OK, so the theatre “geek” side of me is a little ashamed to admit that I was unfamiliar with the song Defying Gravity until I heard it on Glee.
The song stuck in my head though and I went searching for where it was from originally. For those of you who know this show already, you’re probably wondering how I could have ever NOT known it was from Wicked.
Well now I know and I love the song, but more so I love the lyrics. I love the message that it tells people.
From that first line of “something has changed within me” – BOOM this is everything that I work with people on – getting to that changing point, the point where you FEEL that something has changed because that’s when it becomes true for you.
Then quickly after that “I’m through with playing by the rules of someone else’s game” – again a huge realization for people, that I can live my life my way and it doesn’t matter what society says, what the media says, I know what’s right for me in my own heart.
Then:
Too late for second-guessing
Too late to go back to sleep
It’s time to trust my instincts
Close my eyes: and leap!
Getting people to take risks in their own life, to stop second guessing, to “wake up” to their own strength and ability, to trust themselves and take that leap, this is another huge step.
Then there is the chorus of coarse – which I love in the song – the simply message is to break out of your comfort zone and “defy gravity”, be daring, be big and bold and don’t let anyone bring you down, because that’s just giving them power over you.
It was Eleanor Roosevelt who said: “No one can make me feel inferior without my consent.”
And the lines continue:
I’m through accepting limits
‘Cuz 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
I love the message of this song – don’t accept other people’s limits. Yes there are some things you cannot change, but there are those things you can and until you try you’ll never know what you can do.
For those of you who may not have heard the song, here is my gift to you:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FlMBcTGJ4YM
For for the future always remember to keep laughing and maybe defy a little gravity too.