THE WISDOM OF THE BEATLES
Be inspired by the most iconic band of our generation.
Whatever Gets You Through the Night
Don't judge how people cope; getting through is what matters
May 10
Everything about this track reflects a particular kind of hard-won wisdom. John recorded "Whatever Gets You Through the Night" with Elton John as a loose, funky celebration of survival. The song accepts that however people find their own way through difficult stretches is okay, and that judgment helps no one. John had lived through enough to know that surviving intact is its own form of success.
Legendary as the collaboration itself was, the backstory adds an extra layer of warmth to the record. Elton John bet John Lennon that the song would hit number one. The stakes? If it did, John would have to perform live at one of Elton's concerts. When the song topped the charts, John kept his word, appearing with Elton at Madison Square Garden on November 28, 1974. It turned out to be his final live concert performance.
Trust and follow-through are the foundations of genuine friendship. John showed up as promised, and that night became one of the most celebrated moments in rock history. Elton later described it as one of the greatest nights of his life. What began as a studio collaboration and a friendly wager became something far more meaningful: a memory neither of them ever forgot.
Often the most compassionate thing we can offer someone in a hard season is simply the absence of judgment. We live in a culture that has strong opinions about how people should grieve, recover, process, and heal. John provides a gentle reminder that you do not have to cope the way anyone else thinks you should. Getting through the night is enough.
No one survives every storm in a way that looks clean from the outside. This is the grace at the heart of "Whatever Gets You Through the Night": the recognition that resilience may look strange from the outside, and that the kindest thing a friend can do is choose support over critique.
Today, I will release judgment toward someone who is coping with difficulty in a way that is different from how I would handle it, offering presence instead of advice.
Where might you be withholding compassion because someone's coping style does not match your own? How could choosing understanding over evaluation change the quality of your support?
Join April's New Beginnings Lessons
When George Harrison walked out of a contentious business meeting in 1969 and into Eric Clapton's garden, he discovered the strategic power of renewal. The song he wrote that afternoon, "Here Comes the Sun," would become The Beatles' most-streamed track and a masterclass in navigating transitions. Throughout April, we'll explore how their approach to new beginnings, strategic retreats, and turning endings into opportunities provides actionable frameworks for leaders navigating organizational transitions, career pivots, and transforming uncertainty into growth in every area of life.
Are you looking for deeper learning? Check out the full post for a 15 minute read.