A question, a podcast and some homework?
What’s your word of the year?
The other day, my good friend, Mike, asked me if I made any resolutions this year. Resolutions, goals — they’re a tricky thing for me. There’s this thing in me that prefers to focus on BEING over DOING.
I’m much more interested in who I want to be/come vs what I want to do.
And I think when you focus on the intention, the doing follows.
For example: I want to be a more generous person.
An intention like that can play out in so many ways. I can be generous with my time, with my words, with my money. What starts in the heart, translates to action, and almost without our knowing, can have so many expressions.
Here’s another: I want to be be healthier.
Again, this can look like so many things: taking time for morning pages, starting the day with a walk, HIIT workouts (whatever those are??), finding a therapist, working on a better relationship with your partner? etc..
It starts in the heart. The action follows. The intention leads to the doing leads to the feeling.
Years back, I was commissioned to create something around someone’s word of the year: gentleness. He was inspired by the bible verse “let your gentleness be evident to all.” I made this:
Something about a floppy body, the ability to “bend like the reed” came to my mind when I thought of gentleness. It’s the being — how your body is, the posture of your approach.
I wonder if you have a word of the year. And I wonder if you do, if you could give it some sort of shape in the real world - a sketch, an outfit, a poem? Maybe even a collection of items to set on altar; a set of reminders, in the physical, like a tangible prayer.
If you don’t have a word, you might ask yourself: What do I want more of in my life? Who inspires me and why? How do I want to feel? How do I want to show up in the world? The answers to these questions may hold some wisdom.
+ + +
Quick story. Last year, I met this guy, Joe, on Twitter. We connected over a shared loved of the Nada Surf song, Blizzard of ‘77. Then we realized we had a bunch of friends in common. Then one day, he shared a record he was making with me. Getting to be a part of someone’s creative process is my nirvana. Joe is talented, and full of heart. He released a beautiful record called Halflight last year and this is the companion podcast. On this episode, we talk about the creative process, overcoming creative block, the story behind his lyric 'The heart doesn't care if there's dust on the pen', and why Blue Skies is the first track of Halflight. My favorite part was reading the lyrics to this song. Poetry. I hope you check out his album and podcast.
+ + +
Writer (and one of my personal heroes), Anne Lamott:
“If you want to have loving feelings today, do loving things: Flirt with everyone, especially old people and yourself. Pick up some litter in your neighborhood, even though there will be more by Sunday. Get your work done, one inadequate sentence and paragraph at a time. Then go through your draft and take out all the lies and boring parts. Left foot, right foot, left foot, breathe.”
+ + +
The other day I tweeted:
Well, are you? Tracking Synchronicities: Your homework this week (if that’s the kinda thing you’re into) is to keep track of every synchronistic thing that happens. When, where and how do you experience synchronicity? Write it down. The things we tune into, tune into us. Don’t leave the Universe on read!
+ + +
Jump + Pray,
Joce
⫸ Instagram + Twitter + Website + Prints
⫸ Email : hi@joceaucoin.com or reply to this email
⫸ Mailing Address : 509 North Ventura Street, Ojai, CA, 93023
The conversation with Joe was great! Loved hearing both of you talk about your process.