The Light at the End of the Tunnel

Life, and personal development, can be like a ride on a roller coaster - there are always ups and downs. There are times when we feel great, see clearly and know we are on our way to wherever we want to go. Other times, we are surprised by an unexpected tragedy, or feel a slump in energy or motivation for any number of reasons.

Why is it that when we are 'down', we can't see that there is an 'up' coming? Another upswing is inevitable, and yet somehow we convince ourselves that this time is the one that will go against the natural cycle of things, and we will never see better days. I have a partner who has followed a long, arduous path in his career, and it has been clear to me all along that industry-specific circumstances would allow for him to reach his goal eventually. He used to feel depressed frequently, and acted quite negative (which was no fun to be around), and had he only looked at the facts rather than letting his emotions rule and discourage him, he could have seen the light at the end of the tunnel and used it as a catalyst.

If you have times when you feel down or discouraged and cannot see a way out, try a little perspective. At this point the psyche cannot always pull itself out of a downtime by itself, so some outside influence will be valuable. Some ideas include:

• Go for a walk or a drive, just to get out. Walking and driving have never failed me as ways to wash away clouds from my mind and clear my thoughts.
• Get some exercise. The change in body chemistry will help flush negativity from your body and mind, and you will feel stronger and more able to cope.
• Take yourself to a neighbourhood you are unfamiliar with and just hang out for a while, observing and relaxing. Try taking a different form of transport than you usually do, or dining at a completely different type of restaurant. As long as it is safe, of course, sometimes this change of scenery can be enough to shake you out of your own troubled thoughts. Don't knock it until you try it!
• Engage in reminders of what you want, who you are and what you are capable of. Some excellent examples include The Secret movie (or book), Abraham-Hicks, and the movie What the Bleep Do We Know.
• Rent a movie that makes you bawl your eyes out, or laugh until it hurts. Sometimes just expressing the emotions, even if for a very different reason than that which created them, is enough to dissipate them.
• Think from a more global perspective. Consider your aunt in England, or a child in South America, and what concerns they may have in their lives right now. Stay tuned to the World Vision commercial for a few minutes instead of just quickly passing it by. Go volunteer at a soup kitchen or shelter for a day. There is nothing like the reminder of how good our lives are to give us a little perspective. Instead of allowing any of this to depress you further, use it as an example to show you how wonderful your life can be; to illuminate for you resources, friends and opportunities you may have that you are not focusing on. There is always good in your life; whether you appreciate and use it just depends on what you are thinking about.
• Write. Get some paper or your computer typepad, and let it all out. Sometimes called 'stream of consciousness' writing, this can be very therapeutic, especially since one reason we find it difficult to deal with negativity, depression or confusion is a lack of people to express it to. Writing by yourself can allow you complete expression and perhaps even bring out thoughts you haven't articulated, even to yourself.
• Once your head is a little clearer, start fresh and write out and your ideals and goals. Focus on what you truly want things to look like and write until you are happy and satisfied that you will put yourself on the right track.

Our minds are very powerful, and we must remember that we are in control of them, not the other way around. I used to have times like this, but no more. From personal experience and the trust I have gained in both myself and the Universe, I have brought myself to the point where I rarely experience 'downtime', and for this I am grateful. It all happened through conscious intention, and the choice to keep working at it when I felt out of sorts...to say to myself 'I will do whatever it takes to get myself out of this funk, because I am responsible, and I want to feel good.' Period. You may read more about this in the following Breathing Prosperity posts:

• Personal Development: The Upward Spiral
• Personal Development: Flexibility and Intent
• Following the Links
• Ego vs. True Self
• Good Vibrations: Getting Them and Keeping Them
• Law of Attraction: The Flow of Energy

The Light at the End of the Tunnel