I was recently taking a dance class and the combination we had to learn was very demanding. Everyone was having a hard time with it.
Then, just when I was beginning to get the hang of it, the teacher told us to reverse it. Yikes! I barely could get through it as it was, and now I had to switch the whole thing in my head. Every step, every gesture or arm movement that had been to the right was now to the left and visa versa.
I wasn’t the only one having trouble. All around the studio dancers were getting frustrated and there was at least one collision (luckily nobody got hurt).
But then, unexpectedly, and somewhat out of character the dance teacher told a brief but rather funny story of an on-stage collision that happened early in her career. Everyone was laughing.
Then she told us all to try the combination again. This time, everyone did it perfectly…. while still smiling.
Isn’t it amazing how something as simple as a smile can have such a positive impact?
So the next time you are feeling frustrated or stuck, try smiling. It might help you, too.
Let me know how it goes….