There have been moments when I have been tempted to give up; to call it the last dance! In a recent class, the instructor was adding a new move and I was convinced that I was the only one who was clueless. Adding to my sense of inadequacy is what I noticed as I compared myself with the other students. The confident smiles on their faces were a sharp contrast to the tears of humiliation that I was barely holding back.
The next thing I remember is that I heard a thud. I realized too late that it was a big mistake to be looking around at the group instead of focusing on what I was doing. I had just whacked my husband on his nose with my elbow as I was attempting a spin!
In spite of my embarrassment, I feebly reminded myself that even though I failed to accomplish the move, I was not a failure. I remembered the ‘mantra’ that I tell my clients, “mistakes are for learning." They are simply an opportunity to make a course adjustment; little pieces of feedback necessary to grow. I swallowed my pride, took a deep breath, and began the move again…. and again.
So while I still didn’t enjoy feeling incompetent, I am learning that it is completely fine to try, and even to fail. I am accepting the feeling of self-doubt that accompanies the learning curve and doing my best to be okay with it. I am reminding myself that like all feelings, the discomfort will pass.
I am grateful that I have been given the chance to learn something new. Through a lot of practice, my dancing is progressing to the place where it is actually fun! However, my hope is that, as I take these classes, I will learn more than just how to dance.
The bigger lesson for each of us as we try new things is this: Stop magnifying mistakes and minimizing progress. Don't allow your failures to become unwelcome house guests taking residence in your mind. Shift your focus, and begin to magnify God's ability to transform and redeem. Then, life itself becomes a Grace-Full dance!
My prayer for myself and my friends reading this are the words of Paul from Philippians 3:12, “Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me”.
Until next time, Blessings ~ Deb