Follow the Yellow Brick Road
What can the Wizard of Oz story personally teach us about managing a global pandemic?
There is much being said in the media about how to take care of ourselves physically during the Coronavirus crisis. But what about emotionally or psychologically? In that vein, here’s an outline from my first book (Follow the Yellow Brick Road: How to Change for the Better When Life Gives You Its Worst), to offer some thoughts about taking care of ourselves and our loved ones psychologically during this unprecedented time.
The Wizard of Oz myth (it’s more than a children’s story) is about a girl becoming a woman. It’s about a person being thrown into a strange—sometimes terrifying and sometimes wonderous—place with no road map other than a mandate to follow a Yellow Brick Road (YBR). It's a story about “whether and how” we change for the better when a tornado picks up our “normal life” and throws it into chaotically uncharted territory as symbolized by the peculiar Land of Oz. In the book, I identify five lessons on how we change during difficult times:
Lesson 1: We don’t change in Kansas, we change in Oz.
There are two driving forces in any system: stability (Kansas) and change (Oz). We generally prefer stability, even sometimes when the stability is dysfunctional. Well, in the present, the Coronavirus tornado has picked up our lives, our country — and the whole world, transporting us into unprecedented times. The lesson from the Wizard of Oz myth encourages us to stay in the Land Oz — not out of resignation — but with C.A.R. –consciousness, acceptance and responsibility. If we do this, we’ll end up making the best choices during this difficult time and we will grow as individuals as a result. “What doesn’t kill us will make us stronger.” However, if we minimize the potential danger of the virus, try to escape its reality and fail to act responsibly both individually (e.g., by not socially isolating), the only thing that will grow is the virus itself.
Lesson 2: Integrate Scarecrow, Tin Man and Lion.
This is the heart (no pun intended) of the YBR book and the entire focus of my second book on emotional intelligence (The 3 Dimensions of Emotion: Finding the Balance of Power, Heart and Mindfulness). Dorothy’s quest on the YBR was to mature and develop her Cowardly Lion into a strong, Courageous Lion possessing personal agency; to release an immobilized, heartless (self-centred) Tin Man and find a heart of acceptance of what is, compassion, healthy dependency (we all need to be oiled) and the ability to care for self and others; and to transform a disoriented, detached, ineffective bag of straw into a mindful, knowing, self-regulating Scarecrow. As Dorothy developed these new capacities, they began to work together synergistically as a team. This, in my definition, is the basis for emotional intelligence. That is, the seamless and limber integration (synergy) of the mature form of all three dimensions: Power (Lion), Heart (Tin Man), and Mindfulness (Scarecrow). Dysfunction in our lives—both as individuals and in our relationships—can almost always be reduced to having one or more of these dimensions out of balance.
Our current crisis will likely expose where we are out of balance. So, if you are a person who is often insecure — lacking courage — find a way to fortify your Lion, “try on” courage and strength—for yourself first and then for your family and friends. Be brave. For others, this is a good time to “try on” Tin Man heart: acceptance of what is, healthy dependency on others–ask for help, and service and sacrifice–give help. Check in on an elderly person on your street, buy him/her some groceries, leave a big tip for the to-go server. And for all of us, who are emotionally triggered by this crisis, find your Inner Scarecrow—take a mindful step back and a deep breath. Self-regulate, knowingly and calmly going forward focused firmly on the facts and on what we know to be true rather than on rumour and speculation. I am finding with almost everyone that I am working with – both clinical and business clients alike – underlying anxiety and unsettledness. At times like this, we need to find the calm and centring that comes from our Inner Scarecrow. Meditate, pray, take walks, do yoga, talk to a friend and always breath.
In Reinhold Niebuhr’s words, have the serenity to accept the things that you cannot change (Tin Man), have the courage to change the things you can (Courageous Lion) and the wisdom to know the difference (Scarecrow). [For a free assessment or a copy of the Relationship Circle depicting this 3-D model go to http :// power - heart - mindfulness . com / .]
Lesson 3: Relinquish you Wizard.
Not long after her arrival in the Land of Oz, Dorothy embarked on the quest for a Wizard to rescue her. We all have Wizards, don’t we? Things or people we think will make us happy (or less unhappy) . . . money, success, our spouse, our children, alcohol, a thinner body — even perhaps the government. With the help of her good friend Toto, Dorothy eventually discovered that the Wizard she’d supposed would save her turned out to be a fraud. Indeed, all of our Wizards are fraudulent. As she finally discovered, it fell to Dorothy herself to complete the journey with her newly acquired Courageous, Caring and Mindful inner team. Similarly, the Coronavirus crisis might send us looking for Wizards. What Wizards are you seeking to save you during this time? (Apparently, along with toilet paper the sale of alcohol as gone up significantly since the crisis hit.) Yes, we need legitimate help from our medical experts, support from the community, information from our scientists and assistance from our government (see Lesson 5 below). But psychologically, we need to find emotional intelligence—bringing to bear our inner courage, heart and mindfulness—to get us through the current situation. When we’re at the intersection, we have the choice to use some sort of Wizard ideation or behaviours in a bid to escape, or we can go forward with consciousness, acceptance, and responsibility (C.A.R.). Wise Scarecrow would point us in the latter direction–the road less travelled.
Lesson 4: Face your Witch and the Witch will melt.
In the YBR book, I defined the Witch as the scary, unwanted aspects of ourselves that we eventually must face and deal with (or melt) in order for us to grow. When a crisis hits, it will often bring out our inner Witches. Think of these as our fears, our internalized pain, and/or our hidden faults that have lain dormant in the comfortable state of Kansas. When we turn and face these Witches, they will melt. For each of us, the Coronavirus crisis is likely to trigger old emotional wounds around safety & security, shame & guilt, adequacy or anger. Face whatever Witch emerges while in this crisis and it will melt. If you do, you will heal and grow. Lessons learned now will be lessons internalized forever. However, if we avoid and deny our inner Witches, they will only come back, often stronger than before.
Lesson 5: Resources.
Like Ulysses or any other protagonist on a Hero’s journey, Dorothy’s journey was certainly hers to complete, but she could not do so without outside resources. Here are a few that I note in the book:
- Munchkin Community: When Dorothy first arrives, she is greeted by the community of Munchkins. And although they got it wrong about the Wizard thing, they helped orient her to the Land of Oz. Just like AA helps people in recovery and churches help orient us spiritually, so we now need the community to orient, educate and create the new norms for our mutual benefit. On the street where I live, for example, we have all agreed to watch out for each other, especially the more senior members. Be part of the community.
- Toto Friends: Toto never left Dorothy’s side throughout the entire journey. That's what good friends do. They might not have big solutions for us (like we need from the government), but they stay with us. Just as we should stay with each other during this crisis—albeit six feet apart. Be a friend.
- Glinda the Good Witch Experts: We need to listen to the experts. This will keep our feet steady on the path, so we don’t fall into the ditch of minimalization on one side or hysteria on the other. And just like Glinda, they will tell us what to do if we listen. Listen to the truth from those that know it.
- Ruby Slippers, Spirituality and Faith: Dorothy was ultimately protected by wearing the ruby slippers. So, whether we are Christian, Jew, Muslim, Buddhist, Humanist, or any other kind of “ist,” our faith in Something/Someone Good –above and beyond ourselves– can sustain us through any crisis that we find ourselves in, including this one. We will get through this. Keep the faith.
It is my hope that this very cursory review of Dorothy and her Hero’s Journey may help you and your loved ones in some small way as we deal with this unprecedented tornado that has swept us up and dropped us into the Land of Oz.
Sam Alibrando, Ph.D. is a clinical psychologist with a psychotherapy practice in Pasadena, CA ( https :// www . apc - therapy . com / ) and an organizational psychologist/workshop facilitator ( https :// www . apc3 . com / ) helping organizations all over the world. Click here, or on my profile picture above, to contact Sam Alibrando, Ph.D .
Important:
TherapyRoute does not provide medical advice. All content is for informational purposes and cannot replace consulting a healthcare professional. If you face an emergency, please contact a local emergency service. For immediate emotional support, consider contacting a local helpline.
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