Health & Fitness
The Momma of Reinvention: Step One
The author takes step 1 on her journey of reinvention.
Years ago, I was coaching singers, actors and artists of all kinds, who were having creative blocks. I used to ask them to go home, stand on the furniture, find at least one thing in the room they’d never noticed before and absorb the lesson.
I know, it sounds weird, but I was hoping they’d learn the value of changing perspective. It worked rather well.
Very early in my career, I learned the importance of adjusting my point of view—looking at life from a different angle. In between auditions, I took many different jobs—including being an interviewer for a video dating service. The final question I was told to ask clients at the end of each interview was, “What would put a big smile on your face?”
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One time, in response, a clearly desperate man forced his mouth into a strange grin, evidently, thinking I’d simply asked him to show his teeth. It was an awkward moment, and a depressing bit of work.
I quit shortly thereafter and headed for L.A. But that experience helped me discover I really liked working on the other side of the camera, and today, producing is a huge part of my career.
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Step 1: Figuring out what you do and don’t like to do, and (if necessary) making a brave exit.
Twenty-six years later, it’s time for me to revisit step one of my journey. To begin, I’ll push the envelope just a little, change my every day routine and start working on my new show.
Hoping for a little inspiration, I recently took my own advice, and stood on the leather chair in my living room. The one thing I’d never noticed? My ceiling isn’t all that high. The overhead fan almost gave me a new haircut.
What’s my new perspective so far? Sometimes, it’s good to be short.
Lesson learned? Be grateful for who you are … and think before you perch.
Oh, and I've attached a clip of a song I performed a couple years back that has a little something to do with perspective and relationships. Again, you may have already seen it. Sorry if you have. I'll post some new ones next time.
Let me know if you stand on the furniture.
