5 Simple Ways to Share Your Light With Others

Amanda Gorman shared a poem at the most recent presidential inauguration that received a lot of attention. Whether the widespread popularity was garnered from her thought-provoking words or her beautifully moving and powerful delivery—or a combination of the two, the National Youth Poet Laureate found a way to resonate with all of our collective souls simultaneously. All of us—seeking light in dark times and latching on to her high vibrations as a result.Gorman stated, “There is always light if we’re only brave enough to see it, if we’re only brave enough to be it.” She calls on us to dig deep, center ourselves, and reflect on our own inner light. She asks us to consider how we tap into it and share our bright shiny light with those around us. Read about five practices to help you create and share your light, below.

1. Increase your own inner light.

In order to share our light with others, we must focus on ourselves first. A burnt-out match cannot light a fire. Take time to discover what fuels your spirituality. Evaluate all of your connections—with others, with Spirit, and with yourself. What spiritual practices do you have and engage in regularly? What fills you up? What brings you pure joy? Do more of all of those things. Put more of your energy towards whatever brings you the most happiness, inner peace, confidence, and direction and it will serve as the best way to positively influence those around you.

“Knowing others is intelligence. Knowing yourself is true wisdom. Mastering others is strength. Mastering yourself is true power. –Lao Tzu

2. Put your phone down.

Technology has disrupted our spiritual wellbeing, disconnected us from the innate and authentic ways of connecting and engaging with others, and forced us into unhealthy ‘situationships’ with our phones. Start out slowly and keep it simple—put down your phone and take some time to observe the people and places around you. Who knows? Maybe you’ll make a new friend or connection at the grocery store, or notice when your roommate is having a bad day more quickly. Constantly looking down at our phones doesn’t just create neck tension and misalignment—it shuts us off from the people around us and inherently, puts up walls. In an effort to stay connected digitally, we’ve shut ourselves off physically - from the people around us, and spiritually - from Source. Look up and smile! Others will pick up on your energy and bask in the light you have to offer.

“The connection with a few friends is so deep that when you spend time together it feels like you slip into another dimension, a space where you all feel free and safe to share the realest versions of yourselves, a home where time stops and joy shines without limits.” —Yung Pueblo

3. Build a spiritual practice.

Another way to share your light is to feel supported, grounded, and connected in your spirituality and day-to-day spiritual practices. Think about the personal exercises that bring you inner peace and help you find and restore balance. These could be anything from reading sacred texts, meditative practices, journaling, yoga, etc. Invite friends and loved ones to join you for meditation or to discuss an insight you picked up in a reading. People are in search of conscious discussion and spiritual connection now, more than ever before, and everyone’s spiritual practice is unique to them. The Skylight app offers a variety of daily spiritual exercises and a community that supports overall spiritual wellness.

“With every person who becomes conscious, we form a new world built on: collaboration, creativity, unity, acceptance, trust, curiosity—and we each remember who we actually are.” —Dr. Nicole LePera, @the.holistic.psychologist

4. Find ways to serve.

Consider new ways to connect, serve, and lift others up in your community, work, or home. The act of service not only provides endless opportunities to share light and love but also helps develop a sense of belonging. Service can be anything that contributes to the greater good—from volunteering at a local soup kitchen or retirement home to donating blood or holding space for a struggling friend in need. By serving others, we share light and create a collective sense of unity (it’s contagious in a good way). This reminds us that we are all one—and that we are never alone in our journey or struggle. True unity is achieved through collective spiritual expansion and wellbeing - and it all starts at the individual level.The Just Serve organization is a great resource to discover local service opportunities in your city.

“Acknowledging the good that you already have in your life is the foundation for all abundance.” ―Eckhart Tolle, A New Earth: Awakening to Your Life's Purpose

5.Recognize the importance of kindness.

NY Times Columnist, David Brooks, once shared a powerful insight, “Many of our society’s great problems flow from people not feeling seen and known. There is a core trait that we all have to get better at, and that is the trait of seeing each other deeply and being deeply seen.” Ultimately, that trait—the ability to truly see, hear and know others, starts with kindness. Think about your circle of influence or the people that you surround yourself with on a daily/weekly basis. Notice the type of energy they typically manifest or create - positive or negative. Which would you rather be around? Start small. Even the most minute acts of kindness can make a large impact. Kindness is remembered, appreciated, and passed on to others—a positive vibration in the best way possible. Surprise your partner with breakfast, smile at a passerby, hold the door open for someone. We’re given 1440 minutes every day, that is more than enough time to spread some light into the world.

“Your acts of kindness are iridescent wings of divine love, which linger and continue to uplift others long after your sharing.” —Rumi

The more light and positive energy you project, the better you'll feel—and the better everyone else will feel around you too. Take care of yourselves; let your light shine and go share it aloud! When you do, also begin to notice the amazing opportunities that arise and the doors that open in all different areas of your life.