“Identify with the actor, not the character.”
– Srikumar Rao
If life is a movie, would you rather be a character in it, or the actor?
Character
A character’s story is written. A character may be acted upon by forces outside his or her control. The character’s story ends when the movie ends, or if the character dies. The character cannot change his or her fate.
The character is in a way completely passive, set in stone by how the actor plays it. Many characters in movies, other than the heroines and heroes, are at the mercy of their circumstances. They might even seem powerless victims.
If you had to be the character, then how about being the hero or heroine of your life? If your life is Forrest Gump, would you want to be Forrest, Jenny, Momma, or Lieutenant Dan?
But some don’t see themselves as the hero or heroine of their lives. They might not see themselves as Maverick in Top Gun, or Hermione in Harry Potter. Some might identify with an extra, out of the limelight, or maybe a victim. Bullied or ignored by other characters.
It’s your life. It’s mine. If we had to be a character, at least choose the character we become. Be the Hermione or Forrest of our life. Fulfill our potential.
Actor
The actor has more freedom. The actor can interpret and effectively create the character. The actor lives on when the movie ends, the actor survives even if the character dies. If the actor plays the character well, she may win an Oscar and go on to better roles.
We can be the actor instead of the character in our lives.
If we “play” our role well in this lifetime, our prizes may include peace and joy within, plus true happiness for ourselves and others. (see The First Step). And when the time comes for us to depart this life, we leave without regret, with nothing weighing on our heart, with nothing but love and gratitude.
And if you believe that our true self is more than this physical body, is spiritual and eternal, then you know that you will return for future roles to continue learning and growing your soul.
And even if you didn’t do so well this round, it’s okay because you can return and eventually become a superstar. Even Keanu Reeves of Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure became the legendary actor in The Matrix, Speed, Constantine, Point Break, among others.
Creator
The actor still follows the script and the director, right? The actor interprets the character but changes neither his fate nor the storyline.
How would you like to be the writer, director, and actor of your life? For example, Bradley Cooper, who cowrote, coproduced, directed, sang, and played Jackson Maine in A Star is Born. Too heavy a story? How about Greta Gerwig in Lady Bird, Tom Hanks in That Thing You Do, or Ben Stiller in Zoolander?
They wrote, directed, and acted in their own films. They created their own stories, brought their vision to life, and interpreted the characters they dreamed up.
What life would you create? How would the story go, starting today? How would you want to feel when this story ends? How would you play THE lead character of your story?
Need some inspiration to start? The Hero’s Journey may be a good template:
“A hero ventures forth from the world of common day into a region of supernatural wonder: fabulous forces are there encountered and a decisive victory is won: the hero comes back from this mysterious adventure with the power to bestow boons on his fellow man.”
– Joseph Campbell
The Hero with a Thousand Faces (1949)
YOU and I can be the hero of our life’s journey. We don’t need to limit ourselves to any character. We can create the life that we want.
* Special thanks to Kelly S. Walden, friend and counselor, for introducing me to The Hero’s Journey.
Time Travel Rescue 