The Light That You Are
Wherever I go, I usually bring a camera. Today, what caught my eye, was this image you see here… a bunch of lights. They reminded me of something, so I took the picture not really knowing why.
Now I understand. The lights reminded me of people… so beautiful and SUCH individuals. Even though when I’m teaching and letting people know how we are all connected to each other, there’s no doubt that we are all extremely unique.
Much like these little lamps, we are different. Some of us have apparently strong lights others are bigger. Some have small bases (or foundations) and embellishments, while others are more elaborate and expressive… Regardless of what it appears to be, everyone IS light at their core. We are all perfectly composed of energy that is expressed through our physical form whether we know it or not.
There are two simple emotions we operate with – LOVE & FEAR. Of course there are many variations on those basic themes, but truly that is the basis for much of our reactions to things.
Most people seem to vacillate mostly inside of fear… not love, which produces untold problems in relationships. All relationships, whether they are personal, professional or global.
Why are we so compelled to focus on the difficulty instead of the wonder that life gives us? What is the compulsion that has us constantly be on guard and exacting about what’s “wrong” when there’s so much beauty to be enjoyed?
Not certain if it’s just habitual or a cultural process … or a mix of both, but of late it’s been abundantly clear to me that we are needing to make some changes. Even though I’m not all that informed by the media… I don’t read the news too often… I’m still very aware of the numerous issues that are facing all of us. The economy, terrorism, war, hunger, global warming, the current oil spill… even marital infidelity are all making headlines constantly. There is a constant stream of negativity pumped into our lives via the media and each other every day. Additionally, we are very good at pointing out what’s wrong a lot more than being attentive to what’s right.
One of my daughter’s struggles with a myriad of physical issues. Since she was a teenager, she’s had serious problems that make her day to day life very intense. I watch her having to adjust what she eats, where she goes, who she hangs out with, what she does for work in order to manage her on-going health issues. Regardless of what she’s faced with and even with major set backs, sometimes daily, she has an attitude and presence of love and appreciation.
She has a sense of how important it is to focus on what’s good in her life, but it takes a certain kind of person to continually make it their business to be interested in joy instead of complaining. This method of being can be taught, but it also has to be acted on. In other words, you can know the principle but it doesn’t make a difference unless you put it into practice.
In my daughter’s constant commitment to being aware of what’s good, she has more good days than bad… or great moments than painful ones. This is not to say that she doesn’t get discouraged because she does, it’s just that no matter how hard things are for her, she remains optimistic and joyful… most of the time.
She’s a delight to be around. She touches everyone’s life with happiness and love. She’s a light and she knows it, which makes her apparently compromised life an example of how to be in the world. Her presence gives other people permission to be happy… which we all need to witness and we benefit from it.
We all want good examples, but at the same time we continually look around at the world and often (or mostly) decide that we “get” to be upset, fight about or push against things that loom dangerously around us. Even 100% healthy, abundant people are completely unhappy and feel that they should be… “look at the state of the world”, they say.
Are we required to be upset when there are issues in our world? Will being upset change the problems around us? It’s not as though you feeling ill will provide health to someone else… or that there’s a limit to how much joy we can feel, even if there are real disasters present.
Narrow your focus for a day. Just look at what’s right in front of you and avoid any input from the news or your friends or family… The only caveat is that instead of looking for things that upset you, do your best to look at things that don’t. In other words, be specific about what you focus on inside your world… and committed to seeing what else there is for you to be aware of.
With a narrower focus you may find that you are struck by small, yet profoundly beautiful things that exist in your immediate environment.
Walk down the street and notice how most people are being. Are they upset with each other, or are they sharing joy in some way? Do people bump into you and glare, or do they step to the side and smile to make room for your paths to cross?
Make a point of noticing the trees or flowers along the way. Look closely at them… are they intricate and involved? Is the color of them bright and clear? Are there little birds doing their thing nearby, or buzzing bees humming somewhere in earshot?
Take the time to notice all these kinds of things and THEN make an assessment of what your life is providing. Is it that important that you don’t have EVERYTHING you think you want this red hot minute?
Being the light that you are more of the time means being willing to allow it to shine without conditions. It won’t do that if you keep throwing blankets over your light of doubt, anger, fear and resentment… Sure, you can and have the freedom to be negative, but why? What does that serve?
For one day be the light that you are… deep down. Remember that you always shine, you always glow, you always have the light of love inside you.