What I love about autistic artists like my daughter, Ally, is that their spirit shines through in their art. When I think of her beautiful, happy spirit, I think of SHINE! When I feel the sun shining down on me, I smile. It always reminds me of a hug from Ally. Ally’s sunshine bursts through her art. It’s a potent reminder that with positivity we can overcome all challenges, even autism.
As powerful as the sun is, I think even more powerful is the life force inside each of us. Inside you is a spirit that can shine like the sun. Sometimes a cloud covers the sun, but it doesn’t mean the sun is gone. Just like sometimes we’re not in a good mood but it doesn’t mean our inner light is gone. It just means we have to be honest about how we are really feeling.
A long time ago there was a band called Sly and the Family Stone and they had a song called “Everybody Is a Star.” That’s how Ally thinks about people. Everyone has their own shine that reflects the best of who they are. All their joy, all their love, all their kindness is a reflection of their own star within them.
An artist with autism like Ally doesn’t have the ability to hide their feelings. If Ally is happy or sad or if she feels bored she will let us know very quickly. It is a blessing that she feels safe enough to express herself like that – just like she does with her art!
When we don’t feel safe enough to express our feelings, it’s like a cloud blocking the sun because no one can feel our true warmth. Pema Chondron said: “Only when we know our own darkness can we be present with the darkness of others. Instead of communicating their fear or sadness, they obscure it. I know that if I can’t process some of my darker feelings, I will see them emerge the next time that I do yoga. Yoga is a great way to release these feelings, to experience and acknowledge them.
Besides, when we hide our feelings we are not living an authentic life. We are being fake because we want to fit in with others. It’s unfortunate, isn’t it, to feel we can’t be truly honest? Sometimes I look at the world and I don’t see a lot of empathy. But if we aren’t authentic and we don’t let our shine show, then how will people have a chance to practice their empathy?
When people hear a term like positivity, they already have a mental image in their mind. They think of someone who is always smiling and cheerful. They think of someone who has to ignore their challenges. But that’s not positivity. It’s denial.
Positivity at its most basic is adding happiness. Every moment we have an opportunity to add to the world’s happiness. If we’re not being honest with our emotions and let a cloud hide our shine, then we are subtracting from the sum total of the happiness around us.
When we feel great and our shine is like the warmth of the sun at the equator, think of it as us adding a big number to the total of the world’s happiness. And if we are sad or upset, it doesn’t mean we are subtracting – it just means we are adding a smaller number.
People around us want to help us. That is why they ask how we are doing! And if we are sad, even if they can’t make us feel better, we can make them happier by allowing them a chance to practice their empathy. Sometimes all we can do is offer a hug to let them know they are not alone.
Let’s resolve to live our lives authentically. We can ensure we offer our shine to the world. It’s not always easy, I know, but we can be present for our families. Let our positive intentions guide us like the light bursting from within. If we are sad, we can be honest about our feelings and accept empathy from others. And we can live a life of positivity and add to the sum total of the world’s happiness.
In this way, we will change the world into a place of courage and compassion. See Ally’s artwork on the House of Shine Journal, a radiant companion for your daily reflections and inspirations: https://thehouseofshine.com/product/house-of-shine-journal/
Today, I hope you SHINE!
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