The 4 Tools I Used to Navigate the Dark Night of the Soul:
On episode 135 of The Creating Ripples Podcast The Taboo Topic of Divorce, Connecting With Your Soul, & Living with Curiosity, I spoke on my journey of navigating the Dark Night of the Soul. At that time, everything I had laid the foundation of my identity on shifted. What once felt right and true no longer fit and there was no going back. In one year's time, I left a “safe,” job that offered salary, pension, and benefits, my marriage of 7 years came to an end, and I shifted and reevaluated several long held beliefs. In the interview, I share 4 tools I used to navigate the long, difficult journey back to Self:
Creating structure with a morning routine -
When in the midst of shedding the old and finding the new, it's common for the soul voice and the ego voice to compete with one another, resulting in confusion and hesitation. As everything around me shifted, developing and staying devoted to my morning routine allowed me to ground into the truth of the present moment. Practices of soul journaling, reading, and yoga were tethers that connected me back to my Soul--the grounded, internal voice that contains sage wisdom and never gave up on me.
Nature -
I spent much of my free time in nature. It was then that I discovered what is meant by the feminine, mother energy of nature. While being calm and quiet amongst the trees, I felt held, and I felt seen. Being in nature was an invitation to be in the present and receive whatever Source had for me that day. In addition to the healing benefits of nature, the act of walking increases communication between both hemispheres of the brain, resulting in increased clarity of mind.
See a therapist -
Therapy was a sacred sounding board that allowed me to unravel my thoughts through hearing myself talk. Therapy was a place to get curious and ask the hard questions of “How did I get here?” and “Where do I want to go next?” In therapy, I processed the messages I received within the systems I belonged to decide which beliefs I wanted to keep as my own and which beliefs no longer served me and needed to be left behind.
Work with a Coach -
My coach served as a guide and lighthouse as I shed my old identity and built an authentic foundation. Coaching assisted me in finding wholeness through integrating my inner self with the outer self. Within the 6 month coaching container, I was able to build an authentic sense of spirituality and learned to trust my inner guidance.
If you find yourself navigating The Dark Night of the Soul, know that you do not have to do it alone. I invite you to lean on the support of guides who have walked before you, mother nature to witness and hold you, and the structure of grounded habits as a tether back to your Soul. The journey back to Self can be hard, but I promise, it is worth it. If you feel alone, let me accompany you and be your support on the sacred journey of meeting your true Self to fulfill your highest potential. Ready? Click here.