There seems to be a lot of talk about resonance lately.  In business, in life, in love, in how we spend our time.  But what is resonance, really?

noun

1. the state or quality of being resonant.

2. the prolongation of sound by reflection; reverberation.

resonate

verb res·o·nate ˈre-zə-ˌnāt

Simple Definition of resonate

•  to continue to produce a loud, clear, deep sound for a long time

•  to have particular meaning or importance for someone : to affect or appeal to someone in a personal or emotional way

Or further:

1.   to produce or exhibit resonance

2.   to respond as if by resonance <resonate to the music>; also:  to have a repetitive pattern that resembles resonance

3.   to relate harmoniously :  strike a chord <a message that resonates with voters>

There we go… ‘to relate harmoniously’.  That makes sense to me.

I find it fascinating that so many words that relate to your soul, and your purpose are also used when speaking about music.  I actually almost used the term ‘soul’s song’, in that last sentence, cementing the idea that we correlate our heart and soul to music, all the time.

My thought is that music is truly a universal language – we sing before we can talk, we babble melodiously while learning to form words as babies.  We bang on pans, tables, we clap our hands, we resonate.

I remember when I was first learning African Rhythms on my djembe and I was frustrated, someone told me that we are all drummers, that we all have rhythm; that we need only put our hand to our chest and feel our own heartbeat to prove that to ourselves.  And that when you get lost drumming, always go back to your heart beat.  That slow steady pounding will always bring you back into the rhythm.

So interesting to me, at a time when so many seem to be finding (or refinding) their voices, their music, their soul’s song, that the word resonate seems to be everywhere.  It does make sense though.  It is our soul’s song that will bring us home to ourselves.

So how do we find our song?  We listen to what resonates within us. We pay careful attention to the topics, ideas, people, places, and things that make our heart sing.

That’s resonance.

So what’s resonating for you, lately? I’d love to know!

Photo Credit: Robyn Jay