[00:00:01] Opening + Presence

Alexandra: All right — welcome back to Form + Frequency. We somehow made it here.
Robyn: Hanging on by a thread.
Alexandra: Running through the door, taking calls — FaceTiming my family in Europe to fix a car — all the things. But we’re here.
Robyn: We did it! Episode seven: Line. We’re exploring the Principles of Beauty series that has taken a turn — what started as design and aesthetics has become life, love, trauma, and soul evolution under the guise of beauty.
Alexandra: And I like that twist.
Robyn: Plot twist — beauty was just the doorway.

[00:01:40] Line as a Principle + Standards as Spiritual Practice

Robyn: Today we’re talking about line — but not just as a design element. It’s the direction of desire. It’s the standard we hold ourselves to. That’s been present for both of us lately — what boundaries and standards we choose to rise into.

Alexandra: Exactly. And for me it’s been so obvious with clients too — the link between decisiveness and alignment. When someone knows their standards, they make confident choices. It’s like that book I’m reading, Ready, Fire, Aim — you act and then course-correct, instead of paralyzing yourself in planning.

Robyn: That’s so counterintuitive for me — a chronic planner.
Alexandra: Me too — but it’s true. Decisiveness creates momentum.

[00:03:30] Learning to Balance Emotion + Action

Alexandra: Personally, I’m in a season of learning to hold emotion and still show up fully in my work. How to schedule less time but still give my best energy. It’s a lifelong balance for everyone — but this week especially, it’s been about learning to carry the weight of emotion and still honor my passion.

Robyn: Let me know how you master that one.
Alexandra: (laughs) It’s a process. There’s been so much beauty in it too — like, life can be really good and still hurt. We can hold both.

Robyn: Yes — you can cry one minute and lead the next. It’s not bypassing; it’s being human.
Alexandra: Exactly — feeling the full spectrum.

Robyn: What are we lighting the candle for today?
Alexandra: Light and lightness — nervous-system lightness and the light of truth.
Robyn: Double light. I love it.

[00:06:30] Female Friendship + Emotional Range

Alexandra: What I love most about female friendship is how we can hold it all — joy, grief, mess, beauty — without one canceling the other. We can be happy and sad and still hold space for each other.

Robyn: Men need that too. Join a men’s group, please. (laughs) It’s life-changing. You get community without the stigma of therapy.

Alexandra: Where should they look?
Robyn: Search “men’s group” or “men’s work” in your city. My ex runs one here in Canada — I’ve seen men transform through it. Healthier men mean healthier women — we need both.

Alexandra: Exactly. Mental health matters — and friendship matters.

[00:09:00] Community + Reciprocity

Robyn: I had lunch with a friend today and teared up thinking about the people in my life — how they’ve shown up for me through major life changes. It’s been humbling and beautiful. The reciprocity of relationship is everything.

Alexandra: Yes — if you don’t have people you can call in the middle of the night or cry to, find new people.
Robyn: Exactly. Because you never know when you’ll need someone to pray for you or drive across the city to show up. Relationships are everything.

Alexandra: I remember the times I didn’t have that — it’s heavy to carry life alone. I’m grateful for the community I have now.

[00:11:30] Faith, Timing + Closed Doors

Robyn: I tried so hard not to live in Calgary — my immigration to the U.S. didn’t work out, moves fell through — but now I see why. Everything happened so I’d be close to my people right when I needed them.

Alexandra: That’s faith — trusting the closed doors as much as the open ones.
Robyn: Exactly. Sometimes you’re banging on a door that won’t open because it’s not meant to. Now I’m like, “Okay God, you drive, I’ll ride shotgun.”

[00:13:00] Rest + Nervous System Healing

Alexandra: My energy has shifted so much. Last week I was wired and awake at 5 a.m.; this week I’m sleeping in and exhausted. I think it’s my nervous system coming down from fight-or-flight.

Robyn: Yes — healing requires rest. Ambitious people feel guilty for sleeping in, but sometimes rest gets you further faster.

Alexandra: Totally. Stop fighting reality. When we resist change, our bodies stay in chaos. We need stillness.

[00:15:00] Letting Go + Identity Collapse

Robyn: That’s been my lesson too — seeing how attached I was to identities and outcomes. As life strips things away, I see how tightly I’ve been gripping — believing positivity and strategy could force things to work. Now I’m learning to let go.

Alexandra: It’s a collapse that creates space for recalibration.
Robyn: Yes — my mind calls it boring, but my soul calls it peace.

[00:17:00] Line as Alignment + Faith as Navigation

Robyn: That’s why the principle of line resonates so much. In design, lines guide the eye. In life, they guide our path. We’re always deviating from alignment and re-calibrating back to it — toward purpose, destiny, mission.

Alexandra: And the line isn’t always straight. Sometimes it’s a spiral — detours included. For me, faith is the compass. You don’t have to control the path; you just listen for the next turn.

Robyn: Exactly — it’s about trusting where you’re being led.

[00:20:00] Control + Resistance

Robyn: It’s funny — I used to think I was doing everything right to manifest my dream life. But really, I was blocking it by controlling too much — what I call “self cock-blocking.” (laughs) All that resistance stopped the flow.

Alexandra: (laughing) The truth! We all do it. You think you’re manifesting with effort — but you’re just tightening your grip.
Robyn: Exactly. And the moment you surrender, life moves faster than you ever could force it.

[00:22:00] Science + Spirituality Converging

Alexandra: That’s why I love what’s happening right now — science is finally catching up to spirituality. The latest Huberman episode was about the health benefits of faith. Data shows faith-based people live longer, happier, healthier lives.

Robyn: Wow. I need to listen to that.
Alexandra: It’s called The Science and Health Benefits of Belief in God and Religion — Dr. David DeSteno. It proves faith and compassion literally change your biology.

Robyn: That’s so fascinating — proof that believing in something bigger actually makes us better humans.

[00:24:30] Faith, Compassion + Perspective

Alexandra: The study found that faith-based participants had more compassion — they literally couldn’t bring themselves to harm someone else in an experiment. That’s the missing piece in humanity: compassion.

Robyn: Yes — faith as the conduit to the heart. But it doesn’t have to divide us by religion. It’s about the energy of belief and connection.
Alexandra: Exactly — love as the practice. Perspective as the bridge. When we see that everyone’s the main character of their own movie, we can give grace and stop taking things so personally.

[00:26:40] Design + Nature as Teacher

Robyn: All right — let’s talk about design for a moment. (line laughs) We always circle back to beauty.
Alexandra: Yes — line in design is so much like alignment in life. When you’re designing a space, go outside first. Nature is the best teacher of proportion and flow. Look at how light moves, how trees curve. Then bring that energy back in.

Robyn: Yes — contrast between straight and curved lines, rigid and soft. Like adding arches to doorways or curved edges to tables — it creates movement and warmth.

Alexandra: Exactly. Spaces should breathe like we do — smooth and alive.

[00:29:30] Home + Personal Expression

Robyn: Even cookie-cutter homes become unique once you infuse them with energy and intention. Your space should reflect your soul.
Alexandra: Yes — think of your home as a living being. It needs contrast too — curves and angles, soft and sharp. Be creative, and don’t be afraid to experiment. Furniture can change — nothing is permanent.

[00:30:00] Design + Personal Style as Alignment

Robyn: I love translating that idea into personal style too. Tailoring your clothes to your proportions — even if it ruins the resale value — changes everything.
Alexandra: Yes! Jeans are still jeans, but when they fit you, you walk differently. It’s confidence.
Robyn: And for men — please tailor your suits. It signals detail, presence, and self-respect.
Alexandra: Exactly. The way we present ourselves reflects the way we care for ourselves. Our external world mirrors the internal one.

[00:32:00] Intentional Living + Everyday Care

Robyn: You can always feel when someone lives with care. Even small things — clean lines, calm colors, objects that mean something — tell your nervous system “you’re safe.”
Alexandra: Right. The world is already chaotic; our homes and clothes can be the eye of the storm.
Robyn: It’s not about perfection; it’s about peace. Those tiny acts of care are maintenance for the soul.

[00:34:00] Maintenance + Self-Respect

Alexandra: Exactly. Our souls need maintenance just like our houses or cars. Check in each season — do things still fit the life you’re living? Does your space reflect your current energy?
Robyn: Yes. Every time I change out of sweatpants and into something intentional, I feel myself come online — there she is.
Alexandra: (laughs) Same. That spark of self-recognition is what keeps us vibrant.

[00:36:00] Line in Branding + Visual Structure

Robyn: Okay, design nerd moment — line and proportion in branding. Use a grid system! Even in Canva.
Alexandra: That tip changed my life.
Robyn: Seriously. Alignment brings calm. Left-justify your text, use hierarchy — heading, subheading, body. Let the eye rest.
Alexandra: Yes. If everything is bold and oversized, nothing stands out. Directionality guides focus — where do you want the eye to travel?
Robyn: Exactly. It’s psychology and design working together.

[00:39:30] Hierarchy, Attention + Energy

Robyn: Magazines do this beautifully — there’s structure behind the creativity.
Alexandra: It’s like life. Too much of everything becomes noise. Line gives rhythm.
Robyn: Yes — hierarchy creates harmony. When you use contrast wisely, your message lands more clearly.
Alexandra: And the same goes for style — highlight what you want to emphasize; soften what you don’t. Everything is about guiding energy.

[00:42:00] From Boundaries to Standards

Robyn: That ties right into personal lines — boundaries. My friend Mariah reframed it for me last night over wine: it’s not about boundaries, it’s about standards.
Alexandra: I love that. “Boundary” can feel harsh, but “standard” feels self-honoring.
Robyn: Exactly. Standards define what we’re available for — in relationships, work, health, finances. They raise our energetic line.

[00:44:00] The High-Jump Analogy

Robyn: I keep seeing it like a high-jump bar. Every time you grow in confidence, you raise it a little higher. If people can’t clear it, that’s okay — it’s just information.
Alexandra: Yes. And communicating those standards isn’t mean; it’s loving. Without them, resentment builds.
Robyn: Totally. Having the brave conversation gives others a chance to rise. Sometimes they can’t yet, but maybe later they will.

[00:46:00] Courageous Conversations + Growth

Alexandra: Those sweaty-palm, armpit-sweat conversations — that’s where growth happens.
Robyn: (laughs) Yes! Doing it scared. Most of the time, the monster under the bed is just slippers.
Alexandra: Exactly. Every hard conversation I’ve had has moved me further faster.
Robyn: And by saying “no” to what’s misaligned, you tell life exactly what you do want.

[00:48:00] Standards as Love

Robyn: Learning that setting standards is actually an act of love changed everything. It’s love for you and for the other person.
Alexandra: Yes — love doesn’t always look like a hug. Sometimes it’s a boundary, said with kindness.
Robyn: If someone offers feedback or correction, receive it as love too. Everything’s working for us, not against us.

[00:50:00] Heart Posture + Emotional Integrity

Robyn: I’ve been thinking a lot about heart posture — the energy we bring into every space. Is it fear, resentment, or love and truth?
Alexandra: That’s everything. I try to pause before reacting — ask myself, “Is this love or defense?”
Robyn: Yes. The ego wants to snap back, but compassion dissolves tension.
Alexandra: When we self-soothe before speaking, we lead from truth instead of reaction.

[00:52:30] Root Causes + Understanding

Alexandra: And when someone’s angry, keep asking “why” until you reach the root. Usually it’s pain or fear underneath.
Robyn: Yes — it’s rarely about the dishes. It’s about feeling unseen or unloved.
Alexandra: Exactly. When you understand the root, compassion returns and defenses drop.

[00:53:40] High Standards + High Vulnerability

Robyn: It’s interesting — the more I raise my standards, the more vulnerable I have to be.
Alexandra: That’s the paradox — high fences, open heart.
Robyn: Danielle LaPorte says it perfectly: wide-open heart, big---fence.
Alexandra: (laughing) That’s the both/and energy we love.

[00:54:20] Reflection Prompt + Seasonal Rebirth

Robyn: Okay — reflection prompt time.
Alexandra: Where in your life are you following a line that no longer feels like yours? And what new direction is calling your attention?
Robyn: Perfect for fall — the season of letting things die so new life can begin.
Alexandra: Exactly. What needs to fall away? What’s ready to be nurtured? Honesty is the portal.

[00:55:20] Integration + Closing Thoughts

Robyn: We always think we won’t have anything to say — then an hour later…
Alexandra: (laughs) Give us one word and a mic and we’ll talk forever.
Robyn: Every episode feels like a mirror — a reminder that design, life, and soul are the same conversation.

[00:56:00] Outro

Robyn: Thanks for tuning in to Form + Frequency. You can always connect with us at form-frequency.com — send your notes, questions, ideas.
Alexandra: Please do. We want to hear from you.
Robyn: This isn’t just about us — it’s for all of us.
Alexandra: We love you. See you next time.