A classic scene from my all time favorite movie, "The Three Amigos". Chevy Chase (Dusty), Martin Short (Ned), and Steve Martin (Lucky) are heading into what they think is a scene for a movie, but it is actually a fight with a local village gang. As they casually make their way to face these villans, they are doing up their buttons, cuff links etc and a "wise" Steve Martin counsels a nervous Martin Short to "Just relax and have fun with it." These movie stars, now expected to defend the little village from terror, actually put on quite a show and appear to have what it takes to defend the village. Then one of them gets shot in the arm, falls off his horse and discovers that this is the real thing. "Great! Real bullets!" exclaims a now shaken Steve Martin. At that moment, they lose courage, wave the white flag of surrender, and leave the village to be plundered by El Guopo and his gang.
Why the long story? Even thought these three were in over their heads, there is wisdom to be found in Lucky's advice to Ned to "Just relax and have fun with it." An experience that I will never forget from this last weekend's Rotary Bowl illustrates this truth.
My wife and I attended the Dixie Rotary Bowl and watched two teams play a great game of football. My favorite part of the game, and the tie in to this little lesson, was at the beginning of the fourth quarter. During a thirty second time out, over the loud stadium speakers came music with a strong beat and words that instruct you to do a certain dance, "Now step to the left....now step to the right....once bounce this time..." I have never seen a sight quite like what happened next. A couple of the players on the side line started following the instructions to the music; "One bounce this time....now bring it back". Next thing you know, the whole team starts doing it, not only on the side lines, but the players on the field even joined in! It was hilarious, the fans in the stands started cheering on this dancing football team. You would have thought they just made a touchdown by the energy that was generated. The time out ended, the music stopped, the whistle blew and the game started back up. This team that was just dancing during the time out was playing defense; they grabbed an interception on the very next play. The next play; a great pass. Next play, a run into the end zone for a touchdown. They were having a great time! I believe the interception and the touchdown that followed that time out was a direct result of the fun, loose energy that was generated by their playful dancing. Power and energy that leads to success is often found when we finally "just relax and have fun with it."
Application:
1 - In what area of your life are you not having fun?
2- In what area of your life are you not having success?
3- What could you change to have more fun?
As you start to "relax and have fun with it" I am willing to bet you start seeing more success.
I love St. George in the winter...and in the summer...and in the spring...and the fall. I had to stop again on the way to work this morning and take a picture. The contrast between the red rocks and the white snowy backdrop of Pine Valley Mountain is always impressive.
A classic scene from my all time favorite movie, "The Three Amigos". Chevy Chase (Dusty), Martin Short (Ned), and Steve Martin (Lucky) are heading into what they think is a scene for a movie, but it is actually a fight with a local village gang. As they casually make their way to face these villans, they are doing up their buttons, cuff links etc and a "wise" Steve Martin counsels a nervous Martin Short to "Just relax and have fun with it." These movie stars, now expected to defend the little village from terror, actually put on quite a show and appear to have what it takes to defend the village. Then one of them gets shot in the arm, falls off his horse and discovers that this is the real thing. "Great! Real bullets!" exclaims a now shaken Steve Martin. At that moment, they lose courage, wave the white flag of surrender, and leave the village to be plundered by El Guopo and his gang. 
