Radiance is wonderful. It is diametrically opposed to dullness. To be radiant is to be like the sun, shining and sending out warmth everywhere. So what is it and how do we get it?

The key to radiance is love. For most of us, love is something that we perhaps mainly feel towards members of our family or a close friend. This is great but radiance needs more than that. Love needs to be inclusive, not exclusive. It needs to go beyond our immediate circle. Radiance extends to those we don’t know as well as those we do. Selfless love towards people we don’t know very well may seem a tall order. It may even seem rather unnecessary. It isn’t that difficult, though; not really. And the effects on our own life can be extraordinary.

Radiance and comfort zones

Each one of us creates a certain amount of protective space around us – comfort zones. Provided nothing threatens our comfort zone, we are fine. We have many comfort zones. Some relate to how we act in certain circumstances and others how we maintain distance from other people.

Why our comfort zones are counter-productive

A comfort zone provides a limit on how far we are prepared to extend our energy – and to a certain extent, too, how far we are prepared to receive energy from others.

When a comfort zone is threatened, the radiance from our own energy starts to withdraw. There is a “turning in” while we subconsciously draw the energy back towards us. As that happens, the amount of available energy for us to act plummets. Our light goes dull. Sometimes it completely goes out.

Extraordinary though it is, our habitual tendency to defend ourselves through our mental and emotional responses frequently works against us rather than for us.

Self defence

Sometimes, of course, some level of protection or some defence mechanism is desirable or even necessary. If we have injured ourselves, for example, we naturally guard against the injury being touched or knocked. At a more subtle level, an emotional trauma will usually result in some guardedness against anything that may carry the risk of further emotional pain.

Either way, the result is that our energy is not fully available – for ourselves or for others. To live life fully it is important that we restore our radiance as soon as we can.

Healing and flowers in the sun

Few people truly realise the extraordinary capability of their energy. Radiance can heal, bring comfort and help others realise their own potential. It helps to make a better world.

Some of the time we do well. But rather like those flowers that close up when the sun goes in, we are a little picky. Under certain circumstances we shine but when the conditions change, we close up – sometimes partially and at other times completely. Then we lose out. Energy level drops and the feel-good factor disappears.

What we really, really want

Deep down, we don’t want that. We want to be happy. So we need to learn how to reverse the tendency towards unnecessary self-protection. Instead of being black holes, we can be like miniature suns. We will have more energy, more fun and more joy in our lives. Radiance really is a no-brainer.

Adapted from Awakening Heart: The Blissful Path to Self-Realisation