A Practice, a Podcast, and a Poem

Weekend musings from Ashton Gustafson

Author

Ashton Gustafson
June 28, 2025

Hi friends,

I have three things for you this weekend: a practice, a podcast, and a poem.

1. The Practice - In Life, You Can Use Your Notes

In our family, we have a mantra: “You can use your notes.” It’s a reminder that your own history is a live wire—ready to spark solutions in real time. Jim Rohn said, “Your life does not get better by chance. It gets better by change.” If something consistently comes up in your life that is more than you can seem to handle, take a mental note. And here’s the easy practice, every morning (or evening), steal five minutes to ask yourself:

What’s working? And what isn’t?

It’s not journaling—it’s jazz. Let the quiet between the lines become your riff. Notice the patterns emerging, then lean into them. A couple of weeks ago, I was grinding through the aftermath of a challenging phone call when I caught myself—out loud, solo in the car—saying, “It will be fine in two days.” That? It was me using my notes from twenty years of this type of phone call. You might hear your own soundtrack rising above the noise if you give yourself to this practice. Oh, and the best part is that those “surprises” connected to your unmet expectations start to dwindle.

2. The Podcast - Between Then and Becoming: 3 Keys for the Liminal Journey

Yesterday, we dropped the latest episode of Good / True / & Beautiful—our deep dive into liminal space. Think of it as the cocoon period that holds what was into what’s next.

Here I discuss:

  • Three sharp insights for embracing the awkward in-between

  • Real stories of outgrowing old selves

  • A blueprint for finding courage in the midst of uncertainty

If you’re in transition—career, relationship, or soul—this is your backstage pass to possibility. Stream it now wherever you get your podcasts.

3. The Poetic Exit: “The Cure for it All”

Julia Fehrenbacher’s poem is a masterclass in radical gentleness. I came across it this week, and I had to share it. Press play on Instagram or read on:

The Cure for it All
Go gently today, don’t hurry
or think about the next thing. Walk
with the quiet trees, can you believe
how brave they are—how kind? Model your life
after theirs. Blow kisses
at yourself in the mirror
especially when
you think you’ve messed up. Forgive
yourself for not meeting your unreasonable
expectations. You are human, not
God—don’t be so arrogant.
Praise fresh air
clean water, good dogs. Spin
something from joy. Open
a window, even if
it’s cold outside. Sit. Close
your eyes. Breathe. Allow
the river
of it all to pulse
through eyelashes
fingertips, bare toes. Breathe in
breathe out. Breathe until
you feel
your bigness, until the sun
rises in your veins. Breathe
until you stop needing
anything
to be different.

Julia Fahrenbacher

If you think about it, hit reply and let me know how any of this sits with you. Your reflections are the best part of this dialogue.

Stay curious,
Ashton