There are days when the valley and I have ‘come to Jesus meetings’. You know the kind. Those times when you are in a place you would rather not be but for that moment, see no way out. Such was my day yesterday.

Over the last 3.5 years I’ve learned enough about valley days to understand the power they hold. That is … if we are willing to stay there. If we do not run. If we do not hide. If we do not pretend things are otherwise. If we sit in the uncomfortableness the valley opens up and will eventually show us the most beautiful path back up to the mountain top.

Sitting in it means allowing the feelings to arise (lonelieness, frustration, hopenlessness, anxiety, etc.) without brushing them away. It means acknowledging its presence (Well hello there. I see you. Yep. Right there.), welcoming it to sit with you even though you’d rather chew nails (Have a seat. Not too close! Right there is fine. Welcome to the table. The table of my life.), and then listening to what it has to say (This sucks. It hurts. And all I want is for it to stop.).

Then scoot closer and listen again.

“I was vulnerable because I opened my heart. And yes, it hurts. And yes, I doubt it will ever stop hurting. Yet. Yet … going through life not feeling serves to close me off to all sorts of other feelings. And those feelings I want to feel. So for right now, I;m going to give myself some grace and allow what is showing up to show up; to be seen. I can do this. I may not know exactly how but somehow I’ve got to trust that the Universe did not bring me this far to only leave me now. I’ll stay put if you, Universe, stay with me.”

Then watch as grace appears. Sometimes it’s more sleep. Sometimes it’s a silly antic by your pet. Sometimes it’s the arrival of a thoughtful email or a quote that brings a smile to your face.

By harnessing the power of the valley (allowing what is to simply be), the vision of the way up appears. Use the power of the valley to rest and restore your life source energy because you’re gonna need all of that to power the light that you are.