"My family and friends don't understand why I dance". How to deal with it?
Elena Anashina Photography
If you are pro-am dancer, an amateur or even a professional some people just won't understand why you do this. Then what can you do?
I noticed that passion is a scarcity these days. How often do you meet people who love doing what they're doing? I don't mean once, but everyday constantly thinking about how to reach certain level and simply improve their craft. Is it how you feel about dancing?
Dancing is one of those things which doesn't produce a painting or a song or sculpture at the end so the journey is never ending...
Your closest relatives, family and friends are in fact the ones who may question and doubt what you do the most. Have you heard these before: "you spend so much money on dancing, you could buy a house now instead" or "don't you spend too much time dancing?". I hear these all the time.
Elena Anashina Photography
There are ways which helped me live a happier life as a dancer.
1. Share your passion selectively
If you tell everyone about what you do, you open yourself up to criticism and judgement. People may do it out of their own insecurity, jealousy or care (as strange as it sounds). These may also be other dancers who will just bring you down every time you have a new goal. I'm sure we have all met such people, haven't we?
Someone once said to me: if you get to your goal, tell everyone, if you don't they don't have to know.
Find people who share the same love for dance as you do and surround yourself with their energy. Perhaps another option may be to cut those with constant negative energy out of your life.
2. Understand that some people simply won't see what you see
You have your own vision of where you want to be. Others may just have different priorities in their lives. They will never understand why you want to buy a new Ballroom dress costing a small fortune. For them your dancing is just "a temporary hobby" for you it may be everything.
You may have tried explaining why you love dancing so much but they just don't seem to get it. Well, accept it and you will be a happier person. You know where you want to be so go there as this is what matters the most.
Elena Anashina Photography
3. You can't make everyone happy
Our families and friends are very important to us, but you just can't "save the World" every time. Doing something that others don't support, spending all your time and money on dancing may be difficult to understand. However, at the end of the day, your happiness is should always be the most important thing.
It's perfectly OK to put yourself first.
Remember- you live only once so keep doing what makes YOU happy.
Elena Anashina Photography
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Photo Credits: Elena Anashina Photography
