The Dance of Compassion, the darkness, and the light.

The goal of my work, whether it be in Life Coaching or in Yoga is to ultimately help people feel better… happier, lighter, empowered, confident and more fulfilled. In the pursuit of this end, it is of course important to encourage optimism and resilience. However, perhaps more importantly is to acknowledge and give space to exploring the shadows… the hard things, the heavy emotions, the parts of ourselves we’d rather bury. 
 
I feel in the wellbeing/self-development space we often see and hear so much about having a positive mindset, practicing gratitude, and building resilience. I agree this all absolutely has it’s place and value. No doubt. However, in isolation we risk suppressing or invalidating difficult, uncomfortable and heavy feelings. 
 
Over the last few weeks, I’ve spoken about how I love January as a time of introversion, rather than newness, for gaining a deeper connection to self. Over the last few weeks I’ve been confronting my own shadows… the things I tend to bury, that which makes me uncomfortable, maybe even brings me shame. I’ve listened to them, tried to learn from them, held compassion for them and shown them some light. I feel I’ve shed a layer, become lighter, kinder, and feel ready to move forward feeling more myself.  
 

"When we bury feelings, we bury them alive." - Ron Seigel

Acknowledging the things that feel heavy and that we instinctively want to avoid is a crucial aspect of personal growth, emotional well-being, and creating a kinder, more compassionate world. While it may be tempting to push aside or ignore our uncomfortable feelings, doing so only perpetuates our internal struggles and prevents us from fully engaging with life. Instead, confronting the heaviness within us allows for deeper introspection, healing, and ultimately, a greater sense of peace and fulfillment.
 
When we turn to our shadows and lean in we allow ourselves to soften their power over us; to work through the hard things; and perhaps move forward with a deeper sense of self and compassion for our beautifully complex story. When we can do this work for ourselves we also become able to provide the space and support for others too. 
 

"Compassion is knowing your darkenss well enough that you can sit in the dark with others." - Pema Chödrön

When things feel uncomfortable lean in, listen. What is it teaching you?