Contrast generally refers to the observation of differences in an object or subject.  Light versus dark, high versus low, fast versus slow.  In spirituality, contrast is also looked at as that which you do not like or doesn’t feel good.

From the moment you were born into this physical existence, you began having experiences.  In each and every experience, you learned more about yourself.  You discovered contrast, which led you to have preferences. You like apples, but not bananas.  You enjoy being at the beach, and you dislike scary movies.  You want to be an astronaut.  You hate black licorice.  These preferences are building blocks that form your authentic uniqueness, and tell your story.  These can change if you so choose, but often times they become what you identify with and live by for the duration of your time on Earth.

You eventually had experiences in your life where contrast caused conflict, and it left you questioning yourself.  You preferred one thing, and your friends all preferred something else...so you compromised and went along with them to feel included.  You tried impressing a person to get their attention, but you acted in ways that you didn’t normally act.  You applied for many jobs you were qualified for, and got rejected for all of them.  Why am I this way?  Why don’t I like what everyone else likes?  Why doesn’t that person like me?  Why can’t I get a job?  There must be something wrong with me. 

This all led you to suppress aspects of your authentic self.  You wanted to feel better than you did, to feel like you belonged, to feel loved, to feel what you thought was...normal.  However, this suppression caused adverse things to happen.  You had to really work to keep some of your friendships, and a few of them still didn’t survive.  They wanted your help and heart, but didn’t reciprocate.  You found yourself doing things that you didn’t really want to do, and resenting yourself for it.  You worked odd jobs to make ends meet, yet felt total dissatisfaction.  The inner turmoil mounted, and you couldn’t take it anymore.

Without realizing it, you let go.  Resistance, impressions, suppressing...all of it.  You told yourself, your friends, and everyone else that you can’t be anything other than who you are, you like what you like, and anyone or anything that doesn’t resonate with that can kiss it.  You began being “you” again, walking your own path.  Along the way, you lost all the fake friends, half-hearted relationships, and dead-end jobs.  You gained peace, happiness and relief.  You found that not only was it “not so bad” to be who you were, but that you were proud to be.  You met new people who effortlessly went to the depths of connection that you desired - they called to ask you how you were.  They invited you places.  They invested their time into listening to your life stories.  After helping a random stranger with a bundle of papers they dropped, conversation led to a great job falling into your lap.  Life was good again.