Thelma and Louise Moments
When I first saw the movie Thelma and Louise, I hated the ending when they drove off the cliff. Then I watched it again and saw something different. I realized you never see what happens after their car goes off the cliff. There’s no ball of fire or screams of terror. Instead, the camera gets close to their faces and they seem happy. How could they possibly be happy, given that they just drove off a cliff?
The answer hit me while I was struggling with a very difficult decision. I wanted to leave my job of ten years and go back to school, but I was afraid. While I wasn’t happy with my job, leaving was a very risky choice.
When I finally made my decision and left my job, I thought I would be terrified, but instead, all I felt was overwhelming relief. This was my first Thelma and Louise moment.
Thelma and Louise moments occur when we choose to metaphorically die in order to change our lives. They represent the hard and sometimes risky decisions we make to step out of our safety zones and take a leap of faith.
I have come to appreciate Thelma and Louise. They made a commitment to never go back to their old lives and were willing to die for it. Although it sometimes feels like we’re going off a cliff when making transformational changes, we’re not. By making up our minds and choosing our destination, we actually take back our control. And in that moment, we are like Thelma and Louise.
So, when you’re faced with a really scary life-altering decision, think of Thelma and Louise. Totally COMMIT yourself to the change you want to make, gun your engines and go for it without looking back. Sure, it’s risky, but it wouldn’t be a Thelma and Louise moment if it wasn’t!
