The FPJ Five Key Channels of Change as Quotes from 2023 Grammy Winners
I really enjoyed watching last night’s Grammy’s. It’s not often that I say that though its a yearly tradition I get excited for, and usually just disappointed by.
This year I would rate it 8/10 which is pretty good!
Now, it did go downhill after the tribute to 50 years of hip-hop (which was AH-MAZE-ING) when Beyonce didn’t win album of the year aka another major mistake by the academy.
No offense to Harry Styles - whose energy I adore and deeply resonate with, but Beyonce’s Renaissance was literally the best thing ever. Period.
Le sigh.
But on the brighter side of things, I was struck by a few presenters and winners wise words and want to share which ones popped out to me through the lens of the Full & Plenty Joy Life Spiral.
Here are my picks for each of the FPJ Key Channels of Change:
Aligning Dreams: Bad Bunny
“When you do life with love and passion, life is easier.”
It may seem obvious to cheesy to some and annoying to others who are just trying to make it these days, but when I heard this, it was a truth I have been coming back into contact with. It’s a reminder that in some ways the work I am doing is not in line for me, at least not at this time, and I need to really pay attention to how drained I feel at the end of a day or how avoidant or dreading I feel towards certain tasks or activities. I think we all want an easier life, at least I do for sure. that doesn’t mean I want a dull boring life, and Bad Bunny’s quote embodies this glorious duality. It also calls into question the whole notion that money is what makes life easier. In many ways it definitely does, but when I was making the most money was when I was the least happy, very burnt out and about to relapse into my eating disorder. Quitting that job and starting from scratch on my terms has been difficult, but the path I’ve needed to allow more alignment and flow.
Freeing Expression: Kendrick Lamar
“I finally found imperfection with this album.” =Kendrick Lamar
Wowowow, I aspire to this so hard. To actually desire imperfection in an artistic pursuit is some next level shit. I almost don’t even have the words his message resonated so deeply within me. It’s that never ending invitation to just do your work and don’t over do it. That perfection - that doesn’t even really exist, isn’t even all it’s cracked up to be. It can feel artificial, forced, inauthentic. I aspire to aspire to Kendrick Lamars level of acceptance and experimentation in his work. When Freeing Expression, whether in our work or our relationships, there is so much work to be done around quieting and making peace with our Inner Critic so our authenticity can come through.
Tending Sprit: Lizzo
“Not only can we do good, we just are good.” -Lizzo
Yes, yes, YES Lizzo. This is a message I am often trying to get my clients on board with. The reality that we are born into this life “good”. That we are not inherently bad. That humans actually inherently wish to move away from suffering and towards actualization. This is a core tenet of existential psychology, one of the most humane and grounded theoretical orientations I’ve ever encountered. To see it’s message reflected in the intuitive knowing of bad ass bitch Lizzo is really the icing on the cake. Tending Spirit really means learning to feel and resource from the unconditional love of our ancestors and spirit. To learn that we are in fact divine: love: “good.”
p.s. She should have been awarded more Grammy’s! WTF!
Breaking Cycles: Madonna
“If they call you shocking, scandalous, troublesome, problematic, provocative or dangerous, you are definitely onto something.”
Yes Witch. I need to hear this everyday from her. Period. It can be so scary sharing the parts of ourselves, our dreams, our desires that have been deemed weird or strange or taboo or even “sinful.” Her speech to introduce the ICONIC duo Sam Smith and Kim Petras who won a Grammy for Unholy aka THE highlight of the night, including their performance, was ICONIC. Madonna is ICONIC. And it’s important to take the guidance of our icons. Can’t wait to share what’s in store from my experimental artistic container launching in March for the Spring Equinox! Thank you Madonna, this is EXACTLY what I needed to hear! Thank you for giving thanks to all the rebels out there and encouraging us by reminding us we are “seen and appreciated.” <3 <3 <3
When we break cycles, we inherently ruffle feathers which cause projections onto us that are not us or our shit (though they can trigger our shit for sure). Madonna is speaking to the challenging yet liberating truth, that the more we are radically ourself, the more haters come out of the wood works. And that is not a bad thing, it’s just a part of the process.
Becoming Embodied: Dr. Dre
“Everything matters.”
Embodiment is all about learning that the MindBodySpirit are ONE system. That the tension in your shoulders is connected to your martyr behaviors and your martyr behaviors are connected to your chronically tight hips, and inside those hips is the grief and rage that needs to be expressed in a healthy generative container.
He literally introed this quote by saying it’s a motto of his and I out loud replied “me too!” Because it does. Pretending like things don’t matter is actually a submit survival response. The truth is everything matters, and everything is usable - particularly for art, and always for self understanding and growth.
Thank you Dr. Dre for this simple yet transformative message that has the potential to not only transform ourselves, but transform our relationships to each and our collective good. Because when we think things don’t matter, we hurt each other, we let others hurt each other, and we kill all other living systems. Everything matters is a call to infinite interconnection and interdependence that is the message of the century.
Now we don’t need to get all perfectionist or preaching about it, but pretending like things don’t matter, is often delusional and misguided. What if they did? What would that mean for you and the world?
This quote is perfect as Dr. Dre was the first recipient of the Inaugural Impact Award.
What were your favorite quotes from the Grammy’s?
Which one of these was your favorite?
Post in the comments and let me know!
