We love attending the performances of a youth theater group in our area. Families we are friends with have their kids in the shows, and my kids always want to go to see their friends perform.
One year we get tickets to the Dr Seuss show Seussical the Musical. Our tickets are right down front in the first row. Our friend’s kid is the lead role. I got to know this kid at family barbecues. He is smart, reserved, and responsible.
At intermission, I saw him down in the orchestra pit under the stage by himself. He was dancing around and throwing his arms up in the air and doing some Mick Jagger like gyrations with his hips.
I point him out to my wife and ask, “What is he doing?”
She grew up in performing arts and responds, “He’s getting into character.”
Moments later, the theater dims, the curtain opens and our friend bursts upon the stage through a trap door, the spotlight is on him, and he comes to life as Cat In The Hat.
I’m captivated, he was awesome.
And years later I still think about it all the time.
When you are doing something new, not what you usually do, it’s going to feel awkward and clumsy. Until the new behavior becomes comfortable, you are going to have to get into character.
If its something you have never done before, you don’t know how to do it.
When you need to do something, but you don’t know how, act as if you did know how. It’s how you build character.
What if you did know how, what would you do?
As Amy Faeskorn writes, “[take the opportunity] to put on the costume of someone who makes themselves and their dreams a priority and shows up for others who do the same.”
—
The steps of a man are establihed by the Lord,
when he delights in his way;
though he fall, he shall not be cast headlong,
for the Lord upholds his hand.
Psalm 37:23-24