A telescope is a very interesting instrument. Viewed from one lens, things that otherwise look small can be seen much larger, and viewed from the other lens, things appear much smaller. We too have an internal telescope. There are times life looks and feels larger than we imagined, and yet at times, the same life feels smaller. The external world remaining the same, our experience of it depends on how we use our inner telescope. It will serve us well to recognise the two lenses of our internal telescope – the lens of abundance and the lens of constraints.

The lens of abundance sees opportunities in situations, expands our minds to possible solutions in seemingly impossible situations, and not only sees the larger picture in everything we do but also sees the way forward in achieving it. But when our internal telescope inverts, the lens of constraint starts with self-doubt, spotting the problems, challenges, obstacles, and difficulties. It confines our imagination within the prison walls of why something won’t work.

The lens of abundance connects us with the abundance within, and we start seeing our good fortune, in spite of many issues we may still be dealing with. It fills us with gratitude for what we have and compassion for those who are not as fortunate as us. But when our internal telescope inverts, we only focus on things we don’t have, surfacing bitterness, jealousy, and discontent.

The lens of abundance shows us how to build relationships with love, and discover the larger joy that can exist between two imperfect people. But when our internal telescope inverts, we start focussing on the imperfections in people around us, and we start listing things we want but are not getting, ourselves becoming petty and controlling in our relationships.

The lens of abundance allows us to give in and let go, knowing that the value we can create by moving on is far in excess of the price we are paying for closure. But when our telescope inverts, we only focus on what we can grab, how we can block, and how we can fight for every last bit.

Sometimes when we see some people around us living a loving, joyful, and content life, we instinctively think that they have more than us. But on careful examination, we may well discover that actually, we may have much more than them. Their fullness of life does not come from their wealth but from their lens of abundance. And often we see many having so much more, but miserable in their relationships and experiences. On close observations, we may well discover that they have constrained their flow of positivity by the lens they have chosen.

In the galaxy of our life, there are many stars we may have seen from far and wished they would sparkle and twinkle for us as well. They absolutely will – it just depends on how we are using our inner telescope.

(Picture – Rope bridge in Squamish, British Columbia)