What else can I do? Other than be true to myself!
Jane Wainwright ??
Supporting those in professional services to achieve their ambitions through people-centred approaches | Coaching & Consulting | Mental health & menopause advocacy | Geek | Former legal firm partner and board member
In my previous article I highlighted there were two themes in Luisa’s song, “Surface Pressure”, and there I talked about being overburdened to the point of overwhelm and breaking.
?The second theme I really see in that song is the importance of being true to yourself, being your authentic self and taking time to do what energises you as an individual.?This theme is also nicely explored by Isabela, Luisa’s sister, in her song “What else can I do?”
?Starting with Luisa, and remembering her magical gift is physical strength, she recognizes that one of the reasons she is taking on all the burdens is because she’s trying to figure out what her “purpose” is.?For me, your purpose is very much linked to being your authentic self and doing what feeds the soul (for want of a better word) and energises that authentic self.
?For Luisa, she recognizes that she wants to shake off the crushing weight of the family burdens, and to do things that give her pleasure, to relax.?It is really telling that the imagery in the song around relaxing and being herself, Luisa is seen having fun by being childlike, riding one of those flying unicorn donkeys that I’ve become obsessed with, but also relaxing in a more adult way by sinking into a hammock.?The fear on her face when she does try to relax screams out at you, which makes it doubly sad that she wants to be herself and take time for herself but is scared that doesn’t conform with what she thinks she is supposed to be and how others will judge her.
?Even more eye opening on the path of discovering authentic selves, is Isabela.?Isabela is the pretty sister and her magical gift is the ability to make plants grow anywhere and everywhere.?Like Luisa, Isabela also conforms to familial and societal expectations, in her case these being that the pretty sister would make beautiful flowers or tasty fruits.
?In the course of the film, Isabela discovers that her gift to make plants grow is not limited to beauty and perfection.?She discovers she can make imperfect plants, that she can be imperfect, and more importantly that she can still be happy and the imperfect creations are still actually beautiful because they are hers, because she can be imperfect and still be happy.
?Isabela recognizes in the song that she spends time trying to be perfect very obviously for everyone else’s sake. She totally exhibits really strong be perfect and please people drivers but really wants to be let be to be herself and to not be perfect.
?What I love about Isabela’s song, is that she is singing it with the youngest sister, Mirabel, who is discovering and recognising the growth in Isabela at the same time as Isabela is.?This joint journey of discovery is really beautiful to watch and to hear Mirabel championing that growth as being awesome in seeing Isabela rise is really special.?Together they are recognizing that for Isabela to be her true self, she shouldn’t be perfect and that she can grow and rise, and she will still be ok.
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?My favourite line in Isabela’s song epitomises, IMHO, this acceptance of imperfection and of personal growth to be your authentic self:
?What can you do when you are deeply, madly, truly in the moment?
?To me, this phrase feels like a wonderful way of embracing the world, and one I want to start living more fully for myself.
?Take a look at this song on the official Disney Youtube channel and see what you think.
Executive Coach, Coach Supervisor & Educator
3 年Your favourite line in the song is a v powerful one. What a great coaching question.