Where's the Beast?

I saw Disney’s Beauty and the Beast last weekend like a “few” other people. Being there with our youngest was a special treat. As with most screenplays and presentations I attend, my predisposition to find meaning related to organizational and individual performance filtered my experience.

If you have not seen it, please do – it’s a great story and I’m not going to summarize it as it’s not a strength and to list its attributes would sound like an inappropriate Oscar speech. That said, here are eight of my performance-based attributes I gleaned:

Fearlessness and sacrifice. Belle’s father, Maurice, shares early on in a foreshadowing moment that Belle’s mother was fearless. Thank you – if we are going to be unusually successful, we’re going to have to be fearless. Belle’s mother died (no spoiler), but my mental model leads me to believe that she also LIVED! Belle and her father didn’t necessarily fit in. They supported each other, had each other’s backs, knew each other’s needs, and had each other’s best interests at heart. Are you fearless? Do you have a support system that cares about each other’s well-being providing encouragement to be fearless?

Do your homework. Belle sacrificed herself to free her father from the beast’s prison. She was intentional in this. She understood and expected that imprisonment would be life-long and had asked to see the beast prior to committing. Fearlessness does not equal foolishness. THAT was evidence of caring about another’s well-being knowing the consequences. There are many examples of this in the film. Curious? Go see it.

“Happiness is when what you think, what you say, and what you do are in harmony,” Mahatma Gandhi. Belle knew what she wanted and she did not settle for what convention suggested was right. Her suitor, Gaston, was well regarded by fear if not achievement and saw her as a prize expecting reciprocal admiration. She was clear in messaging what she wanted and did not want. Do you know what you want? Do you say what you mean? Do you mean what you say? 

Be open to learning and changing. She was also open to reevaluating circumstances and her assessment of others. As you might guess, her relationship with the beast did not start well. It came to a turning point after he yelled at her for putting him in mortal danger. She fled into a dangerous night. He followed, saving her from a pack of wolves. Did he follow her to re-secure her or to rescue her? Whatever sent him out, he made the choice to protect her showing his own humanity and putting himself at risk. Having seen his vulnerability, she went about caring for his wounds and in the process got to know about him and him about her. Mutual understanding and trust started to build. Do you allow yourself to be vulnerable to others?  Do you listen to and comfort others in their times of vulnerability? Are you willing to change your mind? Your heart?

Accountability. The beast’s servants were imprisoned as fitting household objects. A situation Mrs. Potts took accountability for with the acknowledgement that they had been there as the child that would become the beast was raised to be uncaring and coldhearted. (I’m paraphrasing and welcome comments clarifying this exchange between Mrs. Potts and Belle.) My point is that though Mrs. Potts and the others could have seen themselves as victims, she accepted her responsibility of and role in the circumstances. Two learnings from Mrs. Potts: 1-do you speak up when you think something is wrong? 2-do you accept your responsibility and role in your current circumstances? How about your future circumstances?

Be persistent. Don’t be a jerk. This is another trait that shows repeatedly in the movie. Belle reads and thinks, and creates in spite of what others in the village say or do to her. The beast and the servants appear to be forever cursed, but live in hope and make the most of its glimmer. Sadly, Gaston also demonstrates persistence in his pursuit of Belle and what he thinks he deserves. While I credit his persistence and the movie would be less interesting without it, it’d have been great if he’d moved on. If he’d respected Belle’s feedback he could have and had a good life and events would have unfolded just as well for the others, maybe just not as quickly and certainly not as compellingly. Have you given up? Have heart. Find another path. Consider others’ input and impact and make adjustments.

The one who curses you may be your friend. Look at this story about “The bird that refused to migrate”

A little bird in Russia refused to join the pack which was flying south for the winter. It refused to listen to its parents and elders thinking it could tough it out.

Winter came and it was so cold the bird froze and fell to the ground covered with snow. A cow came by and dropped some dung on the bird. The pile of cow dung warmed the bird and brought it back to life. It lay there all warm and happy, and soon began to sing for joy. A passing cat heard the bird singing, took the bird out of the pile of cow dung, and ate it.

Morals of the story:

(1) Don't discount experienced advice of people who care for your success.

(2) Not everyone who shits on you is your enemy.

(3) Not everyone who gets you out of shit is your friend.

(4) And when you're in deep shit, it's best to keep your mouth shut!

The same morals can apply to the situation for the beast. While it was TRYING getting there, my sense is that without the enchantress’ curse the beast would not have learned to love or to be loved. 

What of your current circumstances offer you growth? Make you stronger? Improve your ability to make a positive impact on the world? Play heads up. Make the most of where you are. The beast went for walks and I bet he meditated - give it a shot.

Use your strengths.  As a battle ensues at the castle, the servants are disadvantaged in number, weaponry, and conventional ability. By leveraging their unique strengths – putting them to work collectively, they succeed in the conflict. When faced with conflict, do you lean on your strengths or hide them for their apparent difference? Try operating on your terms – express yourself and your unique contributions for the benefit of your team.

Admittedly, the story is not new nor are my bolded suggestions above. Still, presenting the age-old story along with my interrelated ideas may affect someone in a new way. What’s your beast? What’s your happily ever after? Be fearless in creating your own “tale as old as time.”