What Do You Want?

What do you want? When you reflect on this question, what comes up for you?

In a recent Ted Talk by Rita Wilson, “The Question I Almost Didn’t Ask and How It Changed My Life”, she shared that she was first reluctant to ask herself that question. “It felt terrifying.”, okay to be asked that question, but she couldn’t ask herself.  Why?  She had everything at that time her parents were alive, she had amazing health, a great marriage, children.  To ask felt greedy, selfish, it felt like she couldn’t. She kept getting shut down.

So, she played a game that actors do called “What If?”  She allowed herself the fantasy. “What if I could want something what would that be?” So, she went jogging, hiking and walking and she kept asking herself the question. And, one day it came to her, “Music.” Music was the thing that gave her joy. 

Shortly after her epiphany she was having a meeting with her agency and when asked what kind of projects she wanted to work on, she said, “Music, I wouldn’t mind doing a musical.” She said after she said it, she “felt like she was standing there naked in a dream and everyone is staring at you and you know it but you can’t move.” And they looked at her and said, “Hmm, music”. They had never heard that before. So sometimes The Universe conspires to work with you, not against you. The very next day she got a call that said, “Rita you have an offer to play Roxie Hart in the musical Chicago on Broadway.”

She continued to follow her joy of music with performing on Broadway, producing musical films, “Mamma Mia”, going to a songwriting camp, she received encouragement and support to keep pursuing what she loved. And then an unexpected life changing turn would happen. To watch the Full Ted Talk Go here:  https://youtu.be/ZML0eAZ-RwI

She kept the joy of music close as she transversed to the other side of breast cancer.  She kept going outside of her comfort zone as a singer songwriter who didn’t know how to read sheet music or play an instrument.  She made an album. She sings at concerts and small venues.  And it all started with the simple question, “What do I want?”  If you can’t ask that ask yourself this, “What if I could want something, what would it be?” 

Join me as I ask myself the same question and those around me.  Join me on a journey of adventure, possibility and joy for yourself and others. 

Together we connect,  

Louisa 

P.S.  I love to connect, feel free to comment.