Darkness and light



I've seen this quote all over social media this week, and I love it.  I believe wholeheartedly that light and love are the solution to the conflicts in our world.

I also believe that they are the solution to the conflicts in our homes, and even the ones within ourselves.

Right now in my home, we are in a stage of conflict.  Two of my little boys are going through a stage where they fight ALL. THE. TIME.  It's like they would rather be fighting with each other than doing anything else!  Of course they try to involve me in it.  They would like me to be a referee all day long.

My knee-jerk reaction is to try to discipline the fighting right out of them.  Time outs, extra chores, stern voices and threats.

But the problem is... "mean-ness" will never drive out "mean-ness."  What this situation needs is more light and more love.  I am finding that the more time I spend engaging in play with them, the less they are interested in fighting.  As I spend more effort talking about the things I love and value in each of them, it requires less effort in discipline.  When I shower them with light and love, it naturally drives away contention.

I can see the same principle at work in myself.  And my clients.  When we notice an imperfection, or a "darkness" in ourselves, sometimes we try to drive it away with more darkness.  We criticize and condemn ourselves, then wonder why the darkness won't go away.  It's because that never works.  The only way to drive out darkness is with light.

When we shower ourselves with light and love, the darkness naturally disappears.  I find light and love in the scriptures.  I find it in the temple and in service.  But I can also find it within my own mind.  I can choose to shower myself with kind thoughts about myself.  I can give myself credit for the things I am doing well.  I can accept my shortcomings and love myself anyway.

The world needs more light and love.  Our homes need more light and love.  And we ourselves need more light and love.  Let's be the ones to offer it.

Christi


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