The Light You Hold
The branches create a canopy against the perfect blue sky. The leaves of the grand tree burst with a palette of green. Leaf color depends on how much light shimmers off a particular leaf. In science, visible light is electromagnetic waves that are visible to the human eye. Yet, the light we see is only part of a much larger invisible sprectrum. On the other side of visible light, there is infrared and ultraviolet light.
In his novel, All the Light We Cannot See, Anthony Doerr focuses on the invisible part of the spectrum and the other overlooked invisible lights in our lives. While the book emphasizes perseverence and survival during World War II, the most captivating part for me was the invisible light we take for granted: Love.
While modern society often praises technical skill and status, spiritual leaders including His Holiness the Dalai Lama encourage a closer look at Heart-Mind Wellness. Compassion research suggests that “there are numerous proven benefits of both self-compassion and compassion toward others, such as increased happiness, improved medical outcomes, reduced stress, reduced psychopathology, and increased social connectedness.” (20 Reasons Why Compassion is so Important in Psychology, Heather S. Lonczak, Ph.D.)
Self-Compassion can improve physical and mental health
The Bible says “Love your neighbor as yourself.” ( Mark 12:31). The first yama, social restraint, in yogic philosophy is adhimsa, non-violence, which also applies to the self. Scientific research has found that self-compassion fortifies the immune system and mental health. So love for our neighbor must start at home. But how?
Harvard Medical School suggests comforting your body, journaling, finding empathy for yourself, practicing gratitude and mindfulness. Mindfulness may take the form of meditation, mind body exercise (any activity done with attention) or breathwork. Far from being new age nonsense, meditation is being taking seriously by neuroscientists. Studies by Sara Lazar Ph.D. have shown evidence of “experience based structural alterations in the brains of meditators as well as a decrease in age-related brain atrophy.”
Love is filtered through each heart a little differently. The world needs the light you hold.
Photo courtesy ATC Photography Atlanta
The human heart beat is the result of an electrical pulse. Though we can see heart function on an EKG test, we cannot see love through a test. Just as light through a tree makes different shades of green, love is filtered through each heart a little differently. Take time to nourish your own heart first, and then, get out there. The world needs the light you hold.