darkness

Avoiding Negative Energy: Strategies for Staying Positive Amidst Grief ~ Episode 97

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In the heart-touching episode 97 of ‘Journey from Grief to Healing‘, Dr. Ray Calabrese emphasizes the importance of surrounding ourselves with positive influences as we process loss and continue our journey towards healing. He uses the example of a colleague whose unpredictable mood swings serve as a reminder to maintain an environment of love, positivity, and anticipation for the future.

Dr. Calabrese shares his realization of how interactions, though seemingly routine, acted as lifelines, pulling him towards life and away from the gloom of grief. His experience reminds us that even as we fake a veneer of happiness amidst our painful journey, our friends, family, and neighbors are stretching out lifelines of hope for us.

Drawing from his own journey, he discusses the importance of being in environments that symbolize life in full bloom. He quotes from Roy T. Bennett’s ‘The Light in the Heart’ to encourage us to spend our lives with people who spread joy, laughter, and love, and inspires us to make the painful yet necessary choice to live and not succumb to despair.

Dr. Ray brings the essence of Emily Dickinson’s ‘We Grow Accustomed to the Dark’ and a line from J.R.R. Tolkien to empower us to brave the darkness of grief and march towards the light of life. This episode motivates us to stay strong, never quit, and anticipate the good things unfolding in our lives.

You can listen to Episode 97 on your favorite podcasting app or click here for Episode 97 

Inspiring Quote: Shine On and Brightly Shine

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To be a star, you must shine your own light, follow your path, and don’t worry about the darkness, for that is when the stars shine brightest. Always do what you are afraid to do. ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

Today’s Inspiring Photo: Be a Light in the Darkness

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Today’s Inspiring Quote: One Who Lights the Way

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I need someone who believes that the sun will rise again but who does not fear my darkness. Someone who can point out the rocks in my way without making me a child by carrying me. Someone who can stand in thunder and watch the lightning and believe in a rainbow.

Joe Mahoney

Thinking Out Loud: Become a Spark of Light

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“Even the darkest night will end and the sun will rise.”

― Victor Hugo, Les Misérables

NOTE: Every person I’ve known has experienced dark nights. The darkness, at times, can seem to be devoid of any semblance of light. We wander through the darkness with our arms outstretched trying to find our way through. Suddenly, a flicker of light instills in us a great hope that the darkness will end. Where does the flicker of light come from? It comes from each of us when we become aware of a friend, a family member or another walking in the darkness. Each of us has the power to be a new dawn in someone’s life. We can make the day brighter. I am grateful for those who gave me sparks of light during my dark night journies.

Thinking Out Loud ~ You Will Overcome the Struggle

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Today’s Thinking Out Loud reflection is on Lewis Carroll’s work, Alice in Wonderland. Alice in Wonderland is available for free download from Project Gutenberg here.

“Either the well was very deep, or she fell very slowly, for she had plenty of

time as she went down to look about her and to wonder what was going to happen

next. First, she tried to look down and make out what she was coming to, but it was too dark to see anything; then she looked at the sides of the well, and

noticed that they were filled with cupboards and book-shelves; here and there

she saw maps and pictures hung upon pegs. She took down a jar from one of the

shelves as she passed; it was labelled “ORANGE MARMALADE”, but to

her great disappointment it was empty: she did not like to drop the jar for

fear of killing somebody underneath, so managed to put it into one of the

cupboards as she fell past it.”

Note: Poor Alice. She didn’t know where she was going. It was too dark to see her way. And, when she thought she found something, it was of no help. How often have you felt the same way when embarking on a new adventure? I know I’ve felt lost and questioned my wisdom for choosing a journey. I discovered by toughing it out, answers begin to form, and confidence build with every small success. If we stop and look back on our journey we’ll see that we overcame the darkness.

Inspiring Quote for Today ~ Only Light Can Drive Out Darkness

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Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.

Martin Luther King, Jr.

Feeling Good Tip for Today ~ “Darkness Cannot Shut Me In Again.”

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Helen Keller at age 19 months developed an illness that left her deaf and blind. Here’s what she said in her autobiography: “Once I knew the depth where no hope was, and darkness lay on the face of all things. Then love came and set my soul free. Once I knew only darkness and stillness. Now I know hope and joy. . . .  I learned to live, to think, to hope. Darkness cannot shut me in again.”

Note: Don’t let darkness shut you out. Don’t let the darkness strip you of hope and joy. Open your heart to love. Never quit. Never stop trying.

Inspiring Quote of the Day ~ Look for the Stars

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“Only in the darkness can you see the stars.”

~ Martin Luther King, Jr.

Today’s Positive Thought ~ You’ll See Dawn Break

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“When you look ahead and darkness is all you see, faith and determination will pull you through.” ~ Drake

We’ve all experienced the dark night of the soul. It’s not pretty. During those moments reach deep inside and grab hold of the seeds of faith that exist within and push on. You’ll discover the strength to walk through the darkness and see dawn break.

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