We Go On: Reflections of IllumiNations
We presented on DisneyatPlay.com a tribute to IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth. It also has a special video we have created that serves as a tribute to this amazing show. Check out the show notes page and video.
You will also want to check out our podcast where we discuss both of these articles and share an important story as told by Don Dorsey, who wrote the lyrics for “We Go On”. You can find the podcast here on Podbean and here at iTunes. You can also type in Disney at Work & Play Podcast on Spotify.
Reflections on Reflections
This show is an opportunity to consider the message of our own growth and development. The “illuminating” truth about IllumiNations is that it’s really about change. For example, the three acts of this show constitute the following:
Act I: Chaos. Isn’t this what happens whether we want it or not? We enter a period of chaos and uncertainty. In life, this happens usually not through out intent, but because of personal circumstances.
Act II: Order. This is where we move forward in a positive direction. From the chaos, we evolve, figure things out, and develop into our better selves. It’s out of this stage that we improve and attain excellence.
You can see this in the following model by Chuck and Mary Lofy. It’s from their book, Vitality, and they refer to it as the “Chaos” model. You find similar models with terms like “Forming”, “Storming”, “Norming”, and “Performing”.
Act III: Meaning. This is the climax of IllumiNations, but it’s the moment where we learn the meaning of “We Go On”. This song is an anthem to change. It’s where we put context in our experience and learn from our own life experiences. Consider the lyrics to this song:
Every evening brings an ending. Every day becomes a legacy. Every sunset leads to morning. With the promise of opportunity.
The show plays out the centuries of earth’s existence, but our own existence, and the experience we have in organizations or in relationships with others, often follows the same model. We dip down through a form of chaos. But we swing up and find order. And in the process we learn meaning from the experience.
Walt Disney stated: “Around here, however we don’t look backwards for very long. We keep moving forward, opening up new doors and doing new things, because we are curious…and curiosity keeps leading us down new paths.
Souvenirs for Your Life and Organization:
Consider the following:
- What life experience is creating “chaos” for you?
- What steps are you taking to create “order” out of the “chaos” you are in?
- How are you finding meaning from the change you are experiencing?
- How do you bring order and meaning out of another’s day? How do you make sure you end another person’s day or employment on a high note?
- What steps do you take to “reflect” about your time here on earth?
- How do you intentionally keep moving forward?
- What’s the next door you need to open?
If you like these kinds of messages, please check out Disney, Leadership and You. The story we share of Don Dorsey is in the last chapter, as well as a powerful tale of Buckminster Fuller, who is famous for creating the architectural concepts that made Spaceship Earth possible. You can find this book at Amazon.
