One of my yoga instructors shared a fascinating story the other day. Moths are wired to travel by the light of the moon – they fly in a straight line by maintaining a constant angle relative to its light. So, when they fly into your porch lights or even flames, it’s not because they have a death wish, it’s because their internal nav systems are distracted and confused.

We may not share the same DNA, but we do the same thing. Only our celestial light is that which guides us to become the highest expression of ourselves. To do the things that make our soul clap its hands in delight. The things that make us burst with joy — whether that’s writing, parenting, healing others, helping animals or the homeless. Or a million other points of moonlight.

But then, like the poor misguided moth, we lose our way. We veer off course, distracted by some other neon, artificial light. Short term, it might be the synthetic connection of Facebook or Twitter luring us in; long term, it might be the dazzling promise of a big paycheck in a job that is a waste of our talents and our life.

Whatever our artificial source of “light,” it pulls us further and further from our soul’s guidance. And it can be hard to hear or feel that guidance because sometimes our soul speaks so softly that it’s like trying to hear someone whisper in the middle of the MGM Grand Casino.

The solution, then, isn’t to demand that the casino (the world) shut up. We have to learn to turn away the distractions and find quiet, whether that’s contemplation, meditation or prayer. Yes, it’s challenging. Yes, it’s hard to keep a date with ourselves given everyone else’s demands for our time. And yes, it’s really necessary if we want to grow and find not just daily happiness but our highest calling.