That’s really the only question you need to answer and continue answering.
Answer that, and your cup will overflow, your sleep will be serene, and your life will be a gift you receive and a gift you get to give.
Nothing suffocates cynicism and pessimism like the constant pursuit of beauty.
Glennon Doyle Melton writes in her new book that is set to release September 6th that when crisis arrives in life, we are invited to sift through the details of our story that is being written and eventually we are left with only that which truly matters.
We actually get the word crisis from the latin word cribum which means to sift or to separate.
My journey through this soul sifting started four years ago to the day.
There’s a lot that sifted out, but it is with brutal joy that I can share what I was left holding after the sift.
Faces.
An appetite for stillness.
Rediscovery of my true self.
Wonder & Awe.
A radar, thermometer, and tuning fork for the soul.
&
A quest for beauty.
A crisis isn’t necessary for all of us, but two consistent questions most definitely are.
What needs to stay?
&
What needs to go?
Ask often.
Be yourself.
Curate daily.
Develop.
Engage.
Feel.
Grow.
Heal what needs healing.
Investigate where you’re curious.
Joy-seek.
Know your values and ask them to lead you.
Love. And when it doesn’t work, love again. And again.
Make music.
‘No’ changes everything.
Order. Disorder. Reorder.
Pause by orchids. Practice silence. Plow your field.
Questions are the greatest answers.
Responding > Reacting.
Simple is luxurious.
Take a sabbath.
Uncertainty tells a better story than certainty.
Value people.
Wholeness won’t happen without you gathering the pieces.
X marks the spot that’s called your soul. Don’t forget about X.
‘Yes’ is a gift you get to give. And you only have so many you can give.
Zeal + Humility + Humanity multiplied over time = a story worth repeating.
Yes.
Free.
Everything you truly want is free.
Make your list: peace, joy, hope, love, wonder, awe…really, what more could you ask for?
And if there is a cost, the cost is simply the work of becoming aware of where the ego needs to be silenced or pardoned.
Are you willing to let that go to find everything you’ve ever wanted?
A + B = C
or
A + B = See
These are your choices.
You can force it to all add up and line up or you can take it all in and enjoy.
Don’t be so hard on yourself.
#LookAroundLookAround
Ashton.Gustafson 