The Next Right Thing

There was a time, not too long ago, when I would have rolled my eyes at the thought of watching the next big Disney princess movie. When we had our daughter almost six years ago, one of the first things we did in the hospital was to watch Frozen. We figured we should lean into it and embrace what felt like the inevitable world of Elsa, Anna and Olaf. Thankfully, it didn’t infiltrate our lives like we feared.

As the years have passed, we have viewed a variety of children’s movies. Let’s be honest, they aren’t all winners. But some of them are pretty darn great. The ones that tackle the hard issues like growing up, change, and loss without being heavy-handed (if you didn’t cry at least once during Toy Story 3, you are a robot).

When I saw the first ads for Frozen II, the cynical and jaded side of me was bracing for another Disney money grab. Then we saw the movie. There are so many themes in that movie that could be just as relevant to an adult in the audience. Olaf’s maturing and fear of things changing, Christoph’s fear of rejection, Elsa questioning if she is meant for something more.

There is a scene, not to give anything away, where Anna is absolutely overwhelmed by her situation, which segues into the song “The Next Right Thing.” The idea being when you can’t see a way out of a situation, just focus on the next step or the next task. I have applied that concept to approaching life’s challenges more than anything I’ve ever read in a self-help book or on a Pinterest board. Just focus on the next step.

This idea can be applied to anything that is hard and overwhelming. Making food changes, starting a new fitness routine, or dealing with major life changes. Don’t try to see so far ahead you only see the obstacles and get discouraged. If you are looking to improve your health, instead of clearing out your pantry and refrigerator, start small by changing one thing, maybe it’s eating breakfast, or adding a serving of fruit or vegetables to a meal. Use those wins to build momentum to take on the next challenge.

And remember, you don’t have to go it alone.