Recently I received a beautiful candle for my birthday. I decided it would be fun to put it with the other candles around my bathtub. (If you've never taken a bath by candlelight you are missing a peaceful and relaxing experience) When I carried the candle up to my bathroom I was shocked at the contrast of my old candles against my new one. I hadn't realized my old candles looked so shabby! Yes, I had had them for about 100 years (okay, well at least 20 years), and I hadn't wanted to waste them. I wanted to use them up all the way. Besides, who knows when the electricity might go out? So I have had them by my tub to give me occasional enjoyment thinking they were wonderful and not noticing how yucky-looking they had become.
When I set the new candle next to the old ones I was shocked at how shabby they had become. I decided to set the new one apart from the old ones, which lasted for a few weeks. But my eyes had been opened to the difference, and I wanted to throw them away and just keep the new candle. I am embarrassed to admit that this actually caused me some internal struggle. I wrestled with the idea of throwing something away that was still usable. Then I remembered what I had learned at a class a couple of months ago about upgrades. When you upgrade anything in your life, it has an emotional component that is also upgraded. I realized that these old, ugly and mostly used candles were an emotional drain and an eyesore. So I took them out to the garbage and threw them away. An upgrade to a new candle felt light and happy, a physical and emotional upgrade.
This is a small example but a valuable one. If just a candle can feel light and happy, what would a larger upgrade do? If you are able to upgrade something in your life, why not do it?
When we allow ourselves to keep around things we don't need, or that don't benefit us, or that are are physical and emotionally draining without realizing it, when we get so used to seeing things that we don't see them for what they are anymore, we give ourselves a downgrade. This affects us physically and emotionally in small ways, or in big ways, depending on what it is. My candles were a very small downgrade, but a downgrade none-the-less.
Any upgrade in life is a positive thing. Think about this. Walk around your house with new eyes. Think about your life with this in mind. What is in your power to upgrade? And what are you waiting for? Make one move. Then make another. Even small differences will lighten you emotionally and bring a spark of happiness, something that we all need. ♥
