Encouragement for July: How the Night Sky Can Relieve Your Anxiety

One night recently I began feeling discouraged and worried about not being where I wanted to be in my career and it caused me to experience tightness in my chest – the kind that will cause health problems if it persists. Well you may know how I feel about health problems. I’ve had enough to last a lifetime, and to be honest, ain’t nobody got time for dat! I just wanted some peace.

Then I peered out the window into the darkness of the night and caught a glimpse of the stars. Ah, those beautiful little twinkling lights.

I walked over to the back door, slid it open and just stood there listening to the crickets, frogs and freshly fallen rain dripping from the leaves on the trees, and peered up at the night sky.

As it usually does, gazing at the sky (especially at night) put me in complete awe – contrasting how immeasurably gigantic the universe is with how small and insignificant I really am. I’m not the center of the universe but sometimes I forget that when my doubts and fears seem too overwhelming to handle. But looking up and remembering how small my problems and I really are puts everything into its proper perspective.

Sometimes it’s good to feel small when it puts your problems into perspective.

Are you like me on that night and needing a bit of stress relief right now? Maybe an adjustment to your outlook will help?

Think about the problems you’re facing.

Is your car constantly needing repairs? Will you need to adjust your budget this month because of a smaller paycheck or unexpected expenses? Are your kids driving you crazy? Are your parents driving you crazy? Did you not get the grades you were hoping for last semester and are you worried you won’t get accepted into the internship you wanted? Did you not compete as well as you wanted to at your last championship meet and are your dreams are shattered? Is life not what you expected?

Or do you not have access to clean water? Do you not have freedom of speech? Do you not know if you’re going to find food to eat for dinner tonight? Will you not have a place to rest your head tonight? Are you afraid to go to sleep because there’s a war going on in your village?

There are many problems in this world and you may feel like you have all of them. But remember to be thankful for the good things you have. Know that if you’re reading this you have much more to be grateful for than the majority of the rest of the world. I need reminding as much as anybody else, but when I look up at the sky and spend enough time reflecting on my blessings I’m reminded how lucky I am to be alive and well and safe and loved.

Tonight take a moment to look up at the sky and spend some time counting your blessings. I bet you’ll be glad you did.