The Black Dot Perspective
How to help people see the white space in the midst of chronic disease
Fitness professional, Christine Conti shared the black dot story during her webinar on the psychology of chronic disease that has stuck with me.
A professor stood before his class and drew a small black dot in the center of a white screen. He asked his students to write about what they saw. The next day, after reading every paper, he shared what he noticed.
Every student wrote about the black dot.
They described its size, shape, darkness, and location. He mentioned to the students that on one wrote about the white space surrounding it.
That story stayed with me.
Sometimes our “black dot” is something small, like the long red light we hit on the way into town or a frustrating moment in our day. For people living with chronic conditions, the black dot can become the disease itself. The pain. The limitations. The fear. The grief over what has changed.
The black dot can also be the negative narrative many people carry about aging.
As movement leaders we have an opportunity to help people see the white space.
Not by dismissing the black dot or pretending it doesn’t exist, but by helping people reconnect with what is still possible, reminding them they are supported, and creating opportunities for them to feel socially connected and not alone in what they’re carrying.
When someone says, “My knees are bad,” or “I can’t do that because of my condition,” they’re often speaking from a black-dot perspective. Our role is not to argue with their experience. It’s to help them discover the white space around it.
To show them what they can do.
To create moments of enjoyment and connection.
To give them, even briefly, an opportunity to stop thinking about the black dot.
I experienced this personally with my dad and his diagnosis of terminal brain cancer in October of last year. By November, he was experiencing noticeable symptoms. He struggled with word recall. He could no longer drive. Reading and writing became difficult. I stayed with him to help care for him, and daily he would say:
“Just a few months ago I could drive.”
“Just a few months ago I could use my computer.”
“Just a few months ago I could write.”
“Now I can’t do any of it. It’s amazing.”
He was mourning the loss of abilities that had once been effortless. We had no control over the disease, no certainty about how quickly it would progress, or what to expect. It was terrifying.
I realized I needed to help him see the white space amidst the black dot of a brain cancer.
I said to him:
“You know what else is amazing, Dad? Since your diagnosis, we’ve had a revolving door of friends and family coming to stay with you. You have people you can call every day to talk to. You have neighbors checking in on you and helping you get to appointments. That’s amazing.”
That was the white space.
We couldn’t control the disease. But we could recognize the community surrounding us. The people willing to walk beside us through something so heavy.
Many times, the white space is found in our relationships and support systems.
We may not be able to take away someone’s disease or pain but we can walk beside them through it. We can help them reconnect with what’s still possible. We can create spaces where people feel seen and supported.
That’s the white space.
Upcoming Trainings & Events
The Movement Creative Coach Development Training
July 17th-19th in Madison, Wisconsin
A two-day immersive experience designed to deepen your skills as a movement instructor. Movement Creative is teaming up with fellow parkour senior coaches in Wisconsin to share our experience working with varied populations and situations and how to guide activities to support older adults with varying abilities.
Online Events
Cueing the Pelvic Floor for Better Physical Activity Experiences
Wednesday, May 20th 1pm PT/4pm ET
Learn how and why to include this muscle group in your programming, along with simple, embarrassment-minimizing ways to combine pelvic floor cueing with activities you’re already leading. Led by Patricia Linderman.
Rewrite Your Narrative About Movement: Build Strength, Confidence, and Keep Contributing
Thursday, June 4th 12pm PT/3pm ET
Hosted by The Encore Network. Many adults over 50 unknowingly limit their potential due to internalized ageism and outdated beliefs about what aging looks like. Erin Eleu challenges those beliefs and replace them with empowering, research-backed perspectives on growth, capability, and continued improvement as we age.
Overcoming Physical Limitations for Aging Bodies
Thursday, June 25th 1pm PT/4pm ET
Robert Linkul walks us through the five most common physical limitations that occur with aging and what resistance training strategies you can do to help combat them. Join us as we dive deep into the research and the practical application that you can use right away!
3 Shifts That Improve Outcomes in Adaptive Fitness
Thursday, July 23rd 3pm PT/6pm ET
In this session led by Megan Williamson, we’ll break down three common mistakes that even experienced professionals make when working with clients with disabilities — and how to shift your approach in a way that feels more clear, confident, and effective.
Expand Your Impact with the AGEnts of Movement Webinar Library
Looking for fresh ideas and deeper insight to support the people you serve? The AGEnts of Movement Webinar Library offers practical, thought-provoking sessions designed for movement leaders working with older adults.
Explore topics like:
Coach development for movement leaders
Psychology of chronic disease
How to coach falling safely
Reducing fall risk through game play
How to partner with physical therapists
Each webinar provides practical strategies and new perspectives you can immediately bring into your classes, programs, and communities.
Learn. Grow. Lead movement experiences that matter.
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