During the past fifteen months we all have had to cope with one universal pandemic and coronavirus, yet we all experienced our quarantine differently. For some, grief and loss; others, isolation, depression, and loneliness; some fear and inability to move forward; and still others, overwhelm, chaos, and confusion.

It was like suddenly being thrust into total darkness without any tools to assist us in moving forward and finding our way out into the light.

Being blind, I know about psychological and physical darkness and I know the tools for finding my way back to health and wellbeing.

Basically, I ask my Self if I’m in alignment with my purpose and passion. Am I:

• Seeing my vision
• Listening to my inner voice
• Speaking my truth
• Reaching out in love
• Opening my heart
• Breathing in peace
• Stepping boldly forward into my light?

If not, how come?

What am I afraid of?

What do I want?

What am I willing to do to get where I want to go

These are my internal tools I use to navigate the darkness.

Externally, the tools are similar to those I used when teaching piano.

#1 You have to have the desire to learn/move through and from your circumstances. You can’t move forward to please someone else. i.e., you can’t learn how to play piano by pleasing your parents. You, have to want to learn for your own gratification.

#2 You have to have the physical tools: bench, light, piano, and music. Your tools may be computer, car, pen and paper, cooking class, etc.

#3 You have to have a mentor, someone who has gone before you that can guide you in your process. This could be a teacher, spiritual guide, book, movie, or personal hero. The important thing is that you receive guidance from someone who has been there and done that.

#4 Practice, practice, practice. “Practice makes you better, nothing makes you perfect.” Repetition is your friend. If you mess up, it’s okay to be perfectly imperfect.

#5 Commit to the process. Let consistency, love, and discipline be your guides.

#6 Believe in yourself. You can do it. There is much value in what you tell yourself. Basically, if you think you can, then, you can. It’s like that little children’s book where the train is trying to climb the mountain. He says, “I think I can. I think I can. I think I can.” Eventually he is on top.

 

Your desire to fly has to be bigger than your fear of falling.

 

#7 When you have finished learning how to play the piano, or walking through the dark, then make sure you celebrate the struggle. I used to have music parties with food and everyone playing their piece for one another. Psychologically, it is important to celebrate your accomplishments.

How does this relate to coming out of the dark after the pandemic?

We have to be willing to embrace the change when we entered the new circumstance, while there, and now coming out. The harder we struggle – the more we want life to be the same as it was before – the harder it will be to come out and live life again. The psychologist Abraham Maslow said something to the effect “The hardest thing to adjust to is change.” Spoiler alert, life will never be the same as it was before the pandemic. And, in truth, every day on the planet is never the same as the day before. We are always evolving and growing, and that’s a good thing. We want to go towards the light. We want to be whole. We want to be better than we were!

So, let me ask you this, how are you doing?

Is your mind stimulated?

Are your emotions balanced?

Are you physically healthy?

Are you spiritually connected to your source?

Are you financially prosperous?

Are you artistically connected to a passion?

If any of these are out of alignment (you find yourself unhappy in some area) then, once you are aware, you have to take responsibility and change your circumstance. As I often tell my friends, “Don’t be a victim.”

You want to be the creator of your destiny. The best ways to do this are:

Be in alignment with your source, Self, and with others

Be authentic and speak truth

Have an attitude of gratitude

And, always, at the end of the day, take one action step towards the light.

There isn’t one way out of the dark. I use these tools differently as my circumstances change. One day I may journal or take a walk, and the next day I may listen to some music or talk with a friend. Just as one day I may use my Seeing Eye dog to guide me and the next (depending on the circumstances) I may choose to use my cane or a friend to guide me. It doesn’t matter how I walk out of the dark, what does matter is that I step forward and propel myself towards the person I aspire to be.

So, the next time you find yourself standing in total darkness, I challenge you to use one of these tools, move forward, and soar into your new you and greatness.