Howdy Folks,
Yesterday's post
about how I discovered Dancing With The Stars and how it hooked me, generated
some really great comments, thoughts and fun on our blog and facebook. Thank
you all! I wasn't really going to do a follow up. I mean after all how much can
you say about a TV show? But while watching last night's show I had some
thoughts.
Not new thoughts,
I've had them for a long time, but watching last night's show, and knowing I
had a blog about it today, I watched as a reviewer might. In keeping with my
opinion that DWTS is a great example about how great it feels to strive to be
your best, and what a fun and exciting example of that pursuit, I'd like to
share another thought.
Followers of the
Coffee Clutch have often seen my suggestion of, "Celebrate the Positive
and Ignore the Negative." I admit I mostly talk about that in connection
to working with horses, but I pretty much live by that code. I think it
strengthens a marriage, love, family and friendship bonds, a career, and
certainly your relationship with your horse. It's how I write here on our blog,
on my facebook page and my stories for Natural Horse and Trail Blazer
magazines. How I try to see life.
If you watch DWTS
you're familiar with the clips they show of rehearsals. They detail the
struggles, the planning and behind the scenes silliness. The clips also reveal
the stars' attitudes. Some are up and digging into the challenge with a
positive attitude, no matter the struggle. They laugh at themselves, declare
their commitment and focus on what they've accomplished. There are also clips
of crying, complaining how difficult it is, how they may have made a mistake.
Sometimes the star might blame the pro for making it too tough. I know it's TV
and the producers feel the need for controversy and angst. But the clips are
real. And often telling.
I can't help but
notice the stars who laugh at themselves, have the most positive outlook, and
rarely complain or argue, tend to achieve the highest scores. And win. Some
folks might say it's easy to be positive when you're doing well. I suppose
there's truth to that. But I also believe it's true that "Celebrating the
Positive and Ignoring the Negative" helps to make it easier to do well.
Which in turn feeds into the positive attitude. Which then takes that positive
attitude and grows and grows.
You can watch the
stars who complain and are negative and see the time they lose in rehearsal,
and compare it to the stars who focus on the positive, their accomplishments
and move quickly ahead to more difficult steps and choreography without losing
time. The lesson is there for everyone to see. It works every time it's tried.
Anywhere. Who would have thought there were lessons to be learned on DWTS … I
did the first time I watched it. That's why I'm a fan.