In Search Of Excellence… Inspiring Or Intimidating?

In a recent class, we were discussing Best Practices; the ideal standards, the levels to which we aspire and sometimes experience when we’re doing (and being?) our best.

Some students stayed behind after the lecture. I expected they’d be energized – if not outright enthralled – with the possibilities. But as my wise friend and writing partner Beth Page says, “Expectations are planned disappointments.”

I really wish I remembered her counsel as I awaited the students’ comments, which essentially were:

“Those practices… that’s not reality, it’s the rare exception. Why even bother telling us about them, when we’ll never get to experience it ourselves? It’s depressing.”

I was so astounded, the best response I could offer was some mealy-mouthed, “thanks for your input” kind of acknowledgment. But it stuck with me, and it’s taken me some time to work it out.

It’s easy for me to explore this from a distanced, philosophical point of view. But when I recall a recent time when I personally encountered Best Practices, I start to appreciate the students’ perspective.

For me, few things are tougher than entering a dance class where everyone is a lot better than I am. I’ll happily be doing my thing, and suddenly realize that people around me are moving in bigger, bolder, and more beautiful ways than I ever imagined.

In fact, some of them are doing things so quantum-ly different from me that I’m momentarily stunned, then panicked: “Uh oh. How did I get here?” Facing this much excellence is more than humbling.

I have two options, which might be labeled “Fight or Flight,” but that’s not 100% accurate. Flight? Always a possibility. If I allow myself to be overcome with embarrassment, I’ve been known to make a quick, yet still mortifying, escape. But Fight? It doesn’t have to be the only other alternative (nor is it often ideal in a dance studio).

So Flight or… Float?

What if I can release my instinct to run, and instead open my eyes and my mind to all that’s around me?

The anxiety evaporates. I see the grace, strength, flexibility, elevation, commitment…. and I am in awe. And rather than finding myself deficient in comparison, I become inspired to go further myself.

Granted, it’s not often easy for me to ‘float.’ It requires that I willingly risk facing intimidation in exchange for the possibility of inspiration.

But to me, that’s the ultimate point of exploring Best Practices. To see what’s possible, to replace fear with wonder, and to apply that inspiration as fuel for our own continuing growth.

What do you think?