Thwarted by naysayers. Cut off at the knees by those who want to see you fail for their own selfish causes and purposes. The mud puddles of life. Bugs. Rain. PITA’s…
(It stands for Pains in the Ass) They get their joy from ruining yours. Why? Heaven help us, I don’t know. Wouldn’t it be simpler if we were all on the same path of spreading light and joy all around the world? It would. But it won’t happen. So if we are going to go on with our goal of Living Inspired this year, we have to go on despite them.
There is a way. It’s a little bit WICKED.
But I know it will work.
I’m calling it the Living Inspired by Defying Gravity Plan. And as you can see I shamelessly stole the idea from the song Defying Gravity from the Musical Wicked.
When the Old Rules Just Don’t Work Any More
Something has changed within me, something is not the same
I’m through with playing by the rules of someone else’s game
Too late for second-guessing, too late to go back to sleep
Its time to trust my instincts, close my eyes and leap!
If this sounds familiar, maybe you too have reached a place where your inner voice is waking up and refusing to play nice with everyone else’s version of the Game of Life. Perhaps something is stirring, that bit of you, that authentic self that refuses to go back to sleep, stay quiet or be lulled into a false sense of security. Maybe it’s been easier to let the wizard behind the curtain make all the decisions while you’ve been to afraid to speak up.
And maybe, just maybe, now that you are ready to take that first step, jump out on the ledge on your own, you find that your well meaning fiends and family sound a little like this?
GLINDA
Elphie, listen to me. Just say you’re sorry:
You can still be with the Wizard
What you’ve worked and waited for
You can have all you ever wanted:
With Friends like this Who Needs Enemies?
Glinda was the good witch remember? The one who did everything right and never made waves? Yet, she is the first one to try and talk Elphaba out of sticking to her guns and being her authentic self. “Don’t make waves!” “Don’t be yourself!” “Just say your sorry and do what you are told and everything will be all right!”
Sound familiar?
Well sometimes waves need to be made and we need to make them. We need to stand up for what we believe in, trust our instincts and live the life we know is right for us, even if it seems out of reach or flies on the face of common wizardry (or wisdom.) In order to Live Inspired, live authentic lives of purpose filled direction, we are going to have to be willing to face down the naysayers, the status quo makers, and the joy killers and try defying a little gravity of our own.
It’s time to try
Defying gravity
I think I’ll try
Defying gravity
And you can’t pull me down!
Expect to Be Ridiculed. Expect Them To Try to Drag you Back Down
GLINDA
Can’t I make you understand?
You’re having delusions of grandeur:
When you first decide to fly, some will say you are delusional. Unrealistic. Not paying close enough attention to the facts. The statistics, the odds may all be against you. All of the these things are gravity forming chains to keep you on the ground like everyone else. They don’t want you to break free and leave them all alone. Then they’ll have to face the fact that they are too afraid to fly. This isn’t about your wings…it’s about the lack of theirs.
The Only Thing Holding You Down is You
ELPHABA
I’m through accepting limits
”cause someone says they’re so
Some things I cannot change
But till I try, I’ll never know!
Too long I’ve been afraid of
Losing love I guess I’ve lost
Well, if that’s love
It comes at much too high a cost!
I’d sooner buy
Defying gravity
Kiss me goodbye
I’m defying gravity
And you can’t pull me down:
When we finally do decide that we are finished accepting the imposed limitations placed on us by others,when we finally decide not to live our lives by the fear of not being accepted or rejected or needing a love that comes at too high a cost, then we are free to trying flying by the power of our own strength, convictions and dreams. Nobody will be able to hold us down then!
Sometimes You Have to Fly Alone
Glinda – come with me…
…Well? Are you coming?
(spoiler here) Glinda doesn’t get on the broom. As much as Elphaba is able to explain to Glinda why she has to defy gravity and do her own thing, she can’t convince her to hop on and come with. Even when she sings inspiring words about being unlimited together and being the greatest team thats ever been, It isn’t enough to sway her confidence. Glinda is happy for her but not confident enough to defy gravity for herself.
Are you Strong Enough to Go it Alone?
“Ev’ryone deserves the chance to fly!”
And if I’m flying solo
At least I’m flying free
To those who’d ground me
Take a message back from me
Tell them how I am
Defying gravity
I’m flying high
Defying gravity
And soon I’ll match them in renown
And nobody in all of Oz
No Wizard that there is or was
Is ever gonna bring me down!
The Bottom Line is to Reach For The Sky No Matter how Wicked it Feels
It’s scary to fly in the face of naysayers. It’s hard to be a rulebreaker. It’s even more difficult to stick to your guns in the wake of friends and family who really believe they have your best interests at heart. It’s downright terrifying to lift off the ground when you know you will be leaving everything and everyone behind and forging on alone.
If it’s your destiny, do it anyway. If its your passion, keep on going. Don’t listen to them. Listen to your heart. Believe in yourself, lift off.
Defy gravity.
