Hold Yourself Lightly

Thoughts about loosening our grip on life

Your life is a song. Your body is an instrument. Life is singing through you. Your job—your deepest, truest, most impactful work—is to let yourself be played.

An instrument is most resonant when held lightly.

Loosen your grip. On life. On circumstances. On others. Most of all, on yourself.

Don’t hold yourself so tightly that the notes aren’t free to jump around. Don’t plan the notes, either—as if you were the one creating this song.

Melody, but not any certain melody.

Let the melody of your life reveal itself through you.

If this sounds too esoteric, try it like this:

Slow down and feel your body. Notice it breathing. Notice it thinking. Notice without controlling. Tell yourself, “I want to hold this body of mine lightly.” Release, and keep noticing. Do you feel a shift? Can you stay in this new position while doing the next thing you do?

…I HONESTLY wonder if anyone besides me feels a shift when they try this. I really want to know. If you’re willing to share, please reply or comment—even if it’s just to say, “Nathan, I tried this and have concluded that you’re crazy.” :)