6 LESSONS EVERYONE CAN LEARN FROM ALICE’S ADVENTURES THROUGH WONDERLAND
26th November 2020
There are lessons that we can all learn from Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass that can help us better navigate the mysterious journey we call ‘life’. Alice’s adventures can help us to embrace our curiosity, identify ways to grow and to overcome challenges.
In this post, we are going to explore the 6 lessons every person can learn from our courageous and curious character, Alice.
Are you ready to go down the rabbit hole? Are you ready to engage your imagination and unlock your potential?
Believe in impossible things
Can you recall when the Queen tells Alice, “Why, sometimes I’ve believed as many as six impossible things before breakfast”? And how Alice adopts the Queen’s point of view?"
I am sure you can think of many personal achievements that you once thought of as impossible, maybe beating your fitness personal best or getting that dream job. After all, ‘impossible things’ only seem impossible until we have achieved them.
Only by believing that we can achieve the impossible, we can overcome challenges and achieve new heights. Otherwise, our limiting beliefs will always hold us back.
Be curiouser and curiouser
'Curiouser and curiouser!’ cried Alice (she was so much surprised, that for the moment she quite forgot how to speak good English); `now I’m opening out like the largest telescope that ever was! Good-bye, feet!’
We often fear exploring the unknown. But this was not the case for Alice, she was curious and followed the White Rabbit down the rabbit hole. Alice’s adventure through Wonderland required a degree of curiosity and risk taking. Otherwise, she would not have met the spectacular characters, nor gained the valuable wisdom.
It’s ok to be curious! Only by being open to new information and experiences we can develop a curious mind-set, helping us to learn, to push our boundaries and to stay positive. Often, we don’t know what we don’t know (…not sure if this makes sense to you), it just might be that you haven’t yet(!) discovered your secret talent or passion. If you’re not curious, how will you ever find out?
Know who you are and stay true to yourself
She stood silent for a minute, thinking: then she suddenly began again. ‘Then it really HAS happened, after all! And now, who am I? I WILL remember, if I can! I’m determined to do it”
Alice was uncertain of her identity. As she continued her journey through Wonderland she discovered a vast number of quirky characters and most importantly, herself.
Like Alice, do you find it stressful and tiring living up to people’s expectation of who you ‘should be’? Well, take back control and give yourself permission to be who you want to be.
The first step is to accept yourself. It means not only accepting the good parts but also accepting the flaws in you. Then define your values, set your own goals, follow your passion and stay true to yourself.
And don’t worry, you will always find like-minded people if you express yourself as you are.
Keep growing and changing
‘I could tell you my adventures–beginning from this morning,’ said Alice a little timidly: ‘but it’s no use going back to yesterday, because I was a different person then.’
We continuously change and grow, seeking to be the best version of ourselves. Sometimes the changes are little and not often noticed. Are you the same person that you were 10 years, 5 years or even 1 year ago?
Just like Alice, don’t dwell on the past or your mistakes, instead embrace the change and evolve. Remember the lessons and let go of everything else, be the new better version of you!
Embrace the mystery
‘I don’t understand you,’ said Alice. ‘It’s dreadfully confusing!’
‘That’s the effect of living backwards,’ the Queen said kindly: ‘it always makes one a little giddy at first’
Alice had to face a lot of unknowns, yet she went ahead with her journey and took it a moment at a time.
Yes, venturing into the unknown can feel uncomfortable, especially for the organised control freaks among us. Just remember that we have all successfully dealt with the unknown before! Going to school for the first time was scary and unknown, or changing jobs, or even going on a first date.
Sometimes, when we are faced with uncertainty, the best we can do is focus on the task at hand, the now. Focus on what is in our control, embrace the mystery and be open to the opportunities that uncertainty can bring.
Accept the magnificence of being different
“You’re entirely bonkers. But I’ll tell you a secret. All the best people are.”
We are all different! Our personalities are shaped by life experiences, genetics, values, current state of mind and a whole lot of other things. There’s no right or wrong by default (or normal for that matter), it’s just who we are.
And what is normal anyway? Would you define yourself as normal?
By learning to listen to others and viewing situations from different perspectives we can be more accepting of people around us. Seek to understand rather than judge and you will see the beauty of the people around you.
“Tut, tut, child!” said the Duchess. “Everything’s got a moral, if only you can find it.”
Visit the Free Your Inner Alice Community or LinkedIn page for more lesson inspired by Alice in Wonderland.
About The Author
Albina Shashyna, Managing Director, Imagineer and Co-creator of Free Your Inner Alice
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