This past week has been heavy.
Back-to-back, senseless tragedies. Headlines that stop you mid-scroll. Stories that make you pause and think, What is happening to the world? Even the most grounded among us can feel shaken—questioning humanity, goodness, and whether light really does win in the end.
And if you’re a high-achieving woman who already carries a lot—clients, teams, family, finances, expectations—that weight doesn’t land lightly. It settles in your chest. It follows you into meetings. It shows up when you finally sit down at night and realize you’re exhausted in a way sleep doesn’t fix.
In a world that never stops broadcasting fear, darkness can feel inescapable.
But here’s the truth most people forget:
Darkness doesn’t mean hope is gone.
Often, it’s what finally allows us to see the light.
When Darkness Feels Personal (Even When It Isn’t)
Picture this.
You check the news before coffee. Your nervous system is hijacked before the day even begins. Later, a colleague confides how discouraged she feels. A client is anxious. A family member is struggling. By evening, you’re holding everyone else together while quietly wondering who’s holding you.
That’s how darkness works.
It sneaks in through responsibility, empathy, and exposure.
And if we’re not careful, we start to internalize it—feeling powerless, numb, or like something is wrong with us for not being able to “handle it better.”
Let me say this clearly:
Darkness is not a personal failure.
It’s often an invitation—to pause, recalibrate, and respond differently.
Darkness Creates Contrast — And Contrast Reveals Light
Here’s a simple but powerful truth:
You can’t see stars in a bright sky.
It’s only when the night gets dark that even the smallest points of light become visible.
One steady voice in chaos.
One kind decision in a hard moment.
One calm response instead of reactivity.
One woman choosing integrity over fear.
Light doesn’t have to overpower darkness to matter.
It just has to exist.
And right now, the world doesn’t need more noise.
It needs more grounded light.
The Three Choices We All Face in Dark Moments
When darkness shows up—globally or personally—we tend to default to one of three responses:
1. We get consumed by it.
Doom-scrolling. Overthinking. Emotional shutdown.
2. We fight it.
Blaming. Arguing. Forcing positivity. Hustling harder to avoid feeling.
3. We choose to be a light.
Calm. Presence. Compassion. Intention.
Only one of these creates real change.
Choosing to be a light doesn’t mean you ignore reality or bypass hard emotions. It means you lead—from clarity instead of fear, from steadiness instead of overwhelm.
And leadership matters more than ever right now.
Being a Light Isn’t a Personality Trait — It’s a Practice
This isn’t about being “inspirational” or having it all figured out.
Being a light looks like:
- Listening without fixing
- Checking in on someone who’s gone quiet
- Speaking calmly when tension is high
- Stepping away from constant media input
- Offering help without needing recognition
These moments don’t make headlines—but they change lives.
And yes, sometimes when you shine, the darkness pushes back. That doesn’t mean you’re doing it wrong. It means what you’re offering actually matters.
A Light Bigger Than Us
For many of us, strength is anchored in something deeper—a Higher Power, a spiritual truth, a sense of purpose beyond circumstances.
That Light doesn’t promise an easy path.
But it does illuminate the next step.
It reminds us that even the hardest seasons can shape wisdom, empathy, and resilience—if we let them.
Sometimes, the darkness becomes the teacher—because it clarifies what we refuse to live without.
A Quiet Invitation
As you move through this season, consider this:
- Notice where light already exists
- Be intentional with your energy and words
- Offer calm where others feel unsettled
- Trust that small acts of goodness matter
If you’re feeling steady, be a lighthouse.
If you’re not, know this—you are not alone, and the light is closer than you think.
Even now.
Especially now.
