Last Thursday I sat down at my local AMC and watched Colin Firth, Geoffrey Rush, and Helen Bonham Carter in The King’s Speech. If you haven’t at least seen the trailer for this film, based on the true story of King George VI and his “quest to find his voice,” take a moment to watch it now.
I thoroughly enjoyed the film, and I definitely believe its Oscar buzz and 7 Golden Globe nominations are well deserved.
I watched Lionel Logue (Geoffrey Rush) as he attempted to drown out the voices of doubt in Bertie’s (Colin Firth) head and allow him to finally hear his own. Early in the film he literally does this through music and a passage by Shakespeare. While Bertie does later have that realization, it doesn’t mean that his doubt is completely removed. The film explores the challenges and triumphs of this journey and it’s amazing to watch both men grow through the experience.
There is something about seeing those in positions of power or celebrity struggle with the same vunerabilities and doubts that we all face.
And it was this that got me thinking…
While I don’t have a stammer and have never experienced any major difficulties with speaking in public, I still have areas in my life where I have great doubt and anxiety. I’ve definitely had the moments where I let this voice of limitation and negativity drown out any voice of sanity, reason, or possibility. I may be a “motivational” speaker, but I also have moments, days, or even weeks of “I can’t.”
And yet as I listened in the film to Lionel as he provided the advice and the challenge for greatness to his doubting friend, I found the advice to ring true to my own life–and really all of our lives.
The real voice…
…the voice of truth
…the voice of our capability
…the voice of our possibility
…surprises us, challenges us, doesn’t attend our pity party, supports us, and doesn’t abandon us (unless we actively choose to abandon it).
It also provides us with joy and perhaps a great deal of laughter. There is a great deal of humor in the film, and I believe this rings true to life. When we start uncovering our true possibility, there tends to be pleasant surprises along the way that can lead to smiles and laughter.
So why this blog? Why now?
It’s not just because I recently saw the film.
No, it’s because we’ve just kicked off a new year. Many of us just made new resolutions. We’re going to “lose weight,” “hit the gym,” “read more,” “write more,” “save money for that vacation,” “spend more time with family and friends,” “learn something new,” “quit that bad habit,” “get organized,” “help others,” etc. etc. etc.
We’re three days in and most of us might still be going strong, but in another day or two those voices of doubt might kick back in, and it’s time for us to find the way to push them back, so that we can succeed.
King George VI didn’t solve his speaking problem overnight–it was something that challenged him for years, but he did find a way to lean on someone for help, push the doubt to the background, and ultimately rise to the occasion to provide the voice his country so desperately needed.
I’m not saying you can do EVERYTHING this year. I do believe that all of us have some form of limitation. I will never be a professional basketball player, President of the United States, or New York Times bestselling author, but this doesn’t mean I can’t improve my jump shot, serve as a leader in an organization, or write a book.
I’ve learned time and time again, be it completing my first marathon, walking on fire, or even just finding that last ounce of energy to meet that deadline, our actual limits are nowhere near our perceived limits. It’s true, we can’t do everything, but we CAN do more than we imagine.
This year, let the voice of possibility and hope be your the speech you to which your frequently listen.
And then come December, let’s celebrate in your own triumph.
Quick bonus: Listen to the actual speech by King George VI