Earlier this week I got hit with a double-whammy of back-to-back bad news. So, I’m having one of those weeks where the world feels particularly dark.
I know enough now from my healing journey that it’s okay to feel sad.
Upset.
Even angry.
All of my feelings are valid. And it’s best to let myself feel them so they can pass through me vs getting stuck.
Feelings and energy can get trapped in our bodies and wreak havoc when we gloss over them.
Ignoring reality and being positive in the face of objectively sh*tty situations is not the solution. It’s toxic positivity.
Old me used to use a lot of toxic positivity:
- Try to see the silver lining!
- Don’t worry about this so much.
- There are bigger problems in the world.
- Other people have it worse.
- Things will get better, so stop stressing.
- Etc.
Actually allowing my feelings and being curious about them has helped me WAY more than stuffing them down. I’m learning more and more that repressing your feelings can actually cause pent up negative energy, phantom injuries in your body, and more.
Still, once I’ve allowed my human experience and practiced self compassion, I do like to turn to positivity.
It keeps me going.
Maybe it helps you too to hope for better days? To believe that they’re possible?
This quote always helps me feel better when the world feels particularly dark and heavy:
“There’s some good in this world, Mr. Frodo, and it’s worth fighting for.”
~ Samwise Gamgee
I love all the interactions between Sam and Frodo in Lord of the Rings. They are THE ultimate dynamic duo in the face of one of the greatest villains in fictional history, Sauron! And this quote happens when they are feeling nearly defeated.
Hopeless.
And Sam finds a way to give them both hope and ultimately the push they needed to prevail.
(Read the full quote below to understand how they’re feeling.)
This scene is always so moving!
It may seem silly to some, but I take a lot of inspiration from fictional movies. Why not? And LOTR is a classic good vs evil with lots of amazing pieces of wisdom. Like the above gem.
While Just World Theory may be false, it’s still sometimes nice to see good prevail over evil. Even if it’s just fantasy. So I’ll take quotes like this Samwise one.
Believing that there is still good in this world helps me zoom out and think about the bigger picture. To remember that it’s not just good. Or just bad. It’s both. And remembering the good can help you find light in your darkest hours.
It’s a reminder that there IS indeed goodness still, even if it’s harder for me to see right now.
Not to mention, it’s a call to action. To keep fighting for the good.
Here’s the full quote:
So acknowledge reality while keeping your hope. Feel your feelings and when you’re ready, choose to see the good. And keep fighting for the beauty of your dreams and the reality you want to see in the world.
***
Journal Prompts to See the Good
- What is the heavy / the darkness that I’m noticing currently?
- How does that make me feel?
- How can I validate my feelings and acknowledge reality?
- When I’m ready, what good can I still find in the world and in my life?
- How can I keep fighting for my dreams?
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xo, Diana