Reflection, Diffraction, Refraction…Oh My!
Optics is a branch of physics that studies the behavior and properties of light, especially when a light wave comes in contact with an object. Will the light reflect, bend around the object (diffract) or go through the object (refract)?
Reflection is obvious when looking in a mirror or when squinting into the sunlight reflecting off a glass building. How about when you see a rainbow on a soap bubble or a when you can see an image reflected on a house window?
One of the most breathtaking examples of light diffraction in nature is crepuscular rays or God rays. Studioguys.com explains, “the light rays from the sun try to reach the ground but are blocked by the clouds, the light waves get diffracted and deviated. This deflection of light, due to the presence of a barrier in its normal pathway, is nothing but diffraction.”
Let’s focus on REFRACTION for a bit, ok?
Sciencelearn.org boils down refraction like this: Refraction is the bending of light (it also happens with sound, water and other waves) as it passes from one transparent substance into another. This bending by refraction makes it possible for us to have lenses, magnifying glasses, prisms, and rainbows. Even our eyes depend upon this bending of light.
Physicsclassroom.com in Dispersion of Light goes a little further: Visible light, also known as white light, consists of a collection of component colors. These colors are often observed as light passes through a triangular prism. Upon passage through the prism, the white light is separated into its component colors - red, orange, yellow, green, blue and violet. The separation of visible light into its different colors is known as dispersion. Does this take you back to high school science?
For me, the prism concept has been helpful in understanding “me” – not the “white light me” where at a glance all looks good, but the “refracted light me” where you consider the different aspect that make up me! I now see myself through the prism of multi-dimensional wellness.
Discoverlivingalive.com addresses Multi-dimensional wellness this way: The measure of our overall wellness goes beyond the usual parameters of our health, our fitness level and the absence of injury, disease or illness. Wellness is a multi-dimensional state that is embodied in the overall quality of lives and our sense of well-being. Wellness is an active process of growth, change and making choices toward the life we desire and define for ourselves as successful.
In viewing wellness from the multi-dimensional perspective, we look beyond our tendency to focus only on physical fitness and mental health. We begin to consider the other dimensions that exert a powerful influence on the quality of our lives, our well-being, our resilience and our belief in our ability to create change and possibility in the journey of our lives.
The question for you: How do YOU look through YOUR prism of multi-dimensional wellness? What might need improvement or change for YOU to live YOUR best life?