Dance has taught me many things in my life.  The need for balance and positioning myself so that I am ready for the next steps to be executed.  It has taught me how to move to the music of the world and how to be flexible, not just in the movement but in adapting to a change in rhythm or a prop suddenly in the way.  It has taught me discipline and hard work bring their own rewards.  More importantly perhaps, it has taught me that in approaching things from a learning perspective with curiosity and wonder, a beginner’s mind, the world of opportunity opens up.  

For many years, in returning to my childhood love of dance and taking lessons as an adult, I didn’t have this understanding.  Instead, I sought perfection and recognition based on memories of times gone by.  When neither materialized as I deemed they should, I deftly put myself in victim mode.  I told myself, ‘It was because the teacher had favorites and I wasn’t one of them’ or ‘my body just isn’t made to move that way’ or a myriad of other excuses.  Don’t get me wrong, I didn’t believe I was a great dancer and neither did I believe I had two left feet.  What I didn’t realize was that in staying stuck in the past of how things were and failing to acknowledge where I was in the present, I was not allowing myself to grow and learn and even perhaps come closer to the perfection I was seeking.  

It was a few short years ago, just after my father’s death, that I changed my approach to my dance lessons.  I am truly not sure what prompted the change but I do know at that time it seemed everything in my life was shifting.  I didn’t notice much of a difference at first other than my relationship with myself and dance.  There were no more harsh words after class to my body for failing in some intricate movement, to my muscles for being old and not strong enough, or to my brain for blanking on the next eight counts.  Rather I extended appreciation to them for serving me as well as they did;  for trying to meet the demands I was making.  Then gradually as well, I began to notice the approach from my instructor shifted with more words of encouragement coupled with correction as well as some validation when I was successful. I no longer felt invisible or overlooked, rather seen and accepted.  Perhaps this change was all just my perception, but what a welcome change it was.  Dance class had become a place to celebrate what I was able to accomplish rather than the place to berate myself for what I wasn’t able to do.  It was a place to look at well known dance steps through a new lens each time, noticing how the feel of familiar movement may not be the same one day to the next or how different music altered the entire experience.  I began to notice how different muscles worked (or didn’t) and appreciate that sometimes my mind and my body just didn’t seem to work together all that well and yet other times they seemed to communicate just fine. Ultimately, each class was a new opportunity unhindered by the past. 

It is interesting to me how my mindset with which I approach someone, an activity or event can result in dramatic outcomes.  Perhaps, by adopting a beginner’s mind I am creating space, allowing energy to flow in support of what I am trying to accomplish instead of restricting it to a preconceived outcome.  Perhaps in adopting this perspective I am keeping my thoughts open to opportunity creating more possibility for success instead of narrowed to only what I believe is available.  Perhaps it is simply that I am letting go of the past and making room for what is.  Or, perhaps it is all of these things or none of these things and maybe the mechanics of it are entirely something else.  Whatever the why of the beginner’s mind, I know for me, it is a wonderful way to approach life and this journey I am on, bringing a sense of joy, peace and wonder that I didn’t have before.  

Wishing you dear friend all the benefits of a beginner’s mind as you travel your heartfelt journey.  ~♥~