Well… I never thought I’d be writing anything about Frozen…ever, but when I see something worth pointing out, I usually do.
I’m Not a Frozen Fan!
Ok, yes the scene in the first film when Elsa saves Anna choked me up; but other than that, I’m not a big fan of the Frozen franchise. I don’t care for the generic look of the 3D animation. I think it takes away a big aspect from the storytelling by making the movies and characters look too homogenized. But I’m not writing this to rant about aesthetics; I’m looking for those profound life messages which are wrapped in the glitter of a Disney story.
If I’m Not a Fan, Where Did I Hear About the Song?
I have a wonderful friend and nutrition/fitness coach, Kris Wilkins. During one of our sessions she referenced Anna’s song from Frozen 2, “The Next Right Thing”. Kris isn’t a big fan either, but she has a 10-year-old daughter, so it was inevitable that she was going to see Frozen and Frozen 2. That day I was suffering from overthinking, which was far from unusual for me. I was ripping at the seams with self-imposed overwhelm. I felt that I needed to have my whole life’s “path” figured out before taking a single step further. Over-analysis is a chronic condition for me. If I can’t see where I’m going, I often feel like digging my heels into the place where I’m currently at. At least I’m familiar with my current circumstances, even if they’re not all that ideal. So here’s where Frozen 2 comes in.
NO SPOILERS! Just Some Helpful Insight.
In the film, Anna ends up in a situation where she feels defeated and has lost her sense of purpose. She begins to sing the song “The Next Right Thing”. I had heard the song before because…I SAW FROZEN 2! (Gasp!) It was Christmas and I wanted the coziness of a Disney film but I didn’t really care for it overall. The song didn’t do much for me when I first heard it. It wasn’t until it was applied to my personal issues with over-analysis by Kris that the message really hit home for me. Here’s a snippet from the lyrics below.
How This Little Line Helped Me in a Big Way
After leaving my 40-hour week desk job due to a hostile work environment, I was relieved for about three days. Then I was like, ok, now I have to restructure my whole life real fast so that I don’t lose any career momentum. Along with my full-time management position, I was doing contract work and learning from a great marketing entrepreneur, Cameron Gray. I really wanted to work in a way which would allow me to be more productive. I also wanted to feel more fulfilled by doing work which was meaningful to me.
After leaving the overtly imposed workweek grind, I fell into a new self-inflicted lifestyle; “I need to work all the time because I don’t need or deserve a rest until I’m making it big time!” Well, you can guess that wasn’t an attitude that I could hold true to for long. I started sweating the small stuff and making Everests out of speed bumps. Then this simple little message came along, “Do The Next Right Thing”, and it actually helped me stop in my chaotic footsteps and gain some perspective. By shifting my focus to merely the next best thing I could do in the moment instead of thinking though the infinite number of choices I can and may make next week or month, I was able to be more conscientious and intentional in my decision-making. I even stuck the phrase to the wall in my home office so that I could look over and see it everyday. I’m was able to go deeper into my work and find a sense of flow which was evading me before. I’ll now work for hours in a state of focused balance which has improved my productivity as well as my sense of well-being.
How Does This Concept Work?
For me, it works as such; today I woke up, and when the anxiety-hyped productivity monster hopped on my back, I was able to lull it to sleep while thinking about the best move I could make at the very moment. That move turned out to be a ten-minute meditation. Next it was to eat a healthy breakfast, then have a meeting, and then go to a coffee shop and write this blog. My day feels like it’s unfolding comfortably and with intention instead of being slowly eaten alive by the joy-robbing douche monster clawing at my brain.
It Also Helps When the Sh** Hits the Fan!
“The Next Right Thing” motto is exceptionally useful when life gets all up in your business and throws your papers out the window. Next time you’re in chaos, think what’s the next right thing you can do to help yourself or others through the situation. Literally one thing at the time! Don’t think about the overarching issue or drama, just what is best to do at the very moment. That might be as simple as closing your eyes and breathing in order to regulate your systems. Whatever it is you decide it to be in the moment, you’re only a single person and can really only focus on one thing at a time. So let that be The Next Right Thing.
