Remember the story of ‘The Wizard of Oz’…
After a tornado hurls through Kansas, Dorothy and her dog, Toto, are swept away from their home to the colourful and vibrant Land of Oz. To find their way back home, they must embark on a journey to the Emerald City, where the Wizard of Oz lives. On the way, they are joined by a Scarecrow who wants a brain, a Tin Man who wants a heart, and a Cowardly Lion who wants courage. They are hopeful that the Wizard will be able to fulfil their wishes, but not far behind them is the Wicked Witch of the West, who is out for revenge on Dorothy.
The heroes of the story go on a journey that has many obstacles and adventures. Their travels eventually bring out all the very qualities that they were searching for. They all grew, and discovered the inner wealth and resources were within them all the time…their challenges allowed them to come to the surface.
The life experiences and the people Dorothy meets, teach us the lessons needed on our own spiritual journey.
There are many wonderful life lessons that we can learn from the story of Dorothy & the Wizard of Oz:
- On this journey called life, we’re often taught to look outside ourselves that we forget the power that lies within us. Everything we ever need to succeed is contained within.
- Embrace change. Change and facing our fears can be scary. Just like the witch and tornado that Dorothy faced, we too will face challenges and change. These things are neither good nor bad. They are growth opportunities.
- The wicked witch represents our fears, which are only an illusion.
- There is no place like home. Home is not a place but a state of being. People seek externality for fulfilment, but everything you are looking for is right there with you. Nothing external to you can fill the void. Running away doesn’t work!
- It is during times of discomfort that we experience growth and discover who we truly are.
- Real growth comes from appreciating the journey and the lessons learned from overcoming our obstacles.
- Follow Your Own Yellow Brick Road. Each of the shiny yellow bricks in the road represents one step. One step at a time toward your destination
- Don’t be afraid to dream
- Stop trying to be the person you think everyone expects you to be, and simply be who you are.
It’s time we all let go of preconceived ideas, societal norms and stop chasing things outside ourselves and realise just how powerful we are. Everything we’ve been looking for we already have. It’s been with us all along.
