The Lion King.
“To change the future, you have to put the past behind you.”
-Timon, the Wise Meerkat
You know those theater attendants give everyone who comes in with a bag, the stink eye. Some people really over do it. I mean, you really don’t need a suit case to watch a movie. I admit to bringing a bag. It’s only because I like my popcorn popped in coconut oil with a hint of Himalayan pink salt. I know, I’m extra. When I was a kid, I could do the theater popcorn drenched in butter and enough salt to raise your blood pressure by 20, now I feel disgusted if I eat a large bowel of it. Because you know that will happen if you go for the large, since it’s a dollar or two more than the medium. You rationalize getting more for your money. So, I bring my clean popcorn in and I smile at the theater attendant as if I’m an innocent angel. Sometimes, I may throw in some 88% dark chocolate (no more, no less than 88%). There is nothing like the sweet and salty combo. Oh, shoot, and I forgot about my bottle of water. Now I sound horrible, sneaking all of this into the theater. As our country continues to progress, I wonder if movie theaters will move towards BYOF? That would be nice.
Please silence your cell phones. . .
I was so anxious to watch the Lion King that I went by myself (sorry sis!). When you watch childhood movies as an adult, it’s different. You catch life lessons that were hidden as a child. You remember the big points: Mufasa is tragically killed, Scar is a horrible animal, Hakuna Matata, and you know Simba will eventually rise back to victory. Maybe I’m missing a few points, but you get the point. This time, what I saw was Simba—as a young cub being alive, filled with life, hope, and courage. One day, Scar manipulates him into thinking he was at fault for his father’s death. He begins living in his mind and not his heart, replaying and replaying tragedy. He forgets who he really is deep inside. Instead of living life as the most ferocious animal in the kingdom, he begins to live and eat like a meerkat and warthog. Timon and Pumbaa offer Simba lifelong lessons, don’t get me wrong, and as destiny would have it, they saved his life. Yet, Simba is a lion. Simba…is a King.
Openings or Disorienting Dilemmas
Openings or disorienting dilemmas are moments of resistance, frustrations, inconsistencies, that don’t necessarily cultivate a sense of peace within an individual as they seek success or move about in their everyday living (Cox, 2015). “A disorienting dilemma is a life event or crisis that forces individuals to see their world, their relationship, and/or their lives in different and new ways…” (Allen, 2007, p. 34). These openings bring a person to a place where they are unable to overcome or move past the resistance with their existing beliefs and behaviors, thus they have a dilemma. It is the presence of a disorienting dilemma that opens the door to transformational learning.
“You must take your place in the circle of life. You must remember who you are!” -Mufasa
Simba was forced to confront his past, one that he believed was his fault. In order to step out of this mindset, he had to lean into a greater sense of purpose. His pride, his kingdom was waiting on him to rise, to overcome his self-limiting beliefs and adopt a new perspective. The past, and the events that took place, were unchangeable. However, he had the power to change his mindset, the way he chose to see the situation and, ultimately, himself. I know I have run into some opening’s or disorienting dilemmas in my life, situations that were contradictory to who I knew I was inside. Some moments were so dark that I lost myself within them. I took the bait; I went for the cheese and became trapped by a mindset that did not serve me or others. Eventually, you fight your way through it and you adopt a perspective that helps to move you forward. You learn to recognize when you are moving towards fear and not love. You begin to align yourself with people who aren’t just tolerant of you, but celebrate your presence. As you orient your life towards towards love and courage, fear begins to loosen its grip. What was your downfall, becomes your stepping stool…your motivation to press forward. Like Simba, you find your roar.
What has challenged you most this year? How did you overcome the situation? Above all, how will this lesson inform your 2020 vision?
Recommending readings:
Allen, S. (2007). Adult learning theory and leadership development. Leadership Review, 7:26
37.
Cox, E. (2015). Coaching and adult learning: Theory and practice. New Directions for Adult &
Continuing Education, (148), 27–38. https://doi.org/10.1002/ace.20149