You know what would be helpful? A little light.
– Anakin Skywalker. The Clone Wars.
Today I’m sharing some soothing quotes for scary times. For those moments when fear starts taking over. Worry worming into our hearts and panic pulling us places we don’t want to go. Or… you’ve just lost your lightsaber.
A little bit of fear spurs us on. Our bodies prepared to escape or attack. Our senses on red alert. Our minds vigilant.
In the short term, fear can raise our game. Driving our determination and boosting our efficiency. Saving our lives or slaying our to-do lists 🙂
But when fear hangs around, it wreaks havoc on our health and our happiness. Flooding our systems and warping our thinking, fear is not our best friend.
Fear is the path to the dark side. Fear leads to anger. Anger leads to hate. Hate leads to suffering.
– Yoda. Star Wars : The Phantom Menace
Fear is a convincing fella, alright. But he doesn’t have all the answers. Life is complex…
The same life can be seen from many different angles.
The same situation can be seen while holding one’s breath and being furious, or while seeing the alternatives and finding ways to be grateful, no matter how small, because on one small bit of gratitude, one can step up and see another one, and another.
None of us know what the future may hold…
Despair is only for those who see the end beyond all reasonable doubt. We do not.
– Gandalf. Lord of the Rings : The Fellowship of the Ring
In the grip of fear, certainty clouds our judgement. Yet experience has shown us again and again, facts change. What we believe today may no longer be true tomorrow…
Always carry with you a little reasonable doubt, should you meet someone who needs to be found innocent.
And when the facts, as they stand, seem bad…
This isn’t Shakespeare, darling.
– Lillian Bellamy, The Archers
We’re still writing our stories. And whether we’re ramping up the drama or riding the waves, how we tell those stories defines our day…
The problem is not the problem. The problem is your attitude about the problem.
– Captain Jack Sparrow, Pirates of the Caribbean.
And this is where we get to choose…
Between stimulus and response there is a space. In that space is our power to choose our response. In our response lies our growth and our freedom.
And while that’s not always easy…
May your choices reflect your hopes, not your fears.
– Nelson Mandela
Some days moments are harder than others. But…
When the facts of the day are unsatisfactory you can always make them worse by repeating over and over how unsatisfactory they are. Try dealing with the day without the running commentary. It’s easier that way.
Mantras can replace that commentary and shift our thinking…
There is always a way, Wooley.
– Commander Cody. The Clone Wars.
There is always hope.
– Aragorn, Lord of the Rings : The Two Towers
After all…
Life is amazing. And then it’s awful. And then it’s amazing again. And in between the amazing and awful it’s ordinary and mundane and routine. Breathe in the amazing, hold on through the awful, and relax and exhale during the ordinary. That’s just living heartbreaking, soul-healing, amazing, awful, ordinary life. And it’s breathtakingly beautiful.
And sometimes, dismally dark. But…
Do not be dismayed by the brokenness of the world. All things break. And all things can be mended. Not with time, as they say, but with intention. So go. Love intentionally, extravagantly, unconditionally. The broken world waits in darkness for the light that is you.
You know what Martin Luther King said about darkness…
Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.
– Martin Luther King
Whatever fear you’re facing my friend, chances are you’re bearing up better than you think…
An octopus eats itself when it’s stressed. So really, I think I’m handling my own stress quite well.
And every day…
You get stronger. You get wiser. You get softer. With tattered wings you rise. And the world watches in wonder at the breathless beauty of a human who survived life.
And however tough times get…
…in the end it’s only a passing thing, this shadow; even darkness must pass.
– Samwise Gamgee. Lord of the Rings : The Two Towers
Hoping these quotes perk you up in times of panic and that we may all find some light in whatever darkness comes our way x
And for more soothing words delivered direct to your inbox, I love both of these…
Daily inspiration and encouragement for unschooling parents, but offers the most beautiful and wise words anyone could benefit from 🙂 And…
Reminders to be mindful.
If you love quotes, check out these posts.
We’d love to hear your favourite quotes or mantras, leave us a comment down below x
I am so with you on wanting some light! Thank you for voicing that!
Thanks Brett 🙂
Love these, Hayley. The Martin Luther King quote you’ve got here just speaks volumes. A close second for me would be Yoda’s🙂.
I also like the reminder of our day to day perspective in Sandra Dodd’s and Captain Jack Sparrow’s quotes – very helpful. The inclusion of characters alongside actual people is great!
Thanks Erin 🙂