And Here We Go…5-6-7-8

I danced for years and each number started with someone counting 5-6-7-8. Once those four numbers were heard we performed and gave it our all. Time after time we readied ourselves, listened for those four numbers, and away we went. We turned off our heads and let the music and our feet lead the way. With all the practice and rehearsal the goal was to know the number well enough to no longer think. Thinking got in the way. 

Sometimes when we have a new task to complete we think ourselves into stagnation. It’s often called paralysis of analysis. We think about the possibilities, the unending combinations of things that could go wrong, go right, and how we may or may not succeed. We want to start perfect so we end up not starting at all. We fear failure which stalls our efforts until we can begin and guarantee we will not fail. 

Failure is not a bad thing, it means you are trying. Anything worth doing well hits bumps and glitches before it works. I learned that when I was dancing. Learning the steps takes time, energy, and lots of practice. We danced poorly, were uncoordinated and sustained many bruises before we got it right. Hours and hours listening to the same piece of music, hearing the same step patterns in our head, and waiting for the 5-6-7-8 to kick off another try. We worked hard to get ready for the performance in front of an audience, doing the same thing over and over again until it was second nature. 

Any new skill or process takes time to master. Just because we invented it or easily understood it, that does not mean we can perform it fully right away. Practice makes perfect, which means you have to start, mess up, then try again. By putting pressure on ourselves to be perfect from the start we severely limit our chance of performing at all. Too much perfection means we will always fall short, no matter how hard we work. No dance number is ever flawless, something is always a little askew. The great part is the audience usually doesn’t notice. So get out of your own head, stop thinking and practice, practice, practice. If you need some motivation to try again, count it off with me….5-6-7-8!