Career Development Plan - Feeling Lost

by Tatiana Saade
(Lebanon, Beirut)

Career Development Plan - Feeling Lost

Odette.. I need your help.. My name is Tatiana Saade and I'm from Lebanon.
I am 15 years old and I'm kind of LOST...

Ballet was my life, since I was 3 till 10.
At the age of 10, my ballet coach left me and traveled to Paris to continue her studies in Ballet.
From 3 till 10, I was flawless in Ballet, I used to be recommended from some companies to perform at their opening nights and dinners, and I ALWAYS performed SOLO or duo.
I performed once with a partner but it wasn't ballet it was actually a mix of cuba and ballet music.

I had the time of my life I really miss it.
Now I'm 15 and I'm scared to start again and to be disappointed that I lost everything.
I just need someone to tell me I'm capable of doing this but I am so scared you can't even imagine..

Please take this e-mail
And answer because you are my last hope..
Please

Tatiana a scared ballet dancer..
Former ballet dancer maybe

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Career Development Plan - Feeling Lost

Reply by Odette

Hello Tatiana,

Thank you for contacting me, it is a pleasure to hear from you.

Firstly, I completely understand how you feel and I want you to know it is ok to feel lost and scared. These are emotions are absolutely natural, as when you feel so passionate about something it is expected to feel worried or anxious because it shows you care. But what you have to do is stay positive and learn how to deal with any fear that goes on in your mind. I am a great believer that to succeed you need the right mental attitude in order to progress. It takes time to build the right positive attitude in your mind and you have to learn to understand, accept and believe in yourself.

You have come to the right place, as I can give you the information that you need to progress to the next level. The secret to success is mental discipline as well as physical ability. Along with the three physical secrets, the Seven Secrets, on the 'Seven Secrets of Ballet' page, will give you the key answers of how to thrive in the ballet world.

If you really miss having ballet in your life, then you must follow your passion and listen to your heart. Instead of giving yourself reasons why you can't, give yourself reasons why you can! You have fantastic achievements - being flawless in ballet and being recommended from some companies to perform. You must, "Celebrate what you've accomplished, but raise the bar a little each time you succeed". You have achieved these great things, so do not let them hold you back, but let it give you confidence to keep working hard and succeeding.

I understand you are scared to start again and to be disappointed, yet you can change your attitude. Of course you feel fearful, or afraid but you mustn't let these feelings inhibit you. Do not fear what is in the future, but focus on what you can do now in this moment. I often remind myself to take each day as it comes and to live in the moment, as oppose to stressing over things I have no control over. Knowing what you can and cannot control is one of the skills to a successful dancer. There are some things in life we cannot control, so it's never worth getting distressed about those things you cannot change.

From my seven secrets, I would say you need to focus on believing in yourself and your ability. Stay confident and remind yourself with the great things you have achieved so far. Keep a little book or diary of inspirations to keep you motivated and positive for the future. In this book put inspiring quotes, your favourite dancers, your happiest moments and look at it whenever you feel scared or fearful. This will give you encouragement and hope so you can escape from those negative thoughts.

Listen to these encouraging quotes and use them as a starting point for your inspirational diary -

"Great dancers are not great because of their technique, they are great because of their passion." Martha Graham

"It does not matter how slow you go, as long as you don't stop." Confucius

"Whoever wants to reach a distant goal must take many small steps."- Helmut Schmidt

"To the question of your life you are the answer, and to the problems of your life you are the solution." ~Joe Cordare

Now I want you to find some of your own inspiring quotes and tell me your most favourite ones.

Best Wishes,

Odette

ps. To become the best dancer you can be, learn the Seven Secrets ..... go to my 'Seven Secrets of Ballet' page