All That Jazz Story and Reflection

I'm going to give away one of the truths that throws people off when I play two truths and a lie. I learned to tap dance and even performed on stage after I was a practicing physician. I know, I know - hard to picture. 😉

My daughter was taking violin lessons in a studio that had just started offering adult tap lessons - and my sister, friends with the owner, roped me into it! The violin teacher even joined the tap class.

My daughter thought she would leave the studio the first day, being able to play a whole song on the violin. (Oops - I guess I forgot to set expectations 😬).

She grew increasingly frustrated as the lessons progressed.

My tap lessons were going about as well. There was this thing called the Time Step 😖 that was a bear to learn. Shuffle Hop Step FaLap... I couldn't get it, so I was frustrated and just wanted to quit (I may have said it out loud 😬).

Right after class, when I was kicking off my shoes, the violin teacher mentioned how much my daughter and I acted alike. I knew I wasn't being my best self, but to have her reflect it back to me and bring my daughter into it got my attention.

I saw it as a challenge - I needed to be the example. It was enough to keep me working on the steps. I finally decided to believe what everyone told me - "Keep practicing, and you'll eventually get it down."

I had to let go of some all-or-nothing thinking, perfectionism, control, and concern for people's thoughts about me in order to persevere through the discomfort and awkwardness of the situation. And eventually, I nailed it.

The performance was so fun and freeing. I am so glad I didn't give up. It's the natural process of shifting to a growth mindset.

Reflection: What are you currently facing that is difficult, awkward, or uncomfortable? To access your growth mindset, what must you

1. address - your expectations, maladaptive perfectionism, etc.

2. allow for - discomfort, patience, etc.

3. or let go of - what others think about you, an unrealistic ideal?

How can you reframe it to shift it to more ease and truly work on mastery?

I still have my tap shoes - I should get them out and see if I remember anything from that class 25 years ago. 💃