In 1940, the first Green Lantern character, Alan Scott, appeared in the Golden Age of Comic Books, fighting common criminals in Capitol City with the aid of his magic ring. Scott was a railroad engineer who, after a railway crash, came into possession of a magic lantern. He crafted a magic ring to harness its powers and battle the forces of evil in Capitol City.
In 1959, writers John Broome and Gil Kane reenvisioned the character as a member of a prestigious intergalactic Green Lantern Corps, with Hal Jordan becoming the face of the franchise. Jordan received his ring from a dying alien who commissioned Jordan to replace him as a member of the Green Lantern Corps, an interstellar peacekeeping organization overseen by the Guardians of the Universe.
According to DC Comics, the Green Lantern Corps has been the keepers of peace in the known universe for over three billion years. The Corps is a standing army of 7,200 members, headquartered on Planet Oa, patrolling 3,600 sectors of space. Comprised of species from the known universe, the Green Lantern Corps is charged with fighting evil with the aid of rings that give them extraordinary power.
All Lanterns, regardless of their origins, are united by a common goal of peace and order.
The Guardians, who are immortals, presented each Lantern with a Ring of Power. This ring, powered by the willpower of the wearer, can mold solid energy into whatever shape the User desires. It also forms a protective shield that enables the User to fly and survive in space.
The Lantern’s ring of power is often referred to as the most powerful weapon in the DC universe, limited only by the User’s will. The Ring harnesses the User’s willpower, manifesting thought into its physical representation in time and space.
It literally turns belief into reality.
This takes the concept, “As you think, you say, do, and become,” to a whole different level.
Before Hal Jordan became the greatest of the Lantern Corps, he had to learn to harness the power of his will to channel the energy of the Ring. If he could not believe it, the ring could not conceive it. It demanded an intentional act of his will to manifest the Ring’s power.
The Lantern’s imagination and mental discipline governed the Ring’s effectiveness as a weapon. The Ring gives off an energy beam, similar to a laser, that can be transformed into various energy constructs to serve the needs of the Lantern. It also empowered the Lantern with superhuman strength, along with the ability to fly in inner and outer space.
For Hal Jordan (and the rest of the Lantern Corps), the power of the Ring was limitless, subject to the willpower of the User.
By definition, willpower is control exerted to do something or restrain impulses. It’s also defined as the ability to resist short-term temptations to achieve long-term goals.
Willpower is also referred to as determination or self-control. It’s the ability to control one’s emotions and desires, especially in difficult situations.
Willpower is firmness of purpose or resoluteness.
Interestingly, other Lanterns exist in the DC universe, each wielding a unique Ring of Power, uniquely linked to its emotional source, the traits of the Wearer.
Blue Lanterns were selected for their immense hope and used their rings to bring hope to others. They often worked alongside the Green Lanterns to boost their willpower.
Indigo Lanterns are powered by compassion, using their energy staff to spread empathy and understanding. Violet Lanterns are empowered by love and use their rings to find and protect true love wherever it may exist.
Red Lanterns were chosen from the angriest beings in the universe. Their rings are powered by rage, leading to destruction and chaos. Yellow Lanterns wield rings that generate fear, allowing them to create constructs based on their enemies’ worst nightmares. Orange Lanterns are powered by greed and channel the emotion of avarice.
White Lanterns are capable of combining all the powers of the seven other colors, while Black Lanterns are devoid of emotion or life, bringing death and destruction.
In the DC Universe, the Green Lantern is considered the most powerful of the Rings of Power. Why? Green is the balancing point of the spectrum when light passes through a prism. As the colors drift closer to the outlying edges of the light spectrum, the User’s ability to use and control the emotional power of their Ring becomes more difficult.
Willpower, defined by determination and self-control and governed by belief, made the Green Lantern Corps the most powerful peacekeeping force in the universe.
So, what’s the lesson of the Green Lantern?
First, we all wear a Ring of Power that defines how we are seen and perceived in the world around us. The emotions we allow to govern our lives will dictate how successful we will become in every area of our lives. Our relationships, attitude, leadership, and how well we’ve equipped ourselves for success are all influenced by the Ring we wield.
When we wear the Rings of Negative Emotion (fear, greed, and rage), it wreaks havoc in our lives and the lives of those around us.
Fear is debilitating. It robs us of our future. When we wear the Yellow Ring of Fear, the very thing we are afraid of continually manifests in our lives. As Job aptly put it, “What I always feared has happened to me. What I dreaded has come true.” Fear not only impedes our decision-making, it discourages us from even trying. This prevents personal growth.
When our lives are governed by greed, our focus is only on ourselves. Selfishness and self-centeredness lead to a breakdown of relationships, ethical compromise, increased stress and anxiety, and chronic dissatisfaction. This Orange Ring of Greed ultimately leads to personal downfall and a shallow, empty existence.
Anger is a base emotion. It’s part of our “fight, flight, or freeze” response. But when it is taken to extremes, it manifests itself in violence and rage. This Red Ring of Rage leads to a cycle of destruction, harming everyone involved and leaving a trail of physical, psychological, and social damage. This becomes an all-consuming state of anger that erodes relationships and can lead to severe health consequences, legal trouble, and a sense of hopelessness.
Interestingly enough, the Lantern Rings choose their wearer. The Rings seek out the candidate that best embodies the specific emotions it chooses to amplify.
When we choose to don the Yellow Ring of Fear, the Orange Ring of Greed, or the Red Ring of Rage, we channel the very worst of us into the world around us and the relationships we should hold most dear.
By choosing to focus on the negative, we allow the Ring of Power to amplify the worst of us.
However, there are other Rings of Power that can uplift and enrich not only our lives, but the lives of those around us. But we have to embody those traits to be chosen.
Hope leads to a greater sense of purpose, resilience, and motivation, provided it is paired with action (willpower). The Blue Ring of Hope amplifies a stronger sense of meaning, a vision for a better future, and a solutions-focused attitude. Hope, when mixed with action, provides the energy to take the next step toward a better future.
A life fueled by empathy, enhanced by the Indigo Ring of Compassion, helps to strengthen the bonds of our relationships and create more meaningful connections with others. Because it is contagious, compassion inspires others to also act with kindness. This leads to a positive feedback loop that uplifts and elevates entire communities.
I define love as a commitment to the welfare and well-being of others. The Violet Ring of Love amplifies love’s unconditional commitment to other people, leading to more meaningful, more impactful relationships. Its benefits include emotional well-being, a sense of purpose and fulfillment, freedom and peace, and encourages compassion and empathy.
By choosing to focus on the positive, we allow the Ring of Power to amplify the best of us.
Again, the Lantern Rings choose their wearer. The Rings seek out the candidate that best embodies the character traits it chooses to amplify.
This leads me to the second point.
We get to choose the character traits we want to embody in the way we live our lives. We can choose, by an intentional act of our will, whether we will embrace hope, compassion, and love, or whether our lives will be defined by fear, greed, and anger. The choice we make in the character traits we choose to embody dictates which of these powers we will wield in our interactions with the world around us.
Therein lies the choice.
Hal Jordan had to overcome his fears, his lack of belief and confidence in himself, to truly wield the powers of the Green Ring of Willpower, becoming the greatest of all the Green Lantern Corps. Had he chosen to succumb to his fear, remain in disbelief, questioning his value and worth, his lack of belief would have yielded his Green Ring virtually useless.
The same truth holds for you and me. Our outlook, positive or negative, and the character traits and values we choose to embrace, will determine the Ring of Power we attract to our lives and the powers it will amplify, residing deep within ourselves.
Coach John Wooden said it well, “There is a choice you make in everything you do, so keep in mind that in the end, the choice you make makes you.”
Remember, the DC Universe tells us the Green Ring of Willpower, powered by an unwavering belief in ourselves and our ability, is the most powerful of all the Rings of Power. But that Ring will only be attracted to those who embody the character traits it seeks to amplify.
Thoughts shape beliefs. Beliefs shape actions. Actions, over time, become the habits that govern our lives. So, as we think, we say, do, and become.
Our outlook, positive or negative, and the character traits and values we choose to embrace, will determine the Ring of Power we attract to our lives and the powers it will amplify, residing deep within ourselves.
To borrow a phrase from an ancient Knight, “You must choose, but choose wisely.”
Don’t forget, the Lantern Rings choose their wearer. The Rings seek out the candidate that best embodies the character traits it desires to amplify.
By choosing to focus on the negative, we allow the Ring of Power to amplify the worst of us.
By choosing to focus on the positive, we allow the Ring of Power to amplify the best of us.
Our Ring of Power only amplifies what’s inside of us.
Therein lies the choice.
We get to choose.
So, there are two questions that remain unanswered. It is up to each of us to answer these questions for ourselves.
First: What color is your Ring of Power?
Second: What does this say about you?
