How do we keep lokahi (balance) when things change? Things change like finding out you are laid off or you are ill or even just having to hit your brakes when someone cuts you off on the road. Little change or big change, how do we find our personal lokahi?
One balancing element to change is huikala (forgiveness). Huikala is the story of the bowl of light. We can choose to keep the “rocks” of resentment, frustration or whatever else blocks our light. Or, we can turn the bowl over and let our light shine. That resentment could be the person who cut you off on the freeway or the extra work you have to do because a co-worker got laid off.
The result of holding on to resentment is that you are the one who is carrying that rock. The person who is gone may not even know your name or forget all about you. That rock of resentment blocks your light. You have to choose if you want to walk around with that rock.
When you let go of the rock, you begin with aloha, your light shines and we do what we do for the joy of doing it. “I do this because it is my joy.” It may bring joy to someone else. I can’t know what will happen, but I do it for the joy of doing it.
It is like planting a seed and wondering if it will grow. I don’t know. I can tend the seed and nurture it, but I do the gardening for the joy of it. When I remember to just let aloha (love) guide my actions, it brings light to the room…to the street…to the community I live in.
And every community is made of a variety of people at different phases of their lives.
How do you bring your light to difficult things? How do you keep your balance in uncertain times? I see how certain “2×4’s” of life, like discovering a major illness, or being laid off, or even divorce, can reset a “bowl of light”. I see people begin to clear the clutter from their bowl. They shred old documents. They let go of some relationships. Some friends let go of them; this actually allows the person who is experiencing change to see clearly who their support system is.
No matter the 2×4, there is one common action: They choose with the intent that they wish they had had all their lives. They begin to see that they want to be mindful and clear about who is in their life, who they want to share their light with, and where they get a reflection of that light.
Perhaps it is the darkest time when our light shines the brightest. When it does shine bright, we bring those closer who are supposed to be there. Those who drop away we forgive and let go. Allow them to find their own way.
With the empty bowl we have a mind at rest. The 2×4 changes the priorities and is a reset for your light to shine. The trick is to keep your light shining in the future. So empty your bowl every day so your light shines and illuminates the world around you each day. E ala e! Arise! Let your light shine.
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Brian – so very well said. Shine on my friend!