I’m reading a new book and it mentioned a moment of J.R.R. Tolkien’s journey to write The Lord of the Rings. He was well into the book but felt to be at an impasse. Some of it was the stress of creating new worlds, characters, languages, and histories. But another source of his anxiety was the shadow he was sitting in. World War II had begun.
This made me wonder if there are shadows we are standing under today.
These different shadows could be of our own creation, or they could come from outside of our own control. Maybe you have a looming visit from an in-law or a long-awaited medical procedure. Perhaps your shadow is the war in Ukraine or the stock market.
Identify the shadow you feel clouded by, and don’t let it overpower you. Simply being aware of its presence might be enough for you to handle the pressure it’s placing on you.
There are enough things to worry about today; let tomorrow worry about tomorrow.