Add Some Light to Your Life

Michelle Nott shares the advice she received when she spoke with a priest about the anxiety that kept her from being joyful.

As I am typing this, we are at the beginning of a snowstorm in the Midwest. Flurries started falling an hour ago, and now we wait for them to start sticking and accumulating on the ground. We are supposed to get anywhere from 6 to 12 inches of snow.

January is my least favorite month. The past few months were filled with activities surrounding the holidays. Then January comes along and there just isn’t much to look forward to in comparison. All the Christmas decorations get taken down, and everything just feels empty and dark. Not to mention that the threat of snow lingers in the forecast for the next few months.

We have not had a bad winter here so far, but I learned not to judge a winter until January. Much to my dismay, it seems to be the month that all the big snowstorms like to hit. Winter is also my least favorite season, and as someone who lives with anxiety, it is responsible for a lot of it (I hate driving in the snow).

null

One of my goals this year is to be intentional on noticing the joyful moments of my day/week. I saw a post on Facebook that shared an idea of writing down something joyful that happened each week, sticking it in a mason jar, and then reading everything at the end of the year to recount the joy your family experienced throughout the year. I think it is such a good idea and plan to do this with my family this year.

My anxiety gets the best of me at times and pushes me further away from God and keeps me from being joyful. I’ve learned that snowy conditions are a trigger for it and make me particularly snappy with my family. Anxiety sends me to a darker place.

How can I find joy in my days when anxiety tends to overshadow it? The answer: Add some light! After I was done confessing my sins at my most recent confession, the priest advised me to find some time for myself to light a candle to remind me of the light of Christ that I carry. Ever since then, I have made a point to light a candle when I need to reset, and sometimes sing the song, “This Little Light of Mine.”

null

Jesus is in all of us and wants to shine brightly for all to see. Anxiety and sin dim that light. Sometimes, we just need a gentle reminder like a candle of His presence within us. I was also advised by my therapist to set aside some time for myself and go to Adoration so I can feel close to Jesus and form that connection I long for. Mass with littles has been difficult recently, and I do not always leave feeling like I made that connection with Him. I plan to visit the Adoration Chapel this year, when I am able to. Just like lighting a candle, sitting by Jesus who is present in the Eucharist is another way to allow the light within us to shine brighter and ignite a strong flame.

Click to tweet:
How can I find joy in my days when anxiety tends to overshadow it? The answer: Add some light! #CatholicMom

Sharing the light of Christ with others is a theme that keeps popping up in my life. My older two kids participated in a Christmas program at their school. The theme was, you guessed it, “carriers of the Light.” For weeks, we heard our kids practicing their songs, including “This Little Light of Mine.”

Once light is added to our day and to our faith, joy tends to follow. So here is your reminder that when life feels dark and gloomy, add some light back into your life! Light a candle, go to Adoration, or do something that makes you joyful and reminds you of the love of God.

null