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The Dark Night of the Soul

By Johanna Lyman. Posted on Dec 23rd 2009.

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We've just pasted the Solstice; the longest night of the year. Many people, me included, experience an inner darkness during this time of year. We want to turn inward, and can use this time for reflection or self flagellation.

We all have these times of darkness. When it’s very intense, it’s called the “dark
night of the soul.” We question
ourselves, our motives, our goals and intentions, and our relationships. We might even question what we’re doing here
at all. During these times of darkness,
clarity is nowhere to be found. We may
feel lost and confused, or at the very least, unmotivated. For some, it can turn into a clinical
depression.

More from YourTango: 5 Ways Abandonment Issues Can Ruin Your Relationships

When you enter a time of darkness, it’s
helpful to stay out of “victim” mode.
Try to be a witness, instead. As
a witness, you can observe what’s happening (or not happening) and draw
conclusions. You can learn from the
experience. As a victim, you’re so busy
saying “Poor me, why do these terrible things happen to me?” that you miss the
lesson. Guess what? If you miss the lesson, the Universe will
give you another chance to catch it. In
other words, you’ll get another time of darkness until you figure it out.