You are not the dollar amount that your Balance Sheet presents to the bank, nor the number that pops up on the bathroom scale. However impressive the framed certificate from the lofty university you attended, that is not who you are. Whatever your job title at the office or at home, that is not who you are.

There’s nothing wrong with being proud of our accomplishments or motivated to hit the gym more frequently. But too often, we describe ourselves by presenting our “credentials” as evidence of our high and mighty status. Or conversely, prompted by self-reproach, we make resolutions to correct our “shortcomings” so we can make ourselves ‘better,’ suggesting that there is something lacking in ourselves.

I believe that either premise is incorrect. Who we are at our core, is Love and Light. And that is undeniable.

Love is the purest of energies, the highest vibration that connects us to the universe and each other. It enables us to have empathy and compassion for people, teaching us to understand ourselves and others from a place of no judgment. There is a practical side to Love, as well, setting boundaries and recognizing self-love as a priority. On a personal level, Love takes precedence and refers to my desire to communicate from my heart, free of ego, a voice of conscience and consciousness. With Love and Light is both the salutation that introduces and concludes my correspondence with associates, clients and the world at large.

Light is equally powerful. It is healing and illuminating, helping us to see beyond the distractions of the day-to-day, and to perceive what is real and purposeful, tapping into our inner wisdom. Sometimes the light is not apparent, as on a cloudy day when we don’t see the sun but know with surety it has risen. Light speaks to a clarity of intention and understanding of our true nature – our ancient connection to the source of sentient life… and to each other. It recognizes how we respond to the world, see the world and choose our path in the world. It leads us to Love.

Rather than making boasts that flaunt who we are or resolutions that suggest we must change who we are, we can instead look at what is deterring our love and blocking our light. Is it a false belief? Is it an inability to manage our emotions? Is it a survival mechanism from childhood that no longer works? Paradoxically, having loving compassion for those misplaced parts of ourselves helps us find them!

So if you get on the scale this morning and the dial doesn’t move, you’re still “you!” You’re still attuned to the vibrating energy of love, still on the path made clear by the unique light shining within.