what do to when it is "dark" inside - to outside?
It IS dark – How do you deal with darkness?
Darkness outside can be a metaphor for what is going on – inside and outside of us.
For me, the darkness is outside.
I have a friend, E who was home in the Ukraine when the war began over a month ago. He struggled to get his family out and to Switzerland where he lives and works. I saw him for the first time since yesterday – and his inside is traumatized. Naturally so. It is dark outside me, and dark inside him.
There are more stories, and I don’t want to go far here, but I have other U. friends who are here and in other places…
Even if it is dark from the time to time, there are things we can do to help make the dark better:
PPFs - The PPFs explained:
PAST: Remember the past and be grateful, PRESENT: savor what we have in the present and FUTURE: anticipate the good things the future holds with hope.
Here’s my example:
MY PAST: This past weekend I had a wonderful time at a business leaders conference on the Aegerisee in canton Zug - and it snowed 20cm - it was great to hear some good input and especially personal stories, to meet new friends and enjoy the company.
My PRESENT right now is the beautiful sunshine streaming into my window and the sunny yellow buildings vis a vis from me. I am savoring the color and the light, breathing in the present moment and just being for a moment. I am enjoying this moment and just breathing.
My FUTURE (HOPE) for today and tomorrow is a near future hope: I am traveling to Nuremberg for debriefing training and meeting an new debriefer friend tomorrow – before that I am dropping off my dog for a “holiday” today and teaching the last “input” for the semester tomorrow morning. On the way to DE I will participate in a startup bootcamp again. On the train. This is a stressful “week” in two days, but full of FUN and thus, hope, even if it is quite busy.
My other more future HOPEs are many: an end to the war in Ukraine, a final closure to COVID-19, and some calm months of summer and moving forward with my business (and my family and their businesses).
How about you? What do you do to get over these “dark days”? Are they dark inside – or – outside of you (remember: it is okay to be NOT OKAY like my friend E).
Also, with HOPE I look forward, and there is a lot to look forward to at the moment for me:
· My kids are moving onward and upward in education and careers – it is so very exciting to see this and enjoy it with them
· My next sessions with clients are after I return from DE – looking very much forward to EACH ONE!
· Easter is coming!
· I think we’re going to Tenerife this summer, all things “willing”
· Of course, it’s holiday time very soon for me – two weeks in April and then after May 24th, it is only coaching and supervision, pretty much.
· We have a lot of eggs to cook - our chickens are being productive.
What are your PPFs? May you have a great week thinking of them!
Patricia Jehle
