One becomes incongruent when they define success and do not live into and out of that definition.
Note: Your definition can always change. And probably should be changing. The hurdle is changing with it.
Congruence is the music that happens in the space between where your soul shines and your feet are found dancing in that glow of the lit up soul.
Spotify now has 40 million active monthly users and over 10 million paying customers.
Please click on something you wouldn’t normally listen to. The Genres and Moods playlists are well worth the click.
The world of wonderment has never been more wide open…and we should take advantage of that.
That thing.
That thing you think about when you look at the cosmos. What is that thing?
That thing you feel when connection happens in a moment, in the world, with a person, and even with yourself. What is that thing?
That thing that has beaten in your chest as long as you can remember. What is that thing?
That thing you feel on December 25th. That thing you wish you could bottle and drink on the 26th, 27th, and thereafter. What is that thing?
That thing that hums when generosity has her way.
That thing that flies when gratitude is swapped.
That thing has a name and its name is Your Music.
I’d like to tell you more, but it’s better if you take it from here.
My daughter is in a season of deciphering “real” from “pretend.” For her, this leads to a lot of questions about The Little Mermaid and the purple lady, wondering about Facetime, playing real kitchen with pretend food, etc.
Fast forward 30 years, and I’m afraid these questions and scenarios haven’t left me either. Nevertheless, this isn’t dress up – this is happening – this is real. This simple realization, and hopefully a constant reminder, is enough to walk into, with, and out in love throughout our days with all that we do.
When you’re present with your moments, not only do you open yourself to be in love with an idea of something, but you also learn to romance yourself with the processes and laws of nature required of that particular something. You’ll love the flower and you’ll take pleasure in gardening. You’ll love the music and you’ll enjoy learning and honing the instruments. You’ll love the poem and you’ll appreciate the emotions. You’ll love the game and you’ll look forward to practice. You’ll love being a mom or dad and you’ll savor parenting. Our ideas and things we dream about turn to (or stay) pretend when we avoid the gardening, the learning of instruments, the emotions, the practice, the parenting, and so forth.
In the end, when you run from the processes and laws of nature, you will be running straight into the land of ‘pretend’ all the while thinking to yourself “are we there yet?”.
Iris Murdoch once wrote, “Love is the very difficult understand that something other than yourself is real.”
Like I said, my daughter is in a season of deciphering “real” from “pretend.” So am I.
After another negative news story in the background this evening, I turned the television off.
Off. Not muted or paused. Off.
Jazz has always felt appropriate as the moon swaps places with the sun, so I went with Miles Davis and shifted the mood. Eventually, the playlist led to a track called ‘Weirdo’. Something changed in that moment. The air became cleaner. Creativity fluttered. The food even tasted better.
Thank you clarity. Thank you Miles. And sweet Muse, please keep leading us away from our unnecessary and often blinding routines.
Ashton.Gustafson 