In my recording ‘Reflections on Life’ I mention that common phrase used by people when they are hopeful of a positive outcome “the light at the end of the tunnel”
When people are in a low mood
particularly when they are working through a major life issue, or many smaller
issues at the same time, or having to cope with their IBS, or pain, or anxiety
or whatever life has thrown at them they sometimes use the phrase ‘ I can’t see the
light at the end of the tunnel’
You might have heard that
phrase or might even use it yourself.
Well if you do, here’s a thought for you to consider.
Consider that statement, ‘I
can’t see the light at the end of the tunnel’ and then imagine it.
Take a few moments and just imagine it, right now.
Having done that, it is
likely that you imagined the tunnel, as being long, dark and straight, perhaps
like wading through treacle with the hope of a glimmer light at the end.
Well if that is the image you
conjured up then imagine in your thoughts, grasping it, screwing it up and
throwing it away.
Because ever since you were
born, you have not had (or rarely had) a
long straight journey in your life.
Journeys through life are a series of peaks and troughs, lefts and
rights, twists and turns and ups and downs.
Because of this we can remind
ourselves that there is rarely any incentive to tread a long, dark tunnel in
the vague hope of reaching some sort of flicker of positive light at the end of
it.
To imagine the journey like
that makes it even more difficult to keep motivated, resolute and focussed on recovery
or getting through the difficult issues; in fact this image often leads to self-sabotaging
thoughts.
So think about this journey
differently! By thinking about this
journey like the other journeys you have
had through life, as a series of ups and downs, peaks and troughs, lefts and rights,
twists and turns.
By doing this you only have
to take a few steps forward and then look left or right and that’s where the
light may be, since light does not travel around corners, you can never be sure
if the next step in your journey is when you will see the light.
This makes the most difficult
of journeys easier to deal with emotionally.
You might be so close to a
solution to the problem, to feeling better in mind and body, happy in your
outlook on life, more focussed, more determined. All these and more could be
just a step away, not a long tiring trudge in the dark tunnel of uncertainty.
Life is like a good book, the
next page, or chapter bringing new excitement.
The light of hope, change or learning could just be just around the
corner waiting for you. And as each moment is an end and a new beginning, you
can look forward with expectancy of better things to come.
No longer sabotaging yourself
with that old dark tunnel, but now looking for the light much closer to you,
which you might discover in the next few moments of life….
