Catastrophe or opportunity?

We all suffer setbacks – but you can choose what to make of them, writes Michelle Dursun.

SETBACKS come in all shapes and sizes. They can be the result of an injury; a performance that didn’t go quite as planned or perhaps a botched audition. Setbacks are hard deal with. It can be difficult coming to terms with disappointment, rejection or the frustration of an injury.

The reality is that, for performers, setbacks go with the territory. It’s how you deal with them that can make all the difference. You could treat them as a “catastrophe”– “the End of the World!” or a “total disaster”! Or you could treat them as a “learning opportunity”, a “fortifier” or a “resilience builder”. You get to choose. Let’s be frank: setbacks are not fun. It is okay to feel disappointed or disillusioned. As says Daniel Savetta, an artist with the Washington Ballet in the US: “Being upset is okay, it’s quite normal. No-one wants to deal with adversity, in whatever shape or form.” So it’s important to allow yourself to feel the disappointment, but it is equally important to ask yourself, “what can I take away from this?” Setbacks can be viewed as opportunities in disguise. They give you the chance to grow and learn...

This is an extract from an article by Michelle Dursun. You can read the rest of this article in the August/September issue of Dance Australia. Don’t miss out! Buy your copy from your favourite magazine retailer or subscribe here, or purchase an online copy via the Dance Australia app.