A Lens for Hope
A Lens for Hope
All we need is 0.58% of light
sent by Krystal Chryssomallis | January 26, 2026
“Hope is not what helps us feel better.
It is what helps us continue to show up —
even with just 0.58%.”
Hi Friend,
There are moments when the suffering in the world feels impossible to hold.
Especially now, as communities close to home are carrying profound grief and uncertainty, hope becomes not a luxury, but a necessity.
In times like these, it’s easy to feel small, overwhelmed, and unsure where to place our hope — or even helpless. And when helplessness lingers, hope can begin to fade.
When the world feels like this, I return to a moment that reshaped how I understand hope. Because hope is what keeps us engaged with the world, even when it breaks our hearts.
Hope is not what helps us feel better.
It is what helps us continue to show up
This photograph, which I call HOPE, was taken during a moment that has stayed with me.
As I was getting ready for work from the quiet of my modern hotel room, I looked out onto what felt like a barren, desolate landscape below. The starkness of it stopped me. I stood there, absorbing what I was looking at, feeling the weight of what I was seeing.
When all of a sudden, two children, a brother and sister, came running into view, laughing and giggling with an indescribable abundance of joy. They held a fistful of colorful balloons trailing in their wake.
Their pure joy moved me to tears.
Some might dismiss this as children who simply don’t know any better. But I believe there is profound wisdom in a child at play and their natural ability to tap into awe, wonder, and presence.
This image marked the beginning of a shift for me — in how I understood the responsibility of witnessing.
It showed me that light persists — even in places shaped by hardship.
I was fortunate to collaborate with the image analysis lab at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, and they discovered something remarkable: the children represent only 0.58% of the total image.
They are what your eyes are drawn to.
And yet, they make up less than one percent of the photograph.
Their conclusion was simple and extraordinary:
You only need 0.58% of light, of love, of joy to change the entire experience.
A small amount of light dissolves the darkness.
You cannot have darkness where there is also light.
And if you cannot see the light — maybe, you are meant to be it.
Our world holds both darkness and light.
And I choose to hold faith in humanity and our incredible ability to overcome just about anything we are challenged with.
This is not about looking away from suffering.
It is about remembering our humanity inside of it.
Pain deserves to be seen.
Grief deserves to be honored.
Injustice deserves to be confronted.
But hatred cannot be the thing that shapes who we become.
Hope is what allows us to keep moving.
To create a world we are proud of.
One rooted in love, truth, kindness, creativity, compassion, and integrity.
One that supports and uplifts rather than divides.
Fear is natural. But it does not have to be our compass.
What we tend, grows.
And the more attention we place on the good — in ourselves and in one another — the more light enters our world.
Especially now.
We all have the opportunity to choose love over fear, particularly when the world feels heavy.
Some voices thrive on fear — dividing, distorting, and pulling us away from our shared humanity.
May we not forget who we are.
In the midst of it all, remember what else lives in you:
Compassion.
Courage.
Care.
Love.
Even the smallest act of kindness can change someone’s day.
Sometimes, it can change a life.
Hope is not naive.
It is brave.
And love — and light — still live here.
In all of us.
If we choose to carry them forward.
The image of HOPE is a reminder of that.
All we need is 0.58% of love and light to make a difference.
And in doing so, help create a more compassionate and loving world.
With love,
Krystal ♥️
About the Newsletter
Dose of Good is a weekly newsletter for people who want to live with more awareness, connection, and intention.
Each issue includes one distilled insight, one real-world example, and one grounded question to carry into your week.
A moment to pause.
A shift in perspective.
A reminder of the beauty and connection that already exists.