Dancing!
I love dancing!
Seriously, I REALLY LOVE to dance.
For me, once the music starts, it’s a done deal.
Me, the music and the movement.
I’m pretty adaptable; I can dance to most tunes and adapt my moves to the relevant rhythm and style.
When I took a fall and broke my foot, the Meniscus Cartlidge in my knee in two places, as well as tore the ACL, not being able to dance was hard on me.
Why?
Because dancing is liberty for me… it’s freedom.
There are some things about communal dancing that are fascinating and that relate directly to personal and professional development. Here’s what I see:
Dance the way you want
Don’t dance to please others; dance to please yourself. While others may chuckle at your “throw the washing in” moves, it’s not about them… it’s about you. This is your space to express your moves, your body, and your experience with the rhythm and beat in a way that works for you. So, dance the way you want.
This is so true for every aspect of life. Too often, we live it on someone else’s terms. We are so busy trying to please everyone else and/or the voice in our heads that isn’t ours that we have lost our ability to know what we want. It’s not about living to please others, it’s about living to please yourself – of course we live in an interconnected world – but ask yourself, honestly, how much of what you do is truly for you?
Each of us is unique and it’s that uniqueness that is the differentiator in the wider world. You are on this planet for a purpose that only you can fulfil, so that’s why doing it your way matters.
You are not in competition.
Regardless of what other people are doing, the only person you really need to compete with on the dance floor is yourself. The whole point is to enjoy the music and the movement. To have fun on the dance floor and to enjoy the process. You’re not there to compete.
When we look at this for your professional and personal life, I truly believe that when you compete with yourself, you can go so much further. It’s likely that you are your greatest critic and advocate. Take inspiration from others, but don’t compare and compete with them. Compete to be the best you that you can be. Focus on your calling and your impact; no one else can do it like you when you step into your authentic self and focus on what you have been placed on this earth to do.
Take up your space – everyone has a space on the dance floor, it may not be massive but it’s yours. So, take up your space and enjoy it, relish in it and dance away.
Life is for living, and by virtue of being on this planet with a breathing body, you have the right to take up your rightful place here. This means rejecting shrinking into the background, waiting for others to validate you and denying your right to your space.
I’m not talking about being brash and shouty (although if that’s you, go do you.) I am talking about ensuring that you:
Stay in your lane – whilst you are taking up space, you don’t need to take up other people’s. You can move around the dance floor, you can change positions, but don’t encroach on other people’s space. The dance floor quickly gets ugly when you try to be “everything, everywhere, all at once.” That’s a movie, not a strategy for life.
At work, sometimes you may try to take on other people’s projects because you want to prove yourself. Don’t. Let them bask in their expertise, and you bask in yours. This is very different to choosing not to grow. Many of you are overwhelmed and triggered by Imposter Syndrome and perfectionism because you are taking on too much. You are in everyone else’s lane trying to find the validation that is sitting firmly in your own lane if you would just appreciate it.
Dance as long as the music moves you – when the songs don’t fit, you have a choice. You don’t have to try and make it work for you; you can choose to get off the dance floor until something that aligns with your taste comes along.
That goes for your working life or any aspect of your life too. Sometimes, you need to move from where you are as it no longer serves you. Stop trying to make everything work. It’s OK if it doesn’t. There will be, and are, better places for you to flourish. Like the right soil, the right music will move you in the way that works best for you. I am not saying don’t stretch, I am saying that when you know it doesn’t feel good for you, make the changes that you need… for you!
Learn a new dance – the same moves don’t work for every tune. So, learn a new dance. I love to watch the young people when new music comes out, it’s my opportunity to pick up the new moves to the new tunes, so that I can adapt my dance style to the music.
When it comes to career, you may need to learn a new thing. For those of you who are tech-phobes, understand that it’s not going anywhere That means you will need to learn to use it adequately and maybe even master it. It’s not enough to rest on old learning. You need to keep your knowledge and skills fresh. Sometimes that will be technical skills and others personal development skills.
Don’t shy away from the limelight – sometimes, when the music hits and you’re dancing hard, others will notice and, as we say, “Big you up.” This isn’t the moment when you shy away. This is your moment. Lean in, enjoy the experience, show your moves and enjoy the limelight. You can stop whenever you want, but since you now have the limelight, enjoy it.
When you are in your flow at work, and people notice and compliment you on your impact, don’t brush it off. Allow it to sink in, and use it to remind yourself of what you are capable of. When you brush off the praise of others, you rob them of the gift that they are giving you. When you get the limelight for the right reasons, bask in it.
There is something magical that happens when a song comes on that is recognised in the room as a communal dance song. To watch and engage in leaving your seat, running to the dance floor, or using the space where you are to then dance in coordination with others in the room. Repeating the same steps, moving in the same direction and following the same rhythm is something to experience and behold. Everyone (apart from those who really don’t know what the hell they are doing) moves in alignment.
Two points on that:
- If you don’t know what you are doing, then move the hell out of the way!
- Being in alignment with others can really fuel you. Seek places and spaces where you feel aligned and can work in alliance with others. Everyone doesn’t have to be the same to be aligned, they can do the moves but may add their own twist on things. That’s fine as long as you are all going in the same direction and understand what is and is not important. Finding your flow with others is important to how you experience the world.
For those who sit down even when the bangers are on, maybe it’s time to let your hair down a little. Dance is known to release stress, tension, and depression and increase serotonin, the feel-good hormone. It can improve heart and lung conditions, increase muscular strength, and reduce the risks of osteoporosis. It is a fun way to exercise and creates a great opportunity to meet new people.
You have no idea the fun you are missing!
So, I want to remind you to dance like no one is watching and to dance first for yourself and then with others.
PS: Go have your own dance party, and as Coreen Bailey Ray would say, “Girl, put your records on!”
If you enjoyed this blog, please join my newsletter for blogs, insights, news and event.
Comments (0)