Can Darkness Be Outweighed?

Turning on the television to watch the news, reading the latest reports from various newspaper outlets, conversating with others, or utilizing social media in some aspect is often challenging. Whatever your choice may be, the end results often feel the same. The world is filled with reports of happenings that feel dark and heavy. Often there appears to be no escape no matter how hard you try. While encountering these times, you begin to wonder will things ever change? Is it possible to outweigh the darkness with another positive emotion.

I have found it more important than ever to seek an answer to this question, as well as to devise steps to help me succeed in accomplishing this goal. In my career as an author, and teacher I have found that it is extremely important to remain in control of my emotions as much as possible. What I say, and do can impact so many others, and I want to ensure what I share as much as possible demonstrates positivity. I have three things I keep in mind to aid in accomplishing this goal.

Memory Recollection- While we cannot always change what is going on in the world, we can change what we have going on in our heads. Each day I work towards allowing memories (whether from the past or current) that bring me joy to dance around in my thoughts. By doing so I am often able to experience happiness repeatedly, and that eliminates or reduces the other burdens I may have been experiencing. It also serves as a reminder of how many wonderful life experiences I have had.

Think Before Responding- I am not responsible for what others say or do, but I am responsible for my responses and any other contribution I add to the situation. I must work towards allowing myself time to process what is happening, and think what it is I want to say, rather than responding emotionally. Words are powerful, and we always want to be careful how we share them.

Breathe- It is amazing what inhaling will do for you. I have discovered that pausing for a moment, and allowing the breath to come in and then blowing it out slowly and steadily almost resets the mind. Doing it more than once gives you that recharge you just might need to turn the rest of the day around.

While the darkness that fills many days lately may become overbearing, there are steps we can take to help us approach it with a new attitude, and emerge with positivity. Three simple changes may put you on track and turn darkness in to light once more.