“I wish I could show you, when you are lonely or in darkness, the astonishing light of your own being.” ~Hafiz
I keep a prism hanging near the entrance to my home. Its beauty, made possible only by the broken nature of the glass from which it is constructed, serves as a constant reminder that even the broken pieces within each and every one of us can serve as a source of light. It’s a lesson that took me some time to learn.
Shortly after graduating from college, I took a long, brutally honest look at my life and realized that it had become stagnant and nearly joyless. I was entrenched in a profoundly unhappy relationship, working too much, and laughing too little. I decided then to make a change.
I acknowledged that the lies I told myself—that I was unlovable, somehow broken, or a victim of an abusive past—had created a world in which deep happiness was seen only in glimpses.
I accepted as truth that I had not just a right to find happiness but a duty to do so, and I dedicated myself to its pursuit. I ended that relationship, negotiated better hours at work, and set my mind to finding joy.
On an academic level, I did everything I could to ensure the growth of my spirit: I cultivated meaningful relationships, I kept a gratitude journal, I did yoga. I read and discussed countless books and articles about age-old wisdom and the secrets of happiness.
Through dedicated action and a commitment to growth, I was able to rewire my brain to invite and accept happiness in myriad ways.
But, on a personal level, my path was less clear. Some days I was astonished by the sheer beauty of life and felt fully connected and present. I had profound moments of clarity in which I knew that I was a part of the great fabric of the universe and, as such, deeply beautiful.
But some days old patterns of dysfunctional thought would creep in.
I was astounded to find that my perception of my appearance could throw an entire morning off, or that I still struggled to understand why any person should love me.
I battled disappointment and sadness as I grappled with those unwelcome thoughts. In those moments of darkness, I began to question whether I had grown at all.
Meanwhile, friends, family members, and acquaintances would confide in me that my approach to life, cheerful nature, and natural light was an inspiration to them. As I shared some of the wisdom that I had learned during my journey toward self-discovery, I helped those around me ease their own suffering. Yet, still I questioned myself.
I wondered, “How can I help anyone else when I don’t feel whole?”
It was during one of those moments of deep uncertainty that a dear friend urged me to acknowledge my own light.
He asked me to imagine a world in which I hadn’t shared my joy, a place devoid of the little transformations I had made.
I had to admit that if I had allowed those moments of darkness to overshadow the clarity I had achieved, the world would be a tiny bit less bright. I acknowledged that it was my duty to prevent that.
I had to set aside fear—fear that I was not good enough, not complete enough—in order to allow my light to shine.
There is a quote by Stephen Cope, from The Great Work of Your Life, that I have hanging in my bedroom. It reads, “Each of us feels some aspect of the world’s suffering acutely. And we must pay attention. We must act. This little corner of the world is ours to transform. This little corner of the world is ours to save.”
With that in mind, I am able to act—to offer love, support, help, and kindness when I can. I am able to shine. It is, in fact, our suffering that allows us to transform the little corner of the world that is ours.
The path to self-growth is not linear. It is a meandering journey through mountains and valleys, and occasionally there are more lows than highs. But it is a journey ever onward, and it is our light—that same light that exists in every one of us—that guides the way, if only we allow it to shine.
Invite yourself to embrace every aspect of your being. Perhaps there will be times that you feel less than whole, but when those moments come, encourage yourself to remember a time when you made the world a more positive place. Regardless of where you are on your path, that moment mattered.
The moment you share your light, the world becomes a brighter place.
About Rachel Grayczyk
Rachel Grayczyk is a yoga teacher, an amateur happiness researcher, a traveler, and a student of life. Her mission is to spread a little brightness everywhere she goes.
Though I run this site, it is not mine. It's ours. It's not about me. It's about us. Your stories and your wisdom are just as meaningful as mine. 
Rachel,
First of all, I really love your name 🙂 and I thoroughly enjoyed reading your post….there are moments when I too downplay myself even though the positive impact I have made in my own and others lives is clearly visible. Your words are a beautifullll reminder of the approach we must have towards ourselves. How easily we question our own worthiness and efforts, while at the same time admire those of others? Hahaha! It makes me laugh sometimes. But even in those moments I recognize that there’s a part of me that believes in myself and the change I can cause. I loved the line ‘Perhaps there will be times that you feel less than whole, but when
those moments come, encourage yourself to remember a time when you made
the world a more positive place. Regardless of where you are on your
path, that moment mattered.’ Next time I slip into dysfunctional modes of thinking, I’ll remind myself of that 🙂
Thank you so much!
Love and smiles all around
it was great joy reading your post.. it inspired me, and yes, this is what i want to tell myself when i am downplaying myself.. good luck in spreading happiness..
A wonderful post–my goal, and challenge, it to share these pearls of wisdom with my teenage son.
YES!
Brilliant read and post, thank you 🙂
Beautiful. Thank you so much Rachel.
Great article, thank you!
Just when I needed it this article arrived and delivered a glimmer of light to a bad time.
I so enjoyed reading this piece because I saw exactly myself in this article. I was working too much, was stuck in a 10years relationship that was getting nowhere, was terribly unfulfilled spiritually in life.
It just snapped when my relationship ended, I left my corporate job to travel for 6 months. when i returned I took new hobbies such as yoga, worked in cafe to pass time, took up a tourism course. I had no clear idea how to continue my life, I was looking for answers everywhere, and that was when I start to understand myself better and build up a resilient character.
Some days I am highly inspired to do what i like to do (tour guiding, physically tiring and unstable income but rewarding emotionally), some days I question why im jeopardising my rather good career prospects and will start to look for jobs online, then once I see all the job descriptions, I worry that I’ll be sucked up in that visuous rat race cycle and back at where I originally was.
It has been a long 1.5 years journey to find myself and love myself. Im still doing it, I wouldnt say im there already, but its getting better everyday. As the popular saying goes…Let go of the past, accept the present and have faith in the future.
Thank you, Rachel, for letting you light shine, making my path brighter. Showing up with our broken pieces feels so deeply vulnerable. Perhaps, in truth, this is when we find others to share the journey, lighting the way for one another. Your words, your heart, your soul are beautifully illuminated in what you’ve shared. Sending grace and gratitude to you, and to Kate for sharing this post with me.
A terrific article and a reminder that we are human and therefore not immune from the everyday doubts and fears. What’s important is to remember your authentic self, your accomplishments and that you are extraordinary — fear and doubt are evident in our complicated modern lives. But it doesn’t have to own you.
“The path to self-growth is not linear.” That is the best line I’ve read in a long time………… thanks for the encouragement and inspiration.
Awesome!!!! Thank you for this!!!
Thank you for this inspiring and wise essay. It brought me such comfort and hope to read this. A beautiful gift.
Inspiring post! Thank you for sharing your perspective, and such a beautiful message!!! 🙂 Great quotes!
Loved this piece. Thank you for the time taken to compose it.
Thank you, Rachel. Your story really resonates with mine. I like to remember what the Buddha said about needing to work out your salvation, with diligence.
Thank you! That was a pretty big breakthrough for me. I’m glad it resonated with you!
I was discussing the idea that finding our highest selves is our birthright tonight. I think it’s good to bear that in mind when the path is rough!
I’m so glad. Thank you for taking the time to read it and respond!
Thank you!
This is the reason I write. Thank you.
Thanks for reading it!
This is so right on. And as soon as you accept that fear and doubt are completely natural, they lose their death grip. It’s so freeing!
Wow, this is really touching. Lighting the way for one another. I love it.
Thank you for reading this and responding from such a heartfelt place. It’s so easy to fall into the trap of questioning every step along the path. Just remember that you are exactly where you need to be. 🙂
I’m so sorry to hear you’re having a bad time, but so glad to hear that this piece helped a bit. Keep shining!
Thanks for reading it!
Thank you!
Thank you for reading and taking the time to comment!
This sort of reaction makes me smile and makes the part where I bare the most vulnerable bits of me worth it. 🙂
You sound like a wonderful mom. 🙂
Thank you! It’s so easy to beat ourselves up. Let’s practice a little self-compassion. 🙂
Thank you so much for this heartfelt reply. It is a little funny when we step outside of the situation, isn’t it? Laugh and learn. 🙂
Rachel,
In synchronism to my life I read your article. Thank you.
I wanted to personally reach out to you as a fellow woman who has/does/is/are experiencing the exact’isms of your story.
I get the strong hit you and I share a similar chart in terms of our 6th house, or Virgo. I would suggest getting your chart and funding out where your Pluto is as well as where your mars and Venus are (both house and sign)
Then get Jeffrey greens books on Pluto. Both volume one and two.
Here you will better find the deepest soul purposes for you as an individual and exactly why you have experienced what you write about.
All I can say is you are on track and if my note means anything I can promise you a bright light in illumination on where you are going with all this work and the processes you feel you have gone through in relation to your souls purpose on earth – in those books.
This couldn’t have come at a better time for me. What a great message!
I’m so happy to have started this new journey months ago and allow my light to shine again- it’s liberating!
Thanks Rachel :-)))
What a beautiful post! I feel like those same thoughts have been floating around in my own head. Seeing them written in front of me brought them all together. Thank you!
I am embarking on my own purposeful and necessary path of personal growth and hopefully transformation. I find inspiration in articles like these! Thank you. You mentioned you read a lot…this is something I am attracted to doing, but don’t know which books might be a good start. Could you (or anyone in the comments )recommend 5 great books for personal growth, transformation and creating happiness? I would really appreciate it!!
I can so relate to this post! I especially enjoyed this “it is our light—that same light that exists in every one of us—that guides the way, if only we allow it to shine.”
Thank-you for sharing 🙂
I love this. Thank you 🙂
Great, great, GREAT post! 🙂 More people need to hear this message and embrace it. I’ve been in that position of wondering how I’m supposed to help people and change the world when I feel so fractured and torn up inside, and finding that inner light was such a huge turning point in my life. Thank you for sharing your story.
Thank you! We just have to remember that, no matter how torn up we sometimes feel inside, we still have something to give! And every time we give, we heal a bit more. 🙂
Thank you!
Thank you! Shine on!
Good luck on your path! This website is a great place to start!
One of the best books I have read in terms of happiness studies is The Happiness Hypothesis: Finding Modern Truth in Ancient Wisdom by Jonathon Haidt. I recommend it to everyone. The Four Agreements, by Don Miguel Ruiz is another good one. Wayne Dyer and Deepak Chopra are both great resources as well. 🙂
Thank you!
Wow, thank you so much for this thoughtful reply, Holly. I will look into it. 🙂
I’m so glad the message made it’s way to you!
Thank you Rachel!
Thank you Rachel, I felt such a connection when I read your beautiful article. I felt a little bit of light seep in to the cracks