Light is the New Black opens with a quote by Maya Angelou “Let nothing dim the light that shines within” Up until recently I feel like that is not how I was living my life. I though that it was the polite thing to do to dim my light so others’ could shine brighter. Wrong! Every one of us is our own unique person with our own unique experiences that only we can have. By letting my light shine it allows others to feel safe to let theirs shine as well which helps the world seem a lot brighter.
I have many pages dogeared in this book, such profound lessons that have taken me years to figure out, but not able to express, simply put in a couple pages by Rebecca Campbell. This book has 5 parts to it that break down and really validate all the feelings many of us have throughout our lives. Part 1 is titled Losing Everything Finding Me where Rebecca shares her story of how she discovered herself, essentially discovering her light. She goes into details about her career, success, failure, as well as the ups and downs that she went through in order to truly find herself. I can relate to this in so many ways. My finding myself came after quite possibly the worst and hardest year of my life. I call it the worst because at the time it was, but it also saved me and forced me to change into the person I’ve always been as well as share parts of myself with others, which this book has taught me is ‘working my light’ Rebecca goes into details as well as challenges you with questions in order to turn your light on and work it.
Part 4 is titled Living in the Light and goes over many of the ways to truly connect with yourself as well as your soul. You are not able to share your light if you are not connected to yourself, or your source of light. I am a very spiritual person, but wasn’t up until recently. I was too afraid to be, especially outright. I still hesitate when talking to new people about spirituality as it can make some that are not connected very uncomfortable. I am still learning how to deal with this. I used to be one of those people. Questioning people that believed in something bigger than any of us and thought they were weird and not living in reality. I find the opposite is true. Since finding my light and really connecting with myself I am more aware and really just trust the universe. I have also seen the universe place things in my path that I asked for and some that I didn’t, but I am open to receiving so much more than I ever used to be. I am also aware and connected in order to try to process what I am receiving. By meditating, doing yoga, something as simple as connecting with your breath, you reallly can change and grow into whoever you really are.
The 5th part of the book with titled ‘Be the light’ and really validates the things you are feeling are genuine and real, and that you are not alone in feeling them. Spiritual people are considered weird in some places, so find like weird people and call them into your circle in order to connect and not feel so alone in this. It is crazy but as soon as I started diving deep and exploring my spirituality and practicing it all the time I started connecting with people just like me. I have never been as connected with people that truly get me or think like me ever in my life. It’s something I struggled with as I was extremely lonely and felt like things I was feeling weren’t valid, that I was crazy even. There are so many things I think and feel, but simply can’t put into words. Rebecca is able to do that so well in this book. The chapters, or parts, are written with headings and a page or two describing that heading. This is a book I can guarantee I will refer back to often throughout my life and will also reread many times.
I have learned so much by simply reading this book. Some things I knew and just needed the validation, but so many other techniques and guidance to continue my spiritual journey.
If you have any sort of spiritual connection or are simply looking on how to become more connected definitely read this book!
Mindfully Authentic 