Answer Yourself! A blog by Sukhpreet Singh

Last week was the grand finale of “So you think you can dance”. Show’s host Cat Deeley asked the first runner up, “Danny what did you learned from this show?” And he said, “I realized that I love to dance.” I was intrigued by his answer because:
- He started dancing when he was 10 years old.
- His mom, Denise Wall has a dance studio. His brother Travis Wall dances professionally.
- He studied Ballet, tap, jazz, lyrical, and floor gymnastics. Studied the classical ballet technique with the Kirov Academy of Ballet in Washington D.C. and stayed there for 2 years.
- He has performed in musical theater and in public functions as a dancer.
I thought by now he would at least know whether he loves to dance or not. Or had he become so comfortable doing what he does everyday that he didn’t know he really loved it.

I believe it is not until we are tested hard that we realize what we like and dislike, or what we stand for and what makes us give up. When our values and beliefs are tested, that’s when the truth is revealed. Till then status quo is maintained and we just put our lives on cruise control because it’s easy and comfortable.

There are people who have been self-employed for years and when asked, “do you like to be a businessman?” they’ll say, “Yes. But I don’t have any personal life, there is no security…” Most of these “but-businessmen” don’t know the answer to the above question. They are on cruise control and have no idea whether they like it or not ‘cuz that’s the only thing they know and are comfortable with it.

Then there are people who are employees who want to be businessmen and are not satisfied with their jobs. When asked, “would you like to be a businessman?” they’ll say, “Yes. But its risky, I don’t have money…”. Most of them know that they dislike their job but don’t want to get off cruise control and so never change or become uncomfortable to test their beliefs and values.

Then there are those who put themselves in situations where their values and beliefs are tested often and sometimes in a big way. They give their all – become uncomfortable, change and get off cruise control, mostly to realize and become sure that “this is what I always wanted to do” (like Danny) and sometimes to realize “this is different from what it seemed and I don’t want to do this anymore”. But in any case, they are now more sure of what they like or dislike cuz the strength of their beliefs and values has been tested.

Now there are people who graduate from previous group and become part of the elite group who know where they are going. Most of them believe in principle of “When you are coasting, you are roasting.” And so they are always challenging and changing themselves.

So if you are just tired of coasting or not sure that you like what you are doing or want to do something different than what you are doing now, TEST yourself.

So you think you can dance?
So you think you are (or can be) a good businessman?
So you think you enjoy doing business?
So you think you can be rich?
So you think you can teach?
So you think you can loose weight?
So you think you can run long-distance?
So you think you love adventure?
So you think you wanna be a doctor?
So you think you can be a good parent?
So you think you wanna be a good speaker?
So you think you can be a balanced person in life? …