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Lighting everyone else's candle
by Asha Hawkesworth

Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons

The world is full of Lightworkers who hear the call to shine the light in dark places, to heal what can be healed, and to witness the "story" that we all co-create together every day. A Lightworker knows, consciously or instinctively, that their candle must shine brightly. But sometimes Lightworkers interpret this calling to mean that they must light everyone else's candle, too, and thereby save the world.

It is not possible for a single person to save the world, nor is it possible for them to save anyone else. Jesus Christ, Buddha, Lord Krishna, or any other highly evolved spiritual being did not come here with the purpose to save the world. "Saving" someone else implies that you know what is best for them, and that they are not okay as they are. Only God knows what is best for another person, and everyone's process of healing and awakening is perfect just as it is. It is not supposed to look just like our own. What would be the point of God individualizing itself if everyone walked the same path?

Still, we can get sucked into trying to save the world—or at least, save our loved ones. When we start to believe that this is our purpose, we rush around trying to light other people's candles for them. And in this process, we forget to tend to our own flame.

The people that you know and love may have a lot of troubles in their life. They may have problems with addiction, relationships, their career, their kids, their finances, their health, or just about anything you can think of. You may even be able to recognize some of the problematic patterns or behaviors that are holding them back. You may indeed have some wisdom that can help them, or some ideas for how they might resolve some of their problems. But no matter what you see or think about what is going on for that person, it is not your job to save them or to keep their candle lit. They are the only person who has that responsibility. We are each solely responsible for saving ourselves and making the changes that are needed to resolve our issues. Other people do not need us to save them. Whatever is going on for someone else, it is part of their perfect, Divine life experience, and as such, it is "right" for them in that moment.

That being said, we can certainly help others along the path. It's not "every man for himself." But we must have buy-in and balance. If someone asks you for your thoughts or opinion, you can compassionately offer them. If someone asks for your help, do what you can up to a point. The point at which you must stop helping is when you are being asked to do what is not yours. If someone else wants you to save them, that is not your job. It's theirs. You will know you are doing their job when you spend all your energy relighting their candle, while your own flame ebbs. The flow of energy between you must be balanced.

It's vitally important that we take responsibility for ourselves. Learn to recognize when others are not taking responsibility. When they want to make you responsible for what's wrong in their lives, the relationship becomes toxic. This doesn't serve you, and it doesn't serve them, either. Learn to set your boundaries and stick to them.

Ultimately, our main duty as Lightworkers is to let our own candle shine brightly. We do not have to do anything. We do not have to "save" anything. We just need to be the perfect Light in the world that we are and to be present and aware. The rest will take care of itself, because that is God's responsibility.

Be the change you want to see in the world.
—Mahatma Gandhi

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