My brain is foggy and my limbs are heavy. My words are not finding their way easily to the page today. This is today’s version of the struggle for me, but the light is you. (Who I know will read with kindness and ignore the awkwardness.)
Finding a little light in the struggle is about noticing and taking in the lovely little things that can bring us joy and wonder.
It’s not about toughening up or discounting feelings. You never need to pretend that your struggle is ok, easy or unimportant.
You can feel free to cry and ask for the support you need. Sometimes things are really hard, and pretending that they're not won’t help.
We’re not here to pretend. We’re here to acknowledge the struggle that can feel overwhelming.
But, also to acknowledge life in its complex, beautiful, and inspiring moments. It isn’t one or the other (as my therapist likes to remind me), it’s both at the same time.
You can be happy and sad, proud and fearful, triumphant and uncertain all at the same time and your head probably won't even explode.
It has taken me a long time to accept that conflicting feelings can exist together without canceling each other out. At first, the idea made me angry and uncomfortable. I’m very logical and it bothered me that my feelings were not. Now, however, it feels hopeful. It’s permission to have moments of joy, even in the midst of terrible pain.
It means I don’t have to wait for the sadness, frustration, anger, fear or loss to pass before I can feel good again.
No matter what else is happening, I know that moments of joy are possible right now.
Even when the struggle is really deep and the days are really dark, the world around us continues to be a pretty amazing place. We can have access to some awesomeness if we just reach out and take it.
Nature, kittens, laughter, chocolate, take your pick. There are many avenues to finding a little moment of light. The important thing is, once you decide on your moment, to really be there.
You deserve to have this moment, really lean in and savour it.
You don’t need to have done something to earn it, you don’t need to feel guilty about taking it.
You deserve this moment. You are definitely, totally worth it.
So, here’s a little light homework for you. In the next week, find one moment to savour. One moment where you allow your whole self to just take in something good. If this is new to you, it helps to get your senses involved. What do you see, smell, taste, hear and feel in this moment? What does savouring look like for you?
In case you need some inspiration, I’m including my very own super easy recipe to make your own custom chocolate to savour!
Custom Chocolate bark
¼ cup chocolate chips (splurge and get the really good quality ones!)
1 tsp butter (or butter substitute)
2 Tbsp add-ins (anything you love… nuts, seeds, chips, candied ginger, crushed cookies, caramel corn, marshmallows, crushed coffee beans…)
Sprinkles (optional, but makes it look extra awesome)
In a microwave safe bowl, microwave chocolate chips and butter for 40-60 seconds until just melted. Stir in add-ins. Spread chocolate bark on to a silicone mat, parchment paper, or a well oiled cookie sheet. Add sprinkles on top. Cool in the freezer for 20 minutes. Enjoy!
