Surviving Rock Bottom
There are points in our lives that make us feel like we’re sitting in a damp dark place far away from the sun and our hopes and dreams. When we’re called down into the void, it’s not a punishment or an exile from all that’s good in the world. We find ourselves in this lonely, quiet place when we’re on the cusp of transformation and growth. We need to sit here in the stillness to allow our death and rebirth moment to occur, and the more we resist it the longer we’ll have to stay. Once we arrive here there is a level of temptation to sit and rot instead of embarking on another transformative experience. In this place, your body begins to feel heavier, and the longer you remain here, the deeper you sink into the abyss within. We are meant to feel everything here, all the fear, doubt, imposter syndrome, sorrow, pain, and resistance that we’ve been avoiding on the surface.
Feeling into our depths is a necessary part of the journey, but it’s important that we don’t get trapped there. We must feel our emotions, but we don’t have to wallow in them endlessly with no way out. When you encounter the void of creation that exists inside of you, you’re brought there for a specific purpose, and you must find a way back to the surface through your heart space once your work is finished. Love and connection are the antidotes that allow you to come back with deeper knowledge and a renewed sense of understanding about yourself. When this happens, it’s important to remember that you’re safe and that you’re not stuck here. Fear might be something that you experience in this place, but it’s not the point of your visit. You’re here to understand, learn, and grow, and the sooner you can reach a point of acceptance, the sooner you’ll be able to get back.
We are taught that isolation is a negative aspect of life, but sometimes it’s exactly what we need, at least in small doses. It’s important for all of us to set aside time and space that’s just for us, as well as an energy reserve within that is designated for personal use only. These void space moments force us into being with ourselves completely in solitude because that’s the only way to feel into some of these lower emotions. If we can only meet others as deeply as we have met ourselves, then these moments surely allow us to grow our capacity for emotional depth and connection. Taking time to understand and see yourself on this level allows you to achieve deeper love and connection with other people. If your attempts at connecting with others have left you feeling empty, that is an invitation to get to know yourself better before trying again.
Codependency tells us that we must self-abandon in order to form attachments with others, but true connection is born from addressing yourself on every level and facing your fears, doubts, and insecurities, which can otherwise foster separation and pain in our relationships. Rock bottom has a way of showing us exactly what needs to be prioritized next on our path, and it offers us the opportunity to reset and refocus far away from the noise and opinions of others. Sometimes we have to be sequestered away from the energy of the world in order to actually feel our own energy in the stillness. Our inner voice can often be quiet, and the distractions keep us too busy to sit and listen. This is why we sometimes find ourselves in this dark, unreachable place. It’s not a sign that you’re doing something wrong in life, it’s a sign that you need time to sit with your thoughts and emotions that have been put off for too long.
Once you feel everything you’re meant to feel in the void and you find your way back to the surface, try to move forward in a new way. Give yourself time to rest and integrate the information you received before you seek the next layer of knowledge. Find ways to process your experience such as journaling, therapy, exploring the outdoors, or meditation. When you notice those old emotions, thoughts, and patterns coming up again, remember what you learned while you were sitting with yourself in the darkness. Allow yourself to realize that you now have the knowledge and ability to break free of the loops that have held you for too long. Each morning when we wake up, we’re given another opportunity to start fresh and decide that we’re no longer willing to repeat the same script. Since you read this post all the way to the end, I’m going to share an exclusive tidbit with you. You don’t have to wait until tomorrow morning.