Dance like no one’s watching
In conversation with a client this week, I suggested she practice being her true self. Instead of trying to answer the way people expect, give an authentic answer. Instead of waiting to see what everyone else wants for dinner; ask for what she wants. To say that it felt like I was asking a great deal of her would be somewhat understated.
We all have had a lot of conditioning to fit in to whatever circle we think will make us feel most like we belong. At about age 10, I really wanted the little girl across the street to like me and to include me in her play circle. I made up a great story about my family going to Disneyland and we would take her along. Of course, she told her mom and soon our moms were on the phone and I was busted.
I still remember the embarrassment at having to say I was sorry and feeling even more outside the coveted group. Where had I learned that I needed to fit in…that I did not belong with the cool kids. I have seen remnants of myself still trying to join the cool kids over the years. Today that insidious need shows up as kids being bullied or needing to identify with a group that is currently in favor. We are still being conditioned to think of belonging or NOT belonging and we suppress our freedom to be ourselves until we are not well acquainted with our preferences. Like my client, trying to learn to do it later in life is in fact, quite daunting.
One place that can reach out and grab us for some honest glee is to dance. Putting on our favorite music and beginning to dance with abandon feels wonderful and can bring an instantaneous smile to our faces. To be able to do it in a club with people, or on the street with a local musician, is to graduate from the class of I BELONG! Watch me go.
If you are getting chills at the thought then you need to begin immediately…twirling or shaking like your life depended on it….with full abandon and delight.
As I was contemplating this blog and wanting all of us to just JUMP and dance with joy, this scene came to mind. One of my favorite movies and favorite actors – is a call for being ourselves and experiencing Love Actually.
Start dancing with the clip and keep going!!
