"Do not pray for an easy life, pray for the strength to endure a difficult one." -- Bruce Lee
Only we are able to understand our own darkness. Everyone has their own demons, their own baggage, their own hardships that affect us in different ways. We can have all the resources and support in the world but it isn’t until we embrace our darkness that we begin to heal. Though our society lacks resources and support in providing help to those who struggle with mental illness sometimes, only we can conquer our own darkness, we must be our own hero.
Our darkness can be very frightening. It forces us to look at all the dark places we have been, the painful experiences and memories we have gone through. It makes us remember the people we have lost, the shame, and the anguish that we have tried to overcome. It forces us to look at everything we have fought so hard against. But by embracing the darkness, we get our freedom back. By embracing the darkness, we are liberated from it. We can overcome it. We can move forward. We can heal.
It is not an easy journey. We face all of the things we have been avoiding or running away from. It forces us to embrace pain we have experienced and memories that we would rather forget. It can turn you in to your worst enemy by making you question everything you believe in. But this journey will make you stronger because you faced the darkest of demons, your own.
Our family, friends, and society can all help us along our journey because this can be a difficult journey to go through on your own. They can provide unconditional support that can help us to move forward, to keep going when the darkness is too scary or overwhelming to move forward. After all, every hero needs their sidekick. But it is only the courage within ourselves that will change our lives and to heal. The courage to embrace the light rather than run away from darkness. The courage to conquer our demons rather than cower in fear. The courage to get up in the morning each day and to keep moving forward.