Have you ever been through certain phases in your life that has left you broken, beatdown and shattered from within? You feel like you can't take it anymore and a feeling of resentment takes over you. Do you ask yourself "why me?" If yes, then you know what it is like to be heart-broken, to fail and to be disappointed. This mixed flurry of emotions, feelings and more importantly pain that you experience is due to your inability to accomplish or do certain things. 

         Life is mysterious. It can bring joy and happiness at one point, sadness and sorrow at another. This cycle operates in an unpredictable way. Sometimes, especially the dark times can change a person for better. I also had similar experiences. The key is what you do during these painful events. The Pain that you experience during these darkest periods of your life can be unbearable. Pain from an emotional wound can be much more excruciating than a physical one. It takes a lot of time to heal. So, how do you deal with pain, emotional disturbance, restlessness, and channel these emotions towards your goal?

      Let us talk in detail. I want you to look at the sketch. It portrays all the experiences, trauma, conflicts and restlessness within my mind during a particular phase of my life. The wound was rather emotional than physical. During such experiences nights become restless and days become meaningless. Its difficult to find happiness or joy or even a reason to smile; This cannot continue forever. One day you need to ask your inner soul "what am I getting from this?". Solitude can be a great friend during these times as one can delve deeper into his soul and ask for answers. I also found an answer after some days in solitude and self- reflection. The answer is that you are running away from pain, failures, disappointments and your fears. You need to face it. As you face your pain and embrace the Darkness it becomes your friend, not an enemy. What it will give you in return is a huge reserve of fuel that you can channel at your will towards something? And the same pain will drive you to do more than others could do. Muhammad Ali once said, "Only a man who knows what it is like to be defeated can reach down to the bottom of his soul and come up with the extra ounce of power it takes to win when the match is even." He was talking about the same pain from the defeat which later fuels you to give you an extra edge, an extra power.

     The hands in the sketch signify restlessness, emotional conflict and thoughts. Have you ever been psychosomatic and felt that you were going to die the next day? It is all in the mind and mindset. So, you need to gradually change your mindset if you are having such thoughts.The shadowy creature is the darkness from which you have been running this entire time. You, in the process of running away, feel like your soul is being sucked away (Skeleton in the sketch). However, once you stop running away and face the darkness, feel the pain the scenario will change. In these circumstances just offer a rose to the darkness, fear, disappointments, and romance, flirt with the pain, the darkness. In the process, the rose will turn black and so will you; You will learn to live with it. The wounds will become shallow and slowly heal. Notice a blackbird flying in the sketch. Likewise, you also will learn to fly with the darkness, the pain and as the tears fall down your wounds will slowly heal. This flying new you will be stronger, focused and will have more willpower. The cracks show the shattered heart but if you look carefully the darker portions are fewer and some portions are completely white-- It shows that the heart has started to heal. So, in the process of channeling towards your goal, your achievements you will slowly heal but the scars will remain. These scars will push you further when you reach your limit in future. Just remember, when you are about to give up, delve deeper and feel the scars. You will feel a burst of energy. This time the feeling will not be as intense as the first time but it is important to always remember that feeling because this will give you the extra boost you require. If you are about to give up just ask yourself "can I go further?" and the dark voice will reply "Yesss..." with a boom. Gradually, you heal and you become a better self with more determination and fervor. You will become a better you.

      Last but not the least, learn from your mistakes and always forgive.