The Starlight Threshold

I’ve known a few people whose energy is so frenetic, so unsettled, that things often seem to go wrong around them. They are regularly frustrated with something or in conflict with someone.

And then there are those who are calm and collected despite the chaos around them. They flow through life, things falling into place at exactly the right time. They are never in a hurry, knowing full well that they are exactly where they need to be.

The more I observed this phenomenon, the more I came to see that these two contrasting states seemed to shape whether life feels like a struggle or a dance. They were like energies on opposite ends of a spectrum. Calm or chaos, expansion or restriction.

Every day we’re invited to cross a metaphorical line from one state into another. I think of this line as the starlight threshold.

In each situation, we face a choice: rise above the threshold into a lighter, more expansive state or sink below into a heavier, more constricted one. And we know the difference, not just in our minds but in our bodies. Anger, frustration and stress feel dense and oppressive. Serenity feels light and expansive, as though we have space to breathe and the resilience to handle whatever life throws our way.

Our state doesn’t only influence our lives, but also the lives of those around us. If I am kind, present, and compassionate, the person in front of me feels it, and that energy carries into the rest of their day. If I am harsh or dismissive, the same is true in reverse.

Similarly, the course of our life is influenced by the energy of those around us, so the people we surround ourselves with matter deeply. Spend time with uplifting people, and we recharge. Spend time with the perpetually negative, and we’ll be drained.

If we find ourselves below the starlight threshold, crossing it to our higher, more expansive state is both simple and profound: we notice what makes us heavy and what makes us light, then lean into the latter and release the former. Practice gratitude and notice the abundant beauty all around us. Pay attention to our words, especially those we use about ourselves. Choose relationships that uplift rather than oppress.

These small decisions, repeated, are how we keep our states high, and in a world that sometimes feels tilted towards chaos, this is even more important. Every act of awareness, kindness, and gratitude shifts the energy of the moment not just for ourselves, but for everyone we encounter.

Energy is contagious, dear reader. Choose wisely.

Until next week,

Ric.