Illustration by Joey (@joeyy.lws)

Stars are formed by the collapse of a nebula, whereby a core is then produced, which would accumulate enough mass to generate pressure and high temperature. In consequence, nuclear fusion begins, where hydrogen atoms combine to form helium, releasing immense energy and becoming a true star.

Stars have a lot in common with us, even more than you think. Other than the existence of the same elements in stars as in our bodies, their process of formation and the benefits they give can also be metaphorically aligned to our daily lives. 

Carl Sagan is famous for his statement, “We are made of star stuff.” It highlights the carbon in our muscles, iron in our blood and most of the other elements in our body were created in stars. 

Its formation creates stardust around it, which in time, creates planets and ultimately life. An example is the Sun and the rest of the solar system, including Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune. Apart from that, other stars are also formed in the expanse of our galaxy which we know as the Milky Way. 

From here, we learn that due to the Sun, Earth was formed along the way. On it, various species are made living including us. 

In Islam, Surah Tariq (means Star)  (86:6-7) says ‘Humans are created from water that comes from steel-like dust.’ In the process of nuclear fusion, ‘steel-like dust’ is formed,  which is also what we know as stardust. In Christianity, Genesis (2:7) says ‘The LORD God formed a man from the dust of the ground.’ With scientific proof, the ground (earth) is made from stardust. In Hinduism, it is taught that all life springs from the same root, suggesting that humans and the cosmos are not entirely separated. 

Why do we say “I can see stars” when we hit our head? Perhaps some of the stardust that was in us trickled out. 

2. Stars are formed depending on the precise balance between the inward force of gravity and the outward force of pressure (from nuclear fusion). The balance can also be known as hydrostatic equilibrium.

Once hydrostatic equilibrium is achieved, a star takes shape gradually over millions of years, with the ability to remain stable in size, and shine steadily for billions of years. 

The balance that’s needed for the stars to be formed can be metaphorically applied to us. For instance:

Balance between positivity and negativity: 

You might think: isn't being positive good, no matter how overly positive? 

Positivity brings hope and happiness, but being overly positive will make you ignore your instinctive feelings, like anger, sadness and fear. Covering these feelings with optimism is not so much as being positive, rather, you’re forcing your feelings to be shut; as if you don’t permit yourself to feel angry, sad or fearful.  

True balance lies in acknowledging these feelings and making something positive out of them. This creates wisdom as you become more grounded, realistic and compassionate to your true feelings, both negative and positive ones. That said, it’s also never good to be overly negative. 

It doesn’t work if you tell yourself that everything will be okay when you think it’s not. But accepting that it will be hard, and saying “I will do my best” is a whole new mindset that deserves to take credit. 

Nonetheless, that’s only a page from stacks of novels. 

When we play games, eat ice cream, run a marathon, do work, binge watching a tv show, there's always a time to stop. 

When we don't realize how far off we've gone, physical and mental damage could be done. Like stars, a collapse in the hydrostatic balance can either result in the end of their life phase, or a new phase. Such as, a neutron star, and eventually, a black hole; both of which are the 2 most dense substances in space, and dangerous; not only to themselves, but to their surroundings as well. 

That said, one uncommon thing between us and the stars is that we can go back to being healthy if we really want to.

“Everything about neutron stars is extreme,” says James Lattimer, a professor at Stony Brook University. “It goes to the point of almost being ridiculous” (Sundermier, 2017, para. 11).

Yin Yang, the well-known term of harmonization, fits well in this case. 

“Yin in its highest form is freezing while yang in its highest form is boiling. The chilliness comes from heaven while the warmness comes from the earth. The interaction of these two establishes he (harmony), so it gives birth to things. Perhaps this is the law of everything yet there is no form being seen” (Wang, 2006, para. 1).

‘So it gives birth to things.’ This can be fairly applied to the formation of stars. A well-balanced force between the inward force of gravity and outward force of nuclear fusion creates stars and consequently, the explosion that emits stardust becomes planets, such as Earth, our  borrowed home. All the same,  we can achieve things beyond our expectations with balance. 

Doctors treat sick patients, lawyers help struggling clients, teachers educate children so that they can find jobs and in turn help others; singers help to inspire people, cleaners help to keep a clean environment for our comfort, you name it.

The closest star, the Sun, provides energy and light for plants, so that photosynthesis can occur. Oxygen will be released in return, providing the ecosystem around it, including us with energy. Moreover, it gives light so that we can see in the day and the heat prevents significant drops in temperature, ensuring all living things are able to survive. 

Other than that, the Sun reflects its light off the moon’s surface, which then illuminates the dark night with moonlight. In other words, the moon does not shine if it weren’t for the Sun. 

Not only does the Sun shine during the day to help the plants to grow and give us energy; but it also shines for the moon at night. Without the Sun’s light, the night would’ve been an endless darkness. 

In other words, we should help others shine, just like the Sun helping the world to survive. 

Stars have been around for a long time. For all we know, some stars that we see today are the same ones that have been shining since the age of dinosaurs. Carl Sagan also mentioned that there are more stars than grains of sands in all of the Earth’s beaches. 

Though there are more of them than what meets the eye, each of the stars is beautiful simply because of their existence. This goes to say that each of us are beautiful. Even though some shine brighter than you do, that doesn’t mean some planets don’t see you at all.