"The Power of Positivity: Shining as a Light in a World Full of Darkness"

Over the last few years I have done a lot of internal work to become more aware of how I treat others, and how I should treat myself. I have recognized that the world can be a very dark place at times. The daily news, social media, and social settings can become very dark, scary, and anxiety ridden.

I often times fall victim to the darkness. It is easy to fall victim to it on a daily basis.

Here are some examples of falling victim to darkness that I will share below:

• Fear of the future watching the news

• Developing a critical lens when being on social media and comparing yourself to others

• Questioning your self worth while scrolling on social media

• Surrendering your values and principles for conformity in social settings

• Gossiping to fit in

• Talking down on others just so you feel better about yourself

• Judging others before looking inwardly on your own insecurities and flaws

It's important to recognize when you are falling victim to darkness. We are all human, we have flaws, we have insecurities, and NO ONE is perfect- no matter how much the external world tries to portray perfection.. we need to remember and stand for the fact we are HUMAN and we sin.

I feel like darkness is convenience, which is why it is so hard to shine and be a light for others in such a dark world. Our brain loves practicing habits, behaviors, and beliefs that are convenient and not mentally straining. So when something in your external world starts to go sour- we fall victim to blaming the external world- rather than looking inwardly to find a solution, to see the light, and to work through it.

Darkness is heavy, but without darkness you have no value or appreciation for the light. It's inevitable that there will be darkness in our lives.

This is why people who try to cover up darkness and pretend it is not there have a hard time withering through the darkest of storms. It's about how you view darkness, and about continuing to see the light even in the darkest of storms. It's all about perspective, and how you choose to view your external world. You can walk through life working on yourself internally and continue practicing actions, values, morals, and behaviors in alignment with light and love. Or you can choose to fall victim to your surroundings and walk a path that is dimly light by allowing your habits, behaviors, values, and actions be in alignment with darkness and deprivation.

In my own wording of this famous concept Jay Shetty's discussed- you can view a dark and cloudy day one of two ways.

1. Through a negative lens and focusing only on the clouds and darkness. You are not recognizing that their is light and sunshine behind the clouds. You are allowing the clouds and darkness to consume you, you fall victim to your surroundings, and fail to step back and view the experience for the light it brings. You just see it as negative and dark.

2. Through a positive lens and seeing the cloudy day as short term darkness, but knowing that there is light behind the clouds- so there is good to come after the short period of darkness.

Perspective and the lens at which you look at your life experiences through is key to finding your healthy and happy. Acceptance, recognition, and working through dark days is important, but there is a difference between working through the darkness and accepting it for what it is, and allowing minor inconveniences to make your world dark in real time, and all the time.

When you fall victim to darkness and allow darkness to consume you- any minor inconvenience will throw off your day, which makes you fall into a victim mentality with your surroundings. You live life through a lens of darkness and deprivation, and any minor inconvenience is the "end of the world" as you know it. This is the type of person who will look at a beautiful blue sky with one cloud and call it "cloudy." They don't focus on the beauty of the beautiful blue sky, and all the light it brings- they allow the one small cloud and little bit of darkness to take up their focus, their identity, and their belief systems. Don't let minor bouts of darkness distract you from the light and bigger purpose/meaning of each day. Even in the darkest days- there will be a moment of light you can focus on. Each day there will be light to ground you, give you peace, and provide you hope. Some days there is more darkness than light, but fighting to focus on the moments of light will help you spread light and love in a world where it is easier and more convenient to focus on darkness.

Each and every night the sky becomes dark, but there is hope and knowing in the morning the sun will rise. Your life should be viewed through the same lens. The darkest nights and darkest storms- make you appreciate and have gratitude for the happy moments and light and love this life will bring you.

So how do you become more of a light in a world where there is so much darkness?

1. Acceptance Accept the bad, but find the light/sun in each lesson, experience, and moment. When you take a deep breath, process, and reflect on each experience- you start to know that there is purpose behind the moments of darkness. Darkness is divinely placed into your life for you to find the light, and to see each experience for the lesson. Often times you don't understand the experiences going on in your life until later on. So having FAITH that everything is so divinely placed and for a reason will give you comfort and peace in each moment of darkness. The sun will rise- so the same applies to your life- that darkness will fade. Keep having FAITH.

2. Gratitude

This goes hand and hand with acceptance. When you start viewing your experiences of darkness for a lesson, blessing, and to eventually see the light. You start living life in gratitude. The darkest of days and lows in life- make you so appreciative of the moments of light and happiness. When you don't experience the dark days, you can't have appreciation for the happiest moments. So practice gratitude for the small things like living to see another day, having a healthy beating heart, and having a clean pair of clothes. Because one day when you have more than you ever imagined- you will spread so much light and love to others.

3. Practice Solitude

Spending alone time with yourself is a great practice to learning who you are, and what your values, morals, and belief systems are. The more time you spend getting to know yourself, and all that you stand for- the less likely you are to fall victim to your external world, and to seek external validation from others. When you stand firm in your power and all that you divinely gift to others- you will be less likely to let others steal your light. You become a person who listens to understand others, you view experiences from all perspectives, and you do not let criticism or naysayers impact your internal worth. The only way to stand firm in who you are is to get an understanding of who you are by practicing solitude. You will develop your own ways of thinking, values, morals, and belief systems when you are alone without seeking external validation from others. Grow into yourself and who you are, rather than seeking to understand who you are from others.

4. Growth

In a world that's everchanging don't fear growth. New experiences, travel, and diversifying yourself in different cultures will bring more light into your world internally, and in turn externally by impacting others. Not being afraid to question your belief systems and all that you have already learned through life- is what will keep you shining light and love. If we didn't question our reality- we would never grow. The medical field and technological advances are great example of not being afraid of change and growth. We would not have the medicine we have and still be calling others from landlines or payphones if we were afraid of change and growth. So as frictional as it is initially- don't be afraid to grow.

5. Practice love and kindness.

The bible is a great outline and resource for being gracious, practicing kindness, being a light for others, and loving others how you would want to be loved. Even if you don't fully believe in the bible and all of its principles- some source crafted each and every one of us to come down here on earth and walk a path in alignment with the principles of light, love, and kindness. It's easy to judge, throw shame on others, and be quick to criticize others for making mistakes. However- one mishap or mistake should not make a trajectory or story of that person's life. A mistake should only serve as a sentence or chapter in that person's book. The statement of not judging a book by a cover- could not hold more true for how we should be practicing light and love in this world. See a person for their whole story, every chapter, every experience, and every hardship. You may get clarity and understanding for their behaviors, actions, and how they treat others when you look at the bigger picture. Empathize with people, seek to understand, and listen to understand who they are as a human. We are all FLAWED. You don't have to be friends with everyone, but respecting and trying to understand people for who they are and where they are coming from is key for practicing a life in alignment with light and love.

In a world where there is so much darkness- find the courage to be the light.