Feb/Mar 2025 Aspire Magazine FULL Issue | Page 42

Not through your mind . Not from thinking about your challenges or problems long enough or replaying the events or frustrations repeatedly . And not from others telling you what to do . But by connecting to a sacred , spiritual space within yourself where all answers and all solutions reside .

By far the greatest prompting that changed the trajectory of my life was profound challenge – a dark night of the soul .

Through it , I was awakened to a path to healing relationships with myself and others , aligning with opportunities to pursue soul nourishing work , and manifesting a vision for my life that at one time was only a dream .

It was a time in which I experienced feelings of devastation , anger , confusion , sadness , uncertainty , and loss that impacted every part of my being – mind , body , emotions , and spirit .

Amid my challenges , though , I realized that what was causing me the most suffering was not the actual challenge itself but my reaction to the challenge -- the thoughts I was ruminating on as a result and what I was believing about myself and my future that caused me the most suffering .

It can take a dark night of the soul to realize that you can ’ t work from the level of ‘ problems , obstacles , and struggle ’ – you must work from the level of ‘ solutions .’

In pivotal life moments when you ’ re feeling left in the dark , your mind can swirl with a medley of thoughts and emotions , leaving you feeling disempowered , stuck , and a victim to life . You can feel powerless .

But , as I ’ ve learned from my own awakening experiences and the women I work with , once you become aware that you can change your thoughts , beliefs , and how you view your life and what is possible , you enter a divine energy of solutions where you find clarity , peace , and an empowering path forward .

- Wayne W . Dyer