Paramahansa Yogananda taught us how to heal anxiety and depression with these three powerful affirmations from his book back in 1924:
"I relax and cast aside all mental burdens, allowing god to express through me his perfect love, peace, and wisdom."
"I will, with my own will, which flows from the divine will, be calm and patient under all circumstances."
"I am submerged in eternal light; it permeates every particle of my being. I am living in that light, the divine spirit fills me within and without."
All light stems out from darkness. Darkness can only exist in the absence of light. Where there is light, there are shadows. Shadows require light to exist. A shadow is a reduction of light, not a total absence. "Shadow"—the hidden, unconscious, or repressed aspects of the self—must be acknowledged and integrated into the conscious mind ("the light") to achieve psychological wholeness and prevent destructive outbursts. Rather than erasing the darkness, the goal is to reveal it and bring it into the light, thereby preventing it from consuming the personality. Very few make it through awakening without becoming a monster themselves. Every individual harbors a repressed, uncivilized, or dark side—regardless of how moral or virtuous they believe themselves to be. The belief that this darkness is absent in oneself is a form of dangerous ignorance that leads to "shadow projection," where one denies their own flaws and projects them onto others. "Until you make the unconscious conscious, it will direct your life and you will call it fate," highlighting that confronting this inner darkness is essential for psychological maturity and avoiding personal demise.