I’ve written about confidence before on this site. My experiences as a business person and as a dancer have taught me that when you believe you can do something, everything about you contributes to that goal. A positive attitude creates energy and willpower that take you much further than others.
Even though I knew this, I wasn’t ready for what the dance world has witnessed over the past few weeks, as I watched a blind man win one of the world’s most popular television dance competitions. Chris McCausland, a 47-year old blind comedian took things to a whole new level in Britain’s Strictly Come Dancing. Strictly represents the origin of shows like Dancing With the Stars, which followed many years later. Chris is far from the first person with a physical disability to participate in these kind of shows. But he brought an energy and quality that stood above anything I’ve ever witnessed before. And Britain noticed, awarding him the gleaming mirror ball trophy. The rest of the world noticed too.
Wendy and I watched Chris dance earlier in the season and were blown away by the way he refused to let his disability get in the way. His performance energy is infectious. His confidence and commitment to what he was doing are exceptional. He has the ability to make routines that others would have struggled with even after months of training seem effortless after a single week. His professional partner Dianne Buswell is a remarkable woman, who seemed to be a perfect match for Chris, believing in him even during times when he doubted himself. The results are easy to see.
But just take a moment to think about what it must be like to learn routines like this during that week-long time period.
Chris has no ability to see the dance steps performed. When I teach, visual information is a vital part of how I convey technique. I show what I would like to see. Foot placement. Leg action. Posture. Frame. Rotation. Sway. All these things are demonstrated so that students can understand how much is enough vs. how much is too much or not sufficient. Chris has no ability to view that kind of visual demonstration. He cannot see the dance floor. He cannot see others perform dances or even step patterns. Dianne would have needed to describe everything to him in order to help him understand what was expected. Far more challenging a task than what is normally involved.
The difference came down in many ways to confidence and a positive attitude. Although Chris said in interviews that he thought he would be sent home quickly, it’s obvious that he did not allow doubt or feelings of insecurity get in the way. He and Dianne believed that he could be as good as other dancers. I’ve encountered similar examples of confidence at work in my own life, as a teacher, in business, and elsewhere. When people truly believe that they can master something, they generally achieve it (or at least get pretty close).
There is scientific precedence for this. A study by Hermundur Sigmundsson, a professor at the Department of Psychology at NTNU who partnered with Professor Monika Haga at NTNU’S Department of Teacher Education looked at 1,500 participants aged 13 to 77 and found that those with the most positive outlook had significantly greater willpower and enthusiasm than those with a negative mindset. The findings highlight the importance of fostering a belief in personal growth to motivate individuals and help them succeed.
Several key points were identified by this study. People with a growth mindset show significantly higher passion and determination. A positive attitude influences satisfaction, learning, and long-term success. And understanding mindset differences can help motivate diverse groups to achieve their goals.
Sigmundsson claims that “People who believe they will succeed are far more passionate and have greater willpower than those who do not have the belief.” He found that high passion and determination are directly related to positive attitudes in adults. On the dance floor or off, confidence truly is a magic ingredient in living a successful life.
Chris McCausland proved this in his performances. He lost his eyesight some 20 years ago due to retinitis pigmentosa. He had never danced before and joked that he was only on the show because he “signed the wrong form.” But dance he does, and how! If he can dance like this, there’s simply no excuse for anyone else who thinks that this skill is out of reach. Want proof? Take a look at some of his dances:
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