Whatever is renewing,
whatever connects,
whatever is kind,
whatever is lovely,
whatever can give us eyes,
whatever allows us to taste,
whatever is original,
whatever is gentle,
whatever is healing,
whatever is freeing,
whatever names the nameless,
whatever moves us,
whatever changes us,
whatever unites us,
whatever is present,
whatever is the song of your soul,
whatever is the poem in your pulse,
whoever you are…
do that.
“Our eyes are not viewers. They’re also projectors that are running a second story over the picture that we see in front of us all of the time.” Jim Carrey
The second story that we tell ourselves in the moment is where we invite frustration, suffering, and misunderstanding.
So how can we attempt to prevent the second story from closed captioning our eyes, our minds, and our hearts?
First, let’s begin with what you want.
Do you want to fight a battle?
or
Do you want to befriend beauty?
Your answer here frames the plot for every moment of your existence.
Think about it.
If your story always starts with “in the beginning I wanted a war” then it’s highly likely that your story will end with “and there was a winner and a loser.”
But if your story begins with “in the beginning there was something beautiful at play” then you’re probably going to somehow end up with “and something beautiful transpired.”
In our home we have what we call bedrock beliefs. These beliefs help us navigate such questions. We believe that life is happening for us. We also believe that love has our back. And we believe that a posture of wonder and awe is infinitely more enjoyable than the constant pursuit of games that end with win, lose, or draw.
We attempt to make these beliefs the rhythm of our hearts so that when the moment in the day arrives where we might start projecting a second story over the moment we can reclaim our eyes and actually usher into existence what is trying to transform us.
If you want a war, you’ll ask, seek, and knock for a war.
And if you want beauty, you’ll do the same.
We need more beauty askers, seekers, and knockers.
I think that’s the only way we’ll find it.
Your gifting + Activity = Your story.
Your gifting + No activity = Your story.
Bad questions tend to give us bad answers.
When we wonder what we are supposed to be doing with our life, we almost always miss the electricity in the inch of dirt we are occupying.
Is there an interesting book spine on a shelf waiting for your grasp? Leave your phone and social polishing and sit with the words of this book for a while.
Is there an interesting conversation that needs to begin? Hit send, hit call.
Life tends to become interesting the more we become interested in it.
Once interested, begin doing something you enjoy with this interest only for the purposes of enjoying it.
And then do it again.
And then do it again.
And then take notes.
And then do it again.
And then do it for someone.
And then do it for a group.
Until you learn lead to yourself we’ll be waiting for you to lead us.
And it’s your curiosity that’s waiting to lead you….
Listen to disruptions.
Celebrate small successes.
Exchange words in your vernacular like working, building, and producing with crafting, cooking, writing, gardening, or painting. The results will taste better.
Hold your truth with humility.
Embrace paradox.
Spy for beauty and then tell us when and where you found it.
Obey your body.
Center yourself often in gratitude.
Keep learning and sharing what you’re learning.
Enjoy.
