This weekend was the darkest time of our year. Daylight was in short supply and it felt like happiness was too. Several of my loved ones are having a hard time at the moment. One friend is struggling with depression, another is recovering from a serious medical condition, a beloved family member hit "rock bottom". Facebook statuses seemed to be full of illness, sadness and ennui. The news as ever was full of doom and gloom and in my coaching work, I listened to clients dealing with deep loneliness, chronic lack of self-belief, frustration, despair and painful self-sabotage. The overwhelming feeling I had was that people are finding life hard right now.Against this backdrop, a few relatively small challenges in my own life knocked me off balance. I watched a new video on peak oil which reiterated the severity of the challenges ahead with the billions of human lives that will be lost if we don't act with urgency. I heard back from the London Paper that they weren't going to run with my idea for a regular column and then three strangers unsubscribed from my ezine. The little self-doubting voice in my head put the two together and said: "People are suffering and maybe you've got nothing of value to offer them".
We all have crises of belief - whether in ourselves or the world. There are times when it all feels very scary, when life feels like the enemy. Depression has been familiar to me and to many of my loved ones. It is for these reasons that yesterday was so significant. The winter solstice is the darkest we go, the least light we have. It offers us a metaphor for how far we can go into the darkness before things start to turn around.
Because, of course, winter solstice is simultaneously the signal of the returning light. The promise of the dawn. Its message is that in the very darkest darkness, there is a glimmer of hope. It's understandable that early Christians chose this time of year to celebrate the birth of Jesus; this was the time of year already associated with the unconquerable light, a vitality that can never be destroyed, hope resurrecting when it feels like none is left.
In this dark time of year, may we all remember to reach out for others, reach out to others, and to be loving comforts for ourselves. May we know the importance of kindness and never underestimate the impact of a thoughtful word or generous deed. May we recognise how cold our world can be and commit to being a source of warmth. As Plato said, "Be kind... for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle".
May your holidays be full of peace, full of joy, and full of love.
Corrina
Do Things Differently
1) Take a walk in the fresh winter air and ask yourself: When there is despair, what is my hope?
2) Light a candle and reflect: In the darkness, what is my light?
3) What could you say, be or do today that would bring hope, light and warmth to another? Do it.
(c) Corrina Gordon-Barnes, 2008
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3 comments:
Something I have been doing with my clients at this time of year (and with myself ) is to write down / and speak out loud, what I want to celebrate from 2007 - Who I am being and What I have done that I want to celebrate ! It creates quite a surge of energy and insight to turn the light on here - it quiets down the saboteurs who are happy to " talk " darkness, disappointment, depression etc. All things can be true at the same time ( the light and the heavy ) - raise your voice in celebration of who you are being soul, spirit and and inspiration - experience what it creates
Give this free gift of celebration to friends, clients.... yourself. It is fun to do with someone else witnessing...ease people past their guardians of negative focus to the true desire to celebrate the light ! Make it like a cup of tea - steep in it for while.
Encourage people to share their celebration of being who they are and what they have done with toher friends and family.
You will likely be as full from witnessing/guiding someone else in a celebration conversation as you are sharing yours with others......practice the practice.
Enjoy the solstice
Kara
The Guest House by Rumi
This being human is a guest house.
Every morning a new arrival.
A joy, a depression, a meanness,
some momentary awareness comes
as an unexpected visitor.
Welcome and entertain them all!
Even if they're a crowd of sorrows,
who violently sweep your house
empty of its furniture,
still, treat each guest honorably.
He may be clearing you out
for some new delight.
The dark thought, the shame, the malice,
meet them at the door laughing,
and invite them in.
Be grateful for whoever comes,
because each has been sent
as a guide from beyond.
A beautiful passage, thank you Jon for sharing. It fits with the image I chose - that of reaching out to welcome whatever is there.
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