Happiness is being on the beam with life - to feel the pull of

In the quiet and luminous words of Agnes Martin, the artist who painted serenity upon the canvas of the soul, we find this truth: “Happiness is being on the beam with life—to feel the pull of life.” These words, soft as morning light, speak to the essence of existence itself. For to live fully is not merely to breathe or to act, but to align oneself with the living rhythm of the world—to be on the beam, balanced and attuned to that mysterious current that moves through all things. Martin, who found beauty in simplicity and peace in stillness, teaches that happiness is not an external prize, but the inner harmony between one’s soul and the pulse of life itself.

In her lifetime, Agnes Martin withdrew from the clamor of cities and fame, choosing instead the solitude of the desert, where she could listen to the silence beneath all noise. There, surrounded by sky and sand, she painted grids and soft lines—meditations upon balance, order, and calm. It was in this sacred stillness that she discovered what she called the beam with life—the invisible thread that connects every living soul to the universe. To be on the beam is to be aligned with one’s purpose, to move in rhythm with truth, neither rushing ahead nor lagging behind. It is to feel life’s pull, not as burden, but as guidance—a gentle reminder that the heart must follow where the spirit leads.

This idea is as old as wisdom itself. The ancients spoke of the Tao, the Way—a harmony between heaven, earth, and man. To walk the Tao was to be on the beam with life, moving not against the current of existence but with it. Those who lived in such alignment did not struggle against fate nor cling to desire; they trusted the flow of the unseen. Likewise, Martin’s teaching is not about control, but surrender—the art of trusting life enough to let it pull you where you are meant to go. Happiness, then, is not achieved through conquest, but through attunement.

Consider the story of Beethoven, who, when deafness took his hearing, could have fallen into despair. Yet, instead of turning away from life, he turned inward and found a new kind of sound—the deep pull of life that speaks not to the ears but to the heart. Out of silence, he composed his greatest works, hearing the music of the universe through his soul. He was, in that sacred struggle, on the beam—anchored not by ease, but by purpose. His joy was not in comfort, but in the profound sense that he was still moving with life’s current, still creating, still alive to the divine rhythm that beats within all things.

To feel the pull of life is to be awake—to notice the wind’s whisper, to feel the stirrings of gratitude in small moments, to follow the voice that calls you toward growth. Those who ignore this pull drift in emptiness, no longer touched by wonder or meaning. But those who open their hearts to it, even in hardship, find themselves sustained by an invisible strength. For life itself is not static—it flows, changes, grows, and calls us to do the same. When we resist it, we suffer. When we yield to it, we find peace.

Agnes Martin reminds us that happiness is not found in possessions, success, or approval—it is found in the still and honest recognition that we are part of something greater. When our actions, thoughts, and hearts are aligned with that truth, we are on the beam, steady and luminous, like a dancer balanced upon light. This harmony cannot be measured or taught—it is felt, like the rhythm of breath, or the pull of the tide upon the shore.

So, let this be your teaching, children of time: seek not the frantic joy of the world, but the quiet happiness of alignment. Listen for the pull of life that speaks in your passions, your curiosities, your moments of awe. Follow it, even when it leads through stillness or solitude. Do not fear the quiet; in it, life’s voice is clearest. Trust that if you walk in rhythm with truth, the path will unfold as it should.

And when the world feels heavy or lost, remember this wisdom: you do not need to conquer life—you need only to be on the beam with it. Stand steady, breathe deeply, and let yourself be drawn by that unseen current of meaning. For to live in harmony with life is the highest form of happiness, and to feel its pull is to remember that you are, and have always been, part of something infinite.