A method of operating a light emitting device, the light emitting device comprising: a laminated body having an active layer adapted to generate light in response to injection of a current, a first cladding layer and a second cladding layer sandwiching the active layer; a first electrode electrically connected to the first cladding layer; and a second electrode, a third electrode, and a fourth electrode electrically connected to the second cladding layer, wherein the active layer constitutes an optical waveguide adapted to guide the light, wherein the optical waveguide includes a first portion having a belt-like shape connecting a first exit section disposed on a first side surface of the active layer and a first reflecting section disposed on a second side surface of the active layer to each other, a second portion having a belt-like shape connecting the first reflecting section and a second reflecting section disposed on a third side surface of the active layer to each other, and a third portion having a belt-like shape connecting the second reflecting section and a second exit section disposed on the first side surface to each other, wherein a current is injected into the first portion by the first electrode and the second electrode, a current is injected into the second portion by the first electrode and the third electrode, a current is injected into the third portion by the first electrode and the fourth electrode, and wherein a current density of the current injected into the first portion by the first electrode and the second electrode, and a current density of the current injected into the third portion by the first electrode and the fourth electrode are higher than a current density of the current injected into the second portion by the first electrode and the third electrode. a laminated body having an active layer adapted to generate light in response to injection of a current, a first cladding layer and a second cladding layer sandwiching the active layer; a first electrode electrically connected to the first cladding layer; and a second electrode, a third electrode, and a fourth electrode electrically connected to the second cladding layer, wherein the active layer constitutes an optical waveguide adapted to guide the light, wherein the optical waveguide includes a first portion having a belt-like shape connecting a first exit section disposed on a first side surface of the active layer and a first reflecting section disposed on a second side surface of the active layer to each other, a second portion having a belt-like shape connecting the first reflecting section and a second reflecting section disposed on a third side surface of the active layer to each other, and a third portion having a belt-like shape connecting the second reflecting section and a second exit section disposed on the first side surface to each other, a first portion having a belt-like shape connecting a first exit section disposed on a first side surface of the active layer and a first reflecting section disposed on a second side surface of the active layer to each other, a second portion having a belt-like shape connecting the first reflecting section and a second reflecting section disposed on a third side surface of the active layer to each other, and a third portion having a belt-like shape connecting the second reflecting section and a second exit section disposed on the first side surface to each other, wherein a current is injected into the first portion by the first electrode and the second electrode, a current is injected into the second portion by the first electrode and the third electrode, a current is injected into the third portion by the first electrode and the fourth electrode, and wherein a current density of the current injected into the first portion by the first electrode and the second electrode, and a current density of the current injected into the third portion by the first electrode and the fourth electrode are higher than a current density of the current injected into the second portion by the first electrode and the third electrode.