18/07/2023
“I’ll feel better when it’s the weekend.”
“I won’t feel burned out once this project is complete.”
“This loneliness will dissipate when my child is home for the holidays.”
When we’re overly focused on the light at the end of a tunnel, it’s a bit like thinking of resilience as an end point or a box we can check off. But mental health and wellness is much more about learning how to see in the dark because, in reality, life often entails more than one tunnel.
One way we can learn to see in the dark is by not racing for that light, but instead, allowing ourselves to just recognize where we are with compassion. Sit down in that tunnel for a minute. Stop scrolling and face into the reality of your emotional experience with love. Try speaking to yourself in third person: “I’m sorry that you’re feeling sad, Susy. I’m here for you.”
Once we’ve acknowledged where we are, it’s much easier to focus on our next step. Does your tunnel have a wall you can lean against for a moment and take a breather? Can you reach out for a supportive hand while you’re traversing this dark space?
