When life looks bleak

15 quotes on finding light through the dark

Was it the super moon?

The start of a new fiscal year?

School beginning?

A contentious political climate?

It seems like a lot of us are on edge in so many spheres of life and work.

On these days when you may be trying to broker a deal, be the peacemaker or communicate with kindness - and feel like you’re fumbling in the dark - where do you find the light?

THIS WEEK’S INSIGHT

When life looks bleak

One of my clients recently expressed that she felt she had nowhere to turn, after experiencing an unexpected setback that stings. Through our conversation, she captured a keen insight. Her path ahead didn’t have to be charted in that very instant.

She has time.

To regroup. To reset. To rest.

To find the light and her way forward.

THIS WEEK’S TOOL

15 quotes on finding the light through the dark

Leaning on the expertise of the Blinkist Team, here’s a brilliant set of quotes that might inspire you when so much seems bleak: 15 Enlightening Darkness Quotes to Illuminate Your Path.

1. “Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.” – Martin Luther King Jr., “Strength to Love” (1963)
2. “The night is darkest just before the dawn.” – Thomas Fuller, “A Pisgah-Sight of Palestine and the Confines Thereof” (1650)
3. “In the midst of darkness, light persists.” – Mahatma Gandhi, Speech (1947)
4. “There is a crack in everything, that’s how the light gets in.” – Leonard Cohen, “Anthem” (1992)
5. “The darker the night, the brighter the stars.” – Fyodor Dostoevsky, “Crime and Punishment” (1866)
6. “Stars can’t shine without darkness.” – D.H. Sidebottom, “Reveal” (2013)
7. “In the darkest times, hope is something you give yourself.” – Albus Dumbledore (J.K. Rowling), “Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix” (2003)
8. “Even the darkest night will end and the sun will rise.” – Victor Hugo, “Les Misérables” (1862)
9. “The darkness always passes, and the light comes back.” – Khaled Hosseini, “The Kite Runner” (2003)
10. “Darkness is only the absence of light. Turn on a light and it banishes the darkness.” – Terry Pratchett, “I Shall Wear Midnight” (2010)
11. “In order for the light to shine so brightly, the darkness must be present.” – Francis Bacon, Essay (1620)
12. “Don’t fight darkness—bring the light, and darkness will disappear.” – Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, Speech (1960)
13. “When darkness falls, beauty is lit from within.” – John Donahue, “To Bless the Space Between Us” (2008)
14. “Darkness will always give you an opportunity to create your own light.” – Iain Thomas, “I Wrote This For You” (2011)
15. “Never fear the darkness, for in it lies the power to create.” – Brandon Sanderson, “The Way of Kings” (2010)

My takeaway

As I’m reminded of the power light has to pierce through the shadows, I find comfort in knowing that this day, this season, even this time has its place. Light is on the other side.

It might take a minute.

The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

John 1:5, Revised Standard Version