
What if those days when things seem a bit hopeless and difficult become an opportunity?  Seeing struggle as a tool gives it purpose, diffusing the temptation to be introspective and allowing us to connect with others in a real and authentic way.

So, when the grey takes hold all it might take is a little strength to find a new vocabulary that expresses the raw truth and cut through all the pretence.  Our words have such power when they are borne out of experience, our gestures carry sincerity when they are offered with empathy.

When you're in the hole, look around for who's there with you.

2)  Honesty is not weakness
It would be lovely to have have happy days all the time, for us all to be people who wake up on the right side of bed and let nothing get to them.  But most people have hard times at the very least (and some of us have grumpy DNA) and the more we deny it, the more power the loneliness of low adds to the problem.

There's a lie that the clouds tell you; that you'll be a burden to anyone else and you shouldn't inflict your foul mood on them.  The reality is that showing your vulnerability is the most courageous, relationship nurturing thing you can do - not keeping it all together.

So how about when a rough day shows up,  you send up a flare?


3) Let the light in
When hopelessness hits and the mood is morose it's not game over, it doesn't have to be a waste of a day or a reason to run away.  It's a darker shade to be embraced, the most authentic way to grow and with just a grain of strength purpose can be found even in the very thing that tries to tell you there is none.

And after a while, the low days may just be fewer.


Worth a try?