Walking The Resilient Path

Written By: Robyn Shelbourne

Hello Darkness My Old Friend

We’ve been here before. We’ve done this dance. It looked a bit different last time. And, might I say... “You try really hard to devastate and destroy!” But you see... each time you try a new angle to slip that darkness in... I get stronger. I get wiser. I get more resilient to your attempts to bring me down. Pure elastic you might say; being stretched beyond your wildest attempts. 

What you don’t know is that I’ve made peace with you. It hasn’t always been this way; we both know that. In a much different time in life, I let you live within me for far too long. A few times actually. My elastic never snapped, never stretched beyond its limits; but wow did I feel like it was about to. 

I didn’t realize my own strength, power, and resiliency. I didn’t understand that there’s a balance between dark and light. I didn’t see that just on the other side of the darkness there would be such radiant light. And, most importantly... I didn’t believe I had the power to heal myself. 

So what changed? It didn’t happen all at once, but I slowly realized those moments of discomfort or pain were useful. Restlessness, discomfort, and pain in my life translates to a shift in my world as I know it. It might mean a shift in a different direction, new focus, maybe it means that I’m no longer meant to “be where I am”. This feeling always comes with a darkness, a looming uncertainty, fear, stagnation, anger, tears, and overall heaviness. But, that isn’t permanent. 

Now, don’t get me wrong. I super hate feeling that way. It’s not like I welcome the darkness, per se. When I feel it swirling around me... I feel it. I feel it fully. I communicate my needs, I cry, I seek silence and solace to work through some things, and then I let it ride out. I don’t try to control it. That never works. But just as thoughts come and go; we have the power to let the darkness in and then let it back out. 

Why would I ever allow darkness to penetrate? Oh... deep breath here... It’s so very useful. It’s a chrysalis for transformation. It is a space for metamorphosis. It IS the start of a new you, if you allow it.  

Picture this: A baby sits in darkness waiting, growing, manifesting into a greatness no one can yet comprehend. Unknowing, unafraid, literally basking in the darkness. It doesn’t fight against being born. It waits for the time, and then it makes a beautiful, painful entrance into the world. Into the light. It cries. It seeks warmth and comfort, and then it grows and changes so rapidly before your eyes.

That’s why I allow the darkness. I’ve sat with it so often that being resilient is the only way to be who I’m meant to be. Without resilience I would’ve snapped in half before my life was ever able to begin. That would be a disservice to the universe, to the balance of all things good and evil, to the light and darkness, to my bigger “Why”. 

Life is about balance. Chocolate cake is great in moderation. You just have to know when to stop eating it. Take a breath or several, close your eyes, listen to your body, get quiet with yourself, communicate your needs and wants, don’t try to control what’s happening, and then ride out that darkness.  

Just on the other side, your wildest dreams, new experiences, the unimaginable is waiting for you with open arms. 

Recently, I have been exploring my dreams and my “WHY” through the Ignite Your Brand program. The experience has been the spark our business needed to manifest new beginnings. Until next time… Oh, and there could be some chocolate cake there too! 

Peace, Love, and Magic,

Robyn Shelbourne

Free Resources:

Free Guide to Discover Your WHY & Shift Your Mindset

Download My Free Book, "Being in Flow with God."

About the Author:

Robyn Shelbourne, Alchemist of Herbs, Potions, Words, and Owner of Spellbound Apothecary. With a raw and quirky writing style Robyn invites her readers into the depths of her soul. With her background in guided meditation facilitation, yoga, Full Moon circles, and Reiki, Robyn is able to take her readers on a journey; allowing them to feel completely connected and then lifted to greater heights.  

Find Robyn here: 

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