I have been enthralled by the TV show Dancing with
the Stars for two seasons now. I admire the courage,
the grace, and the tenacity of the stars, who risk
humiliation in front of millions, while they learn to
dance under extremely challenging conditions.
Each of the celebrities, who has earned great respect
for their success in various fields of expertise, have
chosen to step way outside their comfort zones and
attempt to do something completely new and utterly
daunting.
Rarely in life are we put in a position to be this publicly
vulnerable and totally at the mercy of the subjective
judgment of millions of people. Thank goodness for
that! The very idea makes me quake in my boots.
I secretly dreamed of being a performer when I was a
kid - maybe a rock star or an actress. I always wanted
be a dancer too. I remember enthusiastically trying out
for my high school dance team, the Apollo Queens. It
was utter humiliation as I stood before a panel of
incumbent Queens while being told I didn't make the
grade in rather catty, sarcastic terms.
Funny how memories like that can still hurt. Not so
funny how a single experience of being judged harshly
can stop you from ever trying again, and how the fear
of rejection has the power to paralyze.
Whatever your opinion of Marie Osmond and her
surprising rise to the finals on Dancing with the Stars,
you have to admire her for the way she let the judges'
criticism just roll off her. She truly seems to get the
adage, "What you think of me is none of my business!"
Her talent and skill on the dance floor, as well as
some of her choices of costume, were sharply
criticized. But Marie maintained that she was having
the time of her life, enjoying the challenge, and
marveling at her ability to do amazing physical moves
at almost 50 years old. What a role model for defining
success on your own terms!
Of course it didn't hurt that her fans adore her
and rescued her repeatedly from certain elimination
up until the final night of the show! Clearly it left the
judges scratching their heads in disbelief. Equally
shocking was the stunning elimination, early
in the competition, of the very talented Sabrina Bryan
who was widely viewed as the one to beat.
This season demonstrated one very important truth;
success or failure at any particular endeavor may have
very little to do with your talent, your skill or your
potential. Whether it's a job, a relationship, or a
contest you are trying to win, you can never know
exactly what the other parties (or judges) are looking
for. Being rejected doesn't mean you aren't worthy, it
just means your needs don't match up. It doesn't
mean you failed!
If you knew you could not fail, or rather if you were to
define success on your own terms like Marie
Osmond, what would you have the courage to try?
Today is the first day of the New Year and the first day
of the rest of your life. Is there something that's been
nagging at you, something you've been daydreaming
about, something creative that's seeking expression,
or a big scary desire for change, that refuses to be
quashed?
The dawning of the New Year is a great time to take a
good long look at your life. Is there something missing
that would make a big difference in the quality of your
life? What's in your way of filling that hole in your life?
Is it fear of failure or rejection? Is it a limiting belief you
hold about your ability or worthiness to achieve such a
goal? Is it a habit of neglecting your own needs and
desires? Do you believe the circumstances of your
life rule out change?
There is no question that embarking on a significant
life change is not for the faint of heart. It means
stepping out of your comfort zone, and that's not easy;
even if your comfort zone is making you miserable, at
least it's familiar.
It's important to remember that any change that is
worthwhile is rarely achieved overnight. Change starts
with a declaration in your own mind that you intend to
move in a new direction. You don't have to know
exactly how or when you will accomplish the change.
Simply stating your intention, and immersing yourself
in a conscious and joyful flight of imagination, will set
the stage for you to begin moving in the direction of
your dreams.
Make a decision to dance into 2008 by claiming the
desires of your heart, believing in your ability and
worthiness to have what you want, and holding your
fears at bay by defining success on your own terms.
