The dark night of the soul

I have a strong urge to write about something, because it is something that every single person on this earth will get to experience : the dark night of the soul.

I believe that everyone and everything in this universe serves a purpose. Everything is by design, and that includes our personality, our talents, our traits and our (perceived) flaws. A lot of people struggle in life, going through the motions and trying to make sense of it all. We are kind of settling, or we are going in a downwards spiral, finally hitting rock bottom and wondering "what's the point of it all?". I know that life can be mysterious, complicated, and messy. Believe me, I've had my fair share of bad luck and "what the ****"s. But I'm telling you now, if you're going through the worst, or as they call it in the hippie world "the dark night of the soul" it might be a sign that you're headed towards the best. There is nothing more empowering than going through hardship and coming out on the other side, with so much strength, love and resilience. Better yet, understanding that this negative experience served a purpose : preparing YOU for your soul's calling. Shaping you and strengthening you for the skills you will need.

For me, it started with mental illness. I personally would call it a spiritual emergency, but that's something for another blog post. I have been struggling with mental illness ever since I hit adulthood, at the age of 21. Before that, my life was quite simple; going out with friends, having crushes, learning about makeup and dressing up and down, alternating between school and nightclubs. I hit a huge wall when I wad diagnosed with my disorder. It makes everything feel different. I started to understand that these simple pleasures, these moments with friends, laughter, memories, they are so, so important. They are so meaningful, and sacred. They are part of the mosaic that creates your life's story. And yet, there is so much more to life than what I had experienced at that age. My mental illness shifted the way I perceived reality. The way I interacted with this world, with myself. I have suffered so much. I've been so scared. Now, I am thankful. Now I see it as a blessing. Strangely enough, I even see my worst memories as hidden blessings too.

I never, ever thought I was going to pursue blogging. I was far from a writer growing up. I think I won a writing contest in my french class when I was 14, but that's about all I can remember. Now I see writing as a powerful medium to channel my heart's calling. Especially since I am mostly an introvert, and I am still getting used to talking on camera. My calling is to heal, and I heal through the medium of storytelling, teaching, and sharing things I know with people like you. Maybe you don't have a mental illness per say. Maybe you have a debilitating physical illness. Maybe you are just suffering from perpetuating boredom, and life is starting to lose sense. Or maybe you are perfectly happy, and you're just interested in learning about health and wellness. You've found the right place. I'm here with you. I can be your friend. I will share my advice. All I know, from what I eat, to how I motivate myself. And the deeper stuff, like how to find your life's purpose. You'll all find it here, where I leave my soul bare. For me. For you.

Tears, laughter, boredom, love, heartbreak, passion, we all feel it at some point in our lives. The best part about life is that you don't have to go through any of it alone. It's always better together. And if I can be that person for you, then I am looking forward to walk with you.

See you there.

Mandy xoxo