“Don’t fight darkness. Bring the light, and darkness will disappear.” — Maharishi Mahesh Yogi
For far too long, all I saw was what was wrong with the world: All the things needing fixing, all the things broken, and all the things not quite right. It took me far too long to realize that this was just a mirror of my internal state.
I was never good enough. Everything I did had some flaw to it, and I would never allow myself to believe that I had any value. No matter how many times someone complimented me on my ability to speak or how they saw kindness in me, I was unable to see it in myself.
It’s obvious now, but the more I looked for what was wrong, the more I found. It was a vicious cycle, a reinforcing cycle, and a never-ending spiral. As you might imagine, it wasn’t a pleasant place to be in.
It all changed one day. I can’t tell you why, but I can tell you that the phrase “put energy into creation rather than destruction” came to me. It all became clear: I had been putting so much energy into tearing things down. It was a protection mechanism on the surface, but far below there was insecurity.
My perspective now is very different. I look for the good in people, and in return, I am starting to see the good in myself. I won’t tell you it is all sunshine and rainbows, but I will tell you that it is a more liberating state of being.
In today’s world, it is so easy to get caught up in everything that is wrong. All the turmoil, all the stress, and all the conflict. Yes, it’s there, but so is hope. So is the sunrise. So is the sound of spring Peepers.
Today calls for light now more than ever, so we are left with a simple invitation:
What light are you going to bring into the world today?
