Defying Gravity

“It’s time to trust my instincts,
Close my eyes, and leap.

I’m through accepting limits
“cause someone says they’re so.
Some things I cannot change
But ‘till I try, I’ll never know.

It’s time to try
Defying gravity.
I think I’ll try defying gravity.
And you can’t pull me down.”

(From Wicked – Music and Lyrics by Stephen Schwartz)

From time to time, and far too rarely, an artistic expression crosses my path and I know in an instant that my life is profoundly changed. I can feel my heart shift ever so slightly as it makes room for new messages I need to embody. Last fall, Wicked opened on Broadway and starred two of my favorite actors as the witches of Oz – the Good one and the Green one. Please forgive me, Margaret Hamilton, for forty years of calling you “wicked”.

This compelling musical is based on Gregory’s Maguire’s novel, The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West, and serves as a prequel-of-sorts to the story we all have known for years. Digging far deeper than the yellow brick road, its plot investigates relationships between women, having to make hard decisions, and how life may not always be as it appears on the surface. Act One of Wicked ends with Idina Menzel, the Green One, expressing her conviction in “Defying Gravity.”

The notion of defying gravity has popped up in my life several times over the past few months.

One recent “defying gravity” moment appeared when after twenty years of not giving up, I finally achieved my dream of being in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. And, from time to time, I doubt my own abilities before remembering a previous “I could never do that” belief, which has already been accomplished and moved beyond.

Another example of “defying gravity” arose when my friend, L’Tanya, expressed her intention of waking up every morning, asking herself what she was most afraid of doing, then taking a step toward achieving it. That’s real courage!

But with that show of courage and strength come the sweet rewards of life. I can think of at least three rewards for taking a leap into the unknown.

First, simply acting on our fears releases us from self-doubt. Even if we fall flat on our faces, our worst-case scenarios are often far worse than the actual experience of defeat.

Second, we feel a sense of satisfaction for having achieved what we set out to do. Accomplishing goals, no matter how tiny or huge, provides us with a greater sense of self and builds our esteem.

Finally, and perhaps most importantly, being able to continue acknowledging the experience serves as a motivator to take another risk, and then another. We tell ourselves, “If I tackled that, I could certainly handle this!” What freedom and power we give ourselves by taking leaps (or even baby steps) toward our dreams. Either way, we are winners!

What obstacles are you prepared to challenge?
What fear are you ready to overcome, and move beyond?
What dream are you ready to realize?

You don’t need a flying bicycle or a bubble that carries you over Emerald cities.

You too, can defy gravity whenever you’re ready.