The Simmonds Signal

Weekly insights for writers, creatives, and storytellers to turn writing into a fulfilling, sustainable career (while designing a life just as inspiring as their work)

Emotional suffering. Existential dread.

Self-doubt so deep it feels like it could swallow you whole.

If this resonates with you, no, you’re not losing your mind.

You’re simply going through a transformation that most people will never find the courage to face.

This is the Dark Night of the Soul.

It’s a spiritual trial, a period of intense emotional and existential struggle. A time when you feel lost, disconnected, and, at times, as though you’re losing your way. It’s painful, raw—and forces you to shed the version of yourself that no longer serves you, to make space for the person you’re becoming.

And trust me, if you’re in it right now, you are undergoing one of the most important transformations of your life.

In fact, I’m going through it myself…

A Quick PSA:

Do you love to write and want to turn it into a full-time business?

Dakota Robertson and I are opening up our program, Growth Ghost on January 6th.

In it, we give you all the systems and frameworks we used to scale our ghostwriting businesses to $40K per month.

Click here to join the waitlist:

Why Am I Putting Myself Through This?

After years of travel, freedom, and chasing the next adventure, I’ve come back to Canada—Like Frodo returning to the Shire.

It’s a big decision, and to be honest, it feels like a bit of a fall. The high of exploration is slowly fading, and what I’m left with is the stark realization that I have unfinished business.

I’ve lived in pursuit of excitement. But I’ve neglected the one thing I know I must prioritize now:

Stability. Clarity. Purpose.

One of my top goals to create a safe, stable life that will support my future family—financially, emotionally, and mentally.

When I look back at the choices I’ve made over the last few years, they weren’t aligned with this purpose.

Sure, I’ve made money. But I’ve spent it recklessly. I’ve built a business, but not one that guarantees security or long-term impact. I’ve grown in ways I never imagined—but I neglected the habits and stability I need to truly thrive.

It’s time to take responsibility. To face the consequences of my past choices. This isn’t about regret, but about re-aligning with my highest values. I’m shedding the distractions, the things I love, the habits that no longer serve me.

I’m voluntarily entering my Dark Night of the Soul.

Why? Because deep down, I know this is exactly what I need right now. And I regret not doing this sooner.

It’s not easy. Some days, it feels like I’m slipping backward, questioning if I’m making the right move. But I remind myself to practice compassion.

Trust the process.

If this resonates with you—if you’re feeling that emotional weight and existential uncertainty—I’m here to tell you this:

You are not alone.

This Dark Night of the Soul is not the end of your story. It’s the beginning of something much greater. You are transforming.

You are re-aligning with your true self.

And when you emerge from this, you’ll be stronger, wiser, and unrecognizable from who you used to be…

Traversing the Dark Night: The Path to Your Higher Self

Psychologist Carl Jung saw the Dark Night of the Soul as one of the most essential stages of psychological and spiritual growth.

It’s not just a phase—it’s a journey. And it’s painful.

This is the time where you confront your shadow self—your repressed desires, fears, and destructive habits you’ve outgrown but have yet to let go of.

You'll feel like your soul is being torn apart. Like your light has gone out.

But here’s the truth:

You must go through this. You must face it—little by little.

Because only those who walk in darkness come to truly appreciate the light.

This may sound strange but it's a universal truth.

Suffering is a powerful catalyst for growth. Just like muscles grow stronger by being torn down, we grow stronger through our darkest hours.

So, how do you know if you’re in this intense, transformative process?

1. Awakening in the Dark Night: A major shift occurs in your life, often out of your control. Something breaks you down—your old identity cracks, leaving you questioning everything you thought you knew about yourself.

2. Traversing the Dark Night: You feel lost. Disconnected. Isolated. Sometimes you wonder if you’ll ever make it out of the darkness. You’re emotionally, mentally, spiritually drained. But despite it all, you keep going, because something deep inside tells you that you must.

3. The Rebirth: After what feels like endless darkness, something shifts. You emerge. Stronger. Wiser. More certain of your purpose. You’ve confronted your demons. And now, you stand with clarity, ready to move forward with renewed power.

My Friend, You Are Not Alone

If any of this feels familiar, take a deep breath. You are not alone.

I’m right here with you. As I sit with my own darkness, I know that countless others have walked this path before me—and many are walking it alongside me, right now.

The only way through the Dark Night is to face it. To confront it head-on.

It is not a punishment. It is a purification.

Maybe you’re feeling the crushing weight of financial uncertainty, with the holidays approaching and no clear path forward. Maybe your circle of friends no longer understands you. You feel lonely, adrift, out of place. Maybe you’re building your writing business on the side, pushing through exhaustion, wondering if it will ever pay off.

I know it’s hard to see right now, but here’s what I want you to remember:

This struggle is not for nothing.

This isn’t happening to you—it’s happening for you.

It’s the very process that will propel you to a greater levels of self knowledge and personal power. This doesn’t make the pain any less real, but it does transmute that pain into progress.

Through confronting your old habits, your bad decisions, and your lesser self, you will emerge forever changed.

Writing Through The Darkness

For me, the dark night feels heavy. It’s a battle against stress, self-doubt, and monotony.

I’ve learned that the only way to push through is by reframing my experience.

I’ve been using my journal as a lifeline.

It’s where I remind myself that:

• Pain becomes progress

• Grief becomes gratitude

• Uncertainty becomes conviction

Whenever my mind wanders to the mistakes of the past, I use my pen to refocus it on possibilities.

As odd as it may sound, my journal has become my weapon. My light. In the darkest moments, it’s the one thing that aligns me with my direction again.

If you're unsure of where to begin, try writing:

1. What's bothering you

2. Why it's bothering you

3. How you can see it as a blessing

It’s okay if it’s messy. The point is to explore those feelings and slowly reframe useless thoughts as useful beliefs.

Stay the course. The version of you who’s waiting on the other side is closer than you think.

You are becoming who you were always meant to be.

-Taylin John Simmonds

PS.

The opportunity freed me from my first financial Dark Night of the Soul was ghostwriting.

If you want to learn how I was able to land $4,200 /mo clients…

Dakota Robertson and I are opening up our coaching program, Growth Ghost, on January 6th.

In it, we give you all the:

• Content frameworks

• Marketing strategies

• Sales systems

We've used to turn our love of writing into a full-time career.

Join the waitlist here:

Results from our past students: