Overwhelm Darkness With Light - ABCs of Self-Care

The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness cannot extinguish it. John 1:5 VoiceA long caregiving season can feel like a very dark place. I know because I have felt that darkness surrounding me like a wet blanket and chilling my hope. At times it felt like the darkness would win. I felt like the light inside me was dimming more and more every day. At times, it felt like I didn’t even have a flashlight! The darker it becomes, the more obvious a small light is. What does that mean? It means that you only need a spark of hope to ignite a change in the darkness. It can start with the simple statement, “God is good.”Proclaim the wondrous acts of the One who called you out of inky darkness into shimmering light. 2 Peter 2:9 (Voice)You have been called from darkness to light. I love this translation because it describes the darkness and the light. You may feel today that you are no more than an ink spot in a dark place of despair and hopelessness. In fact, it may seem so dark that you can’t even see your hand when you put it in front of your face.God is calling you to step into a beautiful circle of light in His presence and glory. When you do, darkness flees. The light overwhelms the darkness. It has to disappear.What you can do differently?Go Outdoors Tune in to your senses. See the colors, textures, and shapes that appear naturally all around you. Smell the scents of your neighborhood’s flora and fauna. Feel the cool breeze or warm sunshine on your skin. Broaden your awareness of your surroundings, and expand the possibilities of your life. Expose your body to extreme temperaturesA cold shower and a sauna can help your body detox. Most of you avoid any feeling of discomfort. If you live in a hot place, sit in your car for 5 - 10 minutes with the AC turned off. You will begin to sweat and that is awesome because your body is detoxing. Jump into the cold shower immediately after this for more health benefits. Change your postureYour body language sends powerful signals to your brain.Bring light into your life immediately by standing in what I like to call the Wonder Woman (or Superman) pose. Bring your shoulders back with your chest out and place your hands on your hips. Holding this pose for two minutes will cause the shift in hormones needed to go into any situation feeling more confident. Focus on Hope RaysYou have more control over your happiness and hope level than you might think. In fact, the people with the most hope don’t leave their life satisfaction to chance, they do the work necessary to make their hope a priority. While there is no automatic switch that you can simply turn on, focusing your attention on positive thoughts and actions through prayer leads you to a new level of peace and meaning. PrayerThank You, Lord that Your light shines in the darkness. (John 1:5 V)That means that if I am currently experiencing a dark season I only need a tiny light to overwhelm that darkness. I pray for every person listening to this podcast who feels overcome by dark despair that they will begin to proclaim your goodness and faithfulness. (2 Peter 2:9 V) I am so grateful that You created my body to respond every time I adjust my posture to match what You think about me. I change my focus from the darkness to thSend a textFor more hope inspiration you can follow her posts on:https://www.instagram.com/the.hope.ladyhttps://www.facebook.com/hopeispowerfulRate and review this podcast to spread the hope to others who need to be reminded they can go from rock-bottom to the mountain top one step at a time.