Why should we be aligned? And what does that mean?
Author: Esther Sarlo, BA, Founder | CEO | Myndful Spark of Mynd Myself
In thinking about and researching our theme of alignment this month, I have come across some exceptional thoughts and quotes. It is said, “There is nothing new under the sun,” so rather than trying hard to find a new way into the conversation, I thought I would share with you this eclectic mosaic of reflections from thought leaders, spiritual seekers, and everyday wisdom about alignment.
What is alignment?
At its most basic, alignment means agreement, congruence, and resonance—a state where two or more things are the same, similar, or in harmony. When something is out of alignment, it is in strain, contradiction, or conflict¹.
But alignment is far more than mechanical precision or outer agreement. It has elements of the deeply personal and profoundly spiritual. Spiritual alignment involves recognizing your source beyond the mind, through meditation. It’s a remembering that your true inner state is joy—and that attuning to this joy is your most essential priority. This kind of alignment is both being and doing².
Is Everything about Alignment?
It touches every layer of life: the way we relate to ourselves, each other, and the world. As Michelle Nayeli Bouvier beautifully offers in her Medium article, alignment spans from our internal coherence—body, mind, heart—to our connection with Nature and our soul’s calling.
At its essence, alignment refers to:
- The relationship between our body, mind, and heart
- Connection to our authentic self (vs. outside expectations)
- Congruence between thought, intention, and action
- Harmony with our values and beliefs
- Balance within our relationships
- Attunement to our physical structure
- A state of emotional and somatic integrity, and ultimately,
- A deep resonance with our soul’s purpose³.
It’s from this place that real transformation begins. “True change happens when you align your heart, your truths, and your energy.”⁴
The Art of Listening
This alignment often starts with listening—not just to what we say, but to what we feel, what we carry, and what we believe beneath the surface. “The unconscious is always trying to make itself conscious, and so if you slow down and listen, you can align yourself instead of being torn to pieces.”⁵
In leadership, alignment builds trust—when our thoughts, words, emotions, and actions are all consistent, integrity naturally follows⁶. In life, it means showing up fully—where who we are is not split or compartmentalized. “Alignment begins with a constituency of one. These are the [ones] whose substance is real, pure, and nonnegotiable…comfortable weaving all parts of their lives together in an integrated way.”⁷
Knowing and Being
To know ourselves is only part of it. Alignment calls us to be ourselves.⁸ “Life is a process of returning to [your] centerline again and again—and so it shall always be.”⁹
“Leaping is about aligning what we do with who we are.”¹⁰ When we chase things out of alignment with our core truth, we may find ourselves stuck or struggling. And yet, even in those moments, there is beauty and potential. “There is grandeur, in failing BIG…There is orgasmic joy and awe and deep, deep, deep satisfaction, when we are in Alignment.”¹¹ “It’s like we’re surrounded by this big, all-you-can-eat buffet…and all we have to do is align our energy with what we want and take decisive action.”¹²
Sometimes, alignment is literal—tuning to the energy of a place, a person, or a moment. Aligning with the rhythms of nature. “Align yourself with the frequencies of the island.”¹³ And, sometimes, it’s existential. “Deep within, you know that the only thing that is truly important is being in alignment with Spirit.”¹⁴ “Your mind, emotions and body are instruments, and the way you align and tune them determines how well you play life.”¹⁵
Body, Mynd, Spirit
“It is through the alignment of the body that I discovered the alignment of my mind, self, and intelligence.”¹⁶ “When you are in alignment with the desires of your heart, things have a way of working out.”¹⁷
“The art of living deliberately is the art of examining your beliefs…and crafting new ones in greatest alignment with your desires.”¹⁸ “To live in alignment with your Spirit is to live your truth and build your life upon it.”¹⁹
And perhaps the most radical reminder: “Now is all you ever have… Otherwise, you are out of alignment with life itself.”²⁰ Alignment is not a destination — it’s a daily returning, a remembering, a listening. And in that presence, we live not just better, but truer.
📚 References
¹ Cambridge Dictionary. Entry: “In Alignment.”
² “What Is Spiritual Alignment?” www.rosecoloredglasses.com
³ Michelle Nayeli Bouvier, “What Is Alignment, Really?” Medium, February 17, 2024
⁴ Elizabeth Hamilton-Guarino, The Change Guidebook
⁵ Oli Anderson, Trust: A Manual for Becoming the Void
⁶ Lance Secretan, Various Leadership Writings
⁷ Kristin S. Kaufman, Is This Seat Taken?: Random Encounters That Change Your Life
⁸ Karen Whitten, The 25 Mindsets: Understand Anyone, Even Yourself
⁹ Corey Lyon Folsom, Soul Statements: A Love Coach’s Guide to Successful Communication
¹⁰ Laurie E. Smith, personal writings
¹¹ Elke Heinrich, social and spiritual reflections
¹² Jen Sincero, You Are a Badass / You Are a Badass at Making Money
¹³ Megan Mary, The Dream Haunters
¹⁴ Wayne Dyer, paraphrased from various teachings
¹⁵ Harbhajan Singh Yogi, Kundalini Yoga teachings
¹⁶ B.K.S. Iyengar, Light on Life
¹⁷ Iyanla Vanzant, attributed quote
¹⁸ Sir Richard Bishop, attributed
¹⁹ Sonia Choquette, from multiple published works
²⁰ Eckhart Tolle, The Power of Now
