#7 The Dark Night of the Soul—The Breakdown Before the Breakthrough

"There’s a phase of transformation that nobody talks about. It’s the breakdown before the breakthrough—also known as the dark night of the soul."

Welcome to The Journey Home Podcast, in this episode, we’re talking about the dark night of the soul—the often painful, deeply transformative phase that comes before the breakthrough. This part of the journey is full of breakdowns, challenges, and moments of deep surrender.

In This Episode, You’ll Learn: [03:00]

The Dark Night of the Soul: The Breakdown Before the Breakthrough We often think we need to avoid pain, but it’s in the darkest moments that our real transformation happens. Let’s explore why these breakdowns are necessary for growth. Keywords: dark night of the soul, transformation, breakdown, breakthrough, spiritual growth

[06:00] The Power of Awareness, Acceptance, and Acknowledgement

The first phase of growth is awareness, but many people get stuck here because they refuse to accept the parts of themselves they don’t like. I share why acceptance is the key to moving forward. 

[09:00] Surrendering to the Process of Change Fear holds us back from change. But surrendering to the process is what allows us to move through it. I talk about how stopping the resistance helps you grow and why it’s not going to be as bad as you think.

[11:30] Reframing the Breakdown: Is It Really a Breakthrough? How you view the breakdown makes all the difference. What if the struggle you're facing is actually the breakthrough you’ve been waiting for? 

[13:00] Creating Your “Why” to Push Through the Dark Night of the Soul Understanding why you’re doing the growth work is essential to moving through the tough times. I share how creating a list of reasons can help you get through the dark moments. 

[16:00] The Importance of Small Steps You don’t need to have it all figured out. Small steps forward are enough to move you through this challenging phase. 

Personal Story: My Journey Through the Dark Night of the Soul

[18:00]
I share my own experience with the dark night of the soul—how it felt when everything I thought I knew started to fall apart. This phase pushed me into a deeper connection with myself, forcing me to surrender to the process and trust that the breakdown would lead to a breakthrough.

How to Navigate Through the Dark Night of the Soul

[21:00] Reframe the Struggle: If you’re facing a breakdown, ask yourself, What if this is actually my breakthrough in disguise? Accept and Acknowledge: Don’t avoid the parts of you that need healing. Embrace them and move forward with acceptance. Find Your Why: Write down at least 25 reasons why you’re doing this work. Let your “why” be the fuel that keeps you going. Keywords: navigating challenges, finding your purpose, healing, self-empowerment

Have a think about this:

[24:00] If you’re going through your own dark night of the soul, I want you to know that you are not alone. DM me if you're struggling or if this episode resonated with you.

Let’s talk about how you can start moving through it and into your breakthrough.

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