The Extraordinary Power of Fireflies: How to Shine Your Light Brighter and Transform the World

By Julie Wignall

Are You Shining Your Light as Brilliantly as You're Meant To? 

If you yearn to generate positive change in the world and create a larger impact, this book is for you.  Working to transform the world shouldn't feel like wading through mud.  It also doesn't mean taking a vow

• Language: English
• Publisher: Capucia Publishing
• Release date: Oct 6, 2023
• ISBN: 9781954920804

Book preview

Contents

Introduction

Chapter One What Is a Firefly?

Chapter Two Rising in the Spaces Between

Chapter Three Earthrise

Chapter Four Lessons We’ve Forgotten

Chapter Five Lessons We Need to Learn

Chapter Six Climate Change and Trash Talk

Chapter Seven Nature to Nurture

Chapter Eight Social Justice

Chapter Nine Economics

Chapter Ten The Arts

Chapter Eleven Final Notes and New Beginnings

Epilogue One More Story

Call to Action

Acknowledgments

References

About the Author

Introduction

There’s a certain enchantment in watching fireflies glow in the evening sky. As they dance among open fields, they draw our attention to their light rather than the darkness that surrounds them. We delight in the moment, amazed at the wonders of nature. That’s a pretty powerful response to a tiny beetle.

Just as fireflies bring about a special magic, human individuals around the world are doing the same. By shining their light and illuminating pathways, they inspire us and renew our sense of hope for the future. These human Fireflies remind us that being ordinary is an illusion. We each have a light to shine, and as more individuals recognize the extraordinary power within themselves, there will be more light to balance the darkness.

I am so delighted this book has found its way into your hands. I believe opportunities appear in our lives when we’re ready for them. There is much turmoil in the world, and the time to sit on the sidelines has passed. We need Fireflies at the forefront of every movement, business, and occupation. Reading this is your sign that you are ready to shine brighter and become the beacon of inspiration and success you’ve always desired. Whether you’re just starting out or are already on the path to transforming the world, remember that the world needs your special brand of you, and it needs it now.

My diverse career has allowed me to observe human Fireflies up close and in action in politics, the arts, businesses, nonprofits, conservation organizations, government agencies, and museums, zoos, and aquariums. While the fields in which they worked may have differed, I have seen similar attributes in those individuals and groups who have risen to the top and have made the biggest impact in transforming their communities. There are certain universal truths that seem key to their successes. When I have put those truths to use, they’ve been key to my success.

The skills and knowledge I watched at work among these extraordinary superstars weren’t taught in any school but were passed along by mentors and coaches and fine-tuned through objective observation and experience. We may not always grow up surrounded by the encouragement and support to follow our dreams, but every human Firefly with the desire and passion to shine meets the mentors, teachers, and coaches they need when they are ready to listen and grow.

I know I have, and I’m now paying it forward. By passing along these field notes and introducing you to the stories of other Fireflies, I hope to stoke your passion and provide tools to help you shine your light as brightly as possible. I’m here to encourage and support you in every way I can.

Before we begin, I’d like you to take a moment to ponder the popular Zen proverb, empty your cup, and the story behind it, which goes something like this: A very learned scholar visits a respected and revered Zen master to increase his knowledge. As the Zen master quietly pours tea for the two to share, the scholar goes on and on about everything he already knows about Zen teachings. The master fills the teacup of the visitor and continues pouring. As the scholar watches the tea overflow onto the table and floor, he can take it no longer. Stop! The teacup is full! No more will go in!

This is you, replied the master. How can I teach you anything when your cup is already full?

I am asking you to empty your teacup. Forget what you know, or what you think you know, and give yourself the freedom to gain a new perspective on the extraordinary being that is you. Emptying your teacup does not mean finding a place of nothingness. It means finding a place beyond what you think you know and opening yourself up to something new. There are many paths up the mountain to success. To elevate your journey, do more than just read this book—act, gain clarity, and chart your path forward by doing the exercises included at the end of every chapter. You can download the complete packet of Firefly Exercises at extraordinaryfireflies.com.

You are on your way, and I am honored to be a part of your journey.

Shine brightly!

Julie Wignall

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Firefly Opening Exercise

Learning to Breathe

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There’s a reason yogi masters have focused on breathing techniques for thousands of years. When done with awareness, breathing practices can sharpen our focus, bring about balance, and help center us. I invite you to try this as a warm-up activity and to practice it whenever you need to slow down, empty your teacup, and clear the path to gain clarity and new perspective.

Begin by sitting in a comfortable position. Breathe in and out through your nose.

Breath One

Take a deep breath in, filling your lungs with fresh air and allowing your chest to expand.

As you breathe out, try to release all the chatter in your head. Breathe out any scattered thoughts and energy.

Breath Two

Take a deep breath in, and focus on letting it reach the core of your spirit.

As you breathe out, use the power of your being to push away any lingering negative thoughts.

Breath Three

Take a deep breath in, following the path you’ve now created to reach your core and charge it with energy.

As you breathe out, focus on sending that energy throughout your body. Visualize it filling every cell from the tip of your toes to the top of your head, super-charging everything for optimum performance.

Breath Four

Repeat Breath Three.

Breath Five

Take a deep breath in, and feel the expansion of your being in tune with all the possibilities of the universe.

As you breathe out, focus on filling yourself with positive energy and clarity of mind to move forward.

CHAPTER ONE

What Is a Firefly?

Fireflies are everywhere. They’re found on every continent except Antarctica—they just don’t all glow.

A Firefly is someone who sees past the way things are to the way things could be. Fireflies act to bring about a better reality. Like the mesmerizing beetles they resemble, human Fireflies are all over the world, including Antarctica. They can be found in all walks of life, in big cities and small towns, with a diversity that encompasses every culture, gender, race, and age. Each transforms the world for the better in a unique way.

When we watch other Fireflies in action and allow ourselves to see what’s possible, we benefit from their efforts. Their flashing signal stimulates the imagination and elevates thoughts, dreams, and hopes. Just as that is the effect they have on us, that is the impact we have on others when we take action and shine our own light brighter.

Fireflies are fueled by a desire to make life meaningful. They’re happiest when they have the opportunity to create, to innovate, to connect with others in an authentic way, and to contribute to making the world a better place. Every individual accomplishes this differently.

Some individuals know from the time they are young what they want to do with their lives, and they never veer off that path. I’ve known doctors, lawyers, and artists who have known what they wanted to do with their lives since they were children. Maybe that was you, or maybe you’re more like me and have found your purpose and desire for meaning has been fulfilled in different ways at different times of your life.

There’s nothing wrong with finding one meaningful path and sticking with it. There’s also nothing wrong with changing gears and finding meaning in new and different areas at different stages of your journey. Too many people feel lost as they search for their life purpose and come up short. They’re stuck in a belief that we each can have only one higher mission that must discovered and achieved, or we’re letting the entire world down. Whenever you feel stuck, move. Choose a path and take initiative. Sometimes, that’s all it takes for meaning to come find you.

Following My Desire for Meaning

My background is a mosaic of experiences gathered from many fields. At times, I fueled my desire for meaning in the arts, pursuing all aspects of theatre, film, and television. Through these experiences, I learned the power of using performance and artistic media in teaching and exploring sensitive and controversial topics. There was also a time when I pursued my desire for meaning in politics, assisting and supporting those called to serve the public for the greater good. This taught me how to view issues from a variety of different vantage points.

I learned grassroots community organizing while working for the nonprofit organization Common Cause and later became the youngest paid staff member on Jimmy Carter’s presidential campaign. I learned from some of the most brilliant minds of the day. Jody Powell, Carter’s press secretary and Hamilton Jordan, Carter’s campaign manager, supplied lifelong lessons as they charted a path to the presidency for an obscure peanut farmer from Georgia who operated with integrity and envisioned fresh ideas.

I experienced a different outcome while working on the failed presidential campaign of John B. Anderson, a Republican-turned-Independent. Later, I worked for Congressman John Seiberling, a forward-thinking environmentalist who rekindled my deep love of nature. I found invigorated meaning in my desire to work in conservation.

My passion for the ocean led me to study and work in the field of marine biology. Combining studies with wanderlust took me to Mexico, the Bahamas, Greece, and Australia. When I ran out of money, I returned home and began volunteering with The National Aquarium in Washington, D.C., to continue to feel connected to my purpose.

To pay the bills, I reluctantly ran the research department for my mother’s company, which sold military spare parts to foreign governments. Let me be clear: This was not where I found meaning. But somehow, meaning found me. At the time, I was very arrogant in my quest for clean oceans and a better environment. I was uncomfortable navigating the ethics and mindsets of those who spent their careers surrounded by the thoughts and tools of war.

My position required me to interact with foreign embassy attachés, the State Department, and the Department of Commerce, as well as the businesses that manufactured parts for the military. My discomfort turned to confusion as I got to know the people in these sectors. I listened to different perspectives and realized our opinions are shaped by differences in culture, knowledge, and experience. The simple idea of peace has many different meanings and approaches.

I gained the ability to respect others’ points of view, even if I disagreed with them. And, in a lesson that has given deeper meaning to everything I’ve done since then, I learned the importance of stepping back and looking at the bigger picture from as many vantage points as possible. When you do this, you ask bigger questions.

This is exactly what happened after I left my mother’s company to become the director of programs for The National Aquarium. I felt like I was back on the path of purpose, working in a field that gave my life meaning again. My job at the Aquarium enabled me to work with and learn from individuals I admired, like French explorer Jacques Cousteau; Jim Fowler, the cohost of Mutual of Omaha’s Wild Kingdom; and world-renowned shark expert—and my personal favorite—Dr. Eugenie Clark. I collaborated with counterparts at the National Zoo, the Smithsonian Natural History Museum, and numerous nonprofit groups.

As I worked among others in all capacities for the betterment of the environment, I noticed one common thread: the constant complaints over the lack of funding. Every fundraising campaign I observed was labor intensive, and the financial gain never seemed like enough. My own budget for education programs was dependent on how many coins had been tossed into a wishing well.

I wondered why so many worthwhile groups and organizations were struggling financially. Experience had taught me that, if I lack information or knowledge in an area, I need to look for guidance from those who have it. Who was consistently making money and had the power to make the impact we could not? Big corporations. Unfortunately, in the environmental movement, big business is considered the enemy. Corporations are seen as greedy, having too much power and money.

When I put this stereotype aside, I realized that corporations aren’t greedy or corrupt, it’s the people within them who have these attributes. If there are power-hungry and self-serving individuals working within corporations, wouldn’t there also be those with integrity who welcomed the idea of contributing to the greater good?

This led to new questions: What if, instead of working against corporations, environmentalists worked with them? What if I could find those businesspeople who are innovative and civic minded and join forces with them? Could we collaboratively create a successful business model and a better environment?

I got my chance to find out when I was invited by Steve Wynn to create and run the dolphin environment of my dreams. As a billionaire at the helm of a huge hotel and casino corporation in Sin City—Las Vegas—Steve was the classic definition of the enemy of the environmental movement. What a surprise it was to discover he was the most ardent animal rights activist I’ve ever met.

Joining forces, our challenges and accomplishments were many, but my biggest lesson—working with big business, instead of against it—was a game changer.

As Steve learned more about animals, the environmental movement, and ways he could have an impact, he snapped into action. We became the first resort and casino in Las Vegas that refused to sell fur in any retail establishment. Initiatives were put in place to recycle grey water on the property.

And the dolphins? Ours was the first to relocate dolphins that could not be returned to the wild from other facilities, and ours was one of the largest habitats in the world for the number of dolphins we maintained and nurtured. With funding no longer a problem, there were no ad campaigns or performances featuring dolphins.

Visitors received guided tours of the facility, and we implemented free, award-winning education programs for more than sixty thousand students every year. These efforts grew and expanded when we added the Secret Garden, an animal habitat for Siegfried & Roy’s tigers, lions, and elephant. I became the director of their public operation as well.

While Steve learned about