Role play or soul play?

In 1998, Jim Carrey played the lead role in the film Man on the Moon.
A biopic about the late cult comedian Andy Kaufman.
And for the entire shoot, Carrey stayed in his Kaufman character.
Both on and off the set.
For four months, he was totally lost in that role.
Channeling Andy and his idiosyncratic personas.
At times it proved exasperating for the people around him.
But Carrey insisted that he wasn’t in control of his performance.
He was just along for Andy’s ride.
According to Carrey, after playing Kaufman it took him a bit of time to get back to being just Jim.
And after watching the fascinating documentary Jim & Andy, I can understand why.
But I think he should have phrased it this way:
“It took me a while to get back into playing the role of Jim.”
Because there’s no such thing as “just Jim.”
Carrey, like all of us, is always playing a role.
An interdependent one.
At work, in public, with family and friends.
And that’s not a problem.
The problem is that, like Jim playing Andy, most of us have no idea that we’re doing it.
We’re out of control, channeling our self-concerned identities.
Unconsciously along for the exasperating ride.
Unlike Halloween, when we intentionally put on makeup, costumes and masks.
And enjoy the ephemeral joy and absurdity of the experience with others.
We’ve isolated ourselves in our mental stories.
Radically disconnected.
Embodying society’s serious roles and the misguided struggle for safety and significance.
And so we have lost our true sense of self and our visceral connection to life.
Instead of intentionally inventing and taking on roles.
Knowing that the performances are made up and temporary.
And that the idea of the various roles is to improve our performances while enjoying the show.
Our authentic selves have become overshadowed and weakened.
By anxiously morphing our behavior to accommodate the perceived expectations of those around us.
In order to be the person we think we’re supposed to be.
To get what we believe will eventually make us feel secure and happy.
We suppress our souls to influence our current circumstances and manifest our delusional futures.
Of course, we eventually feel the hollowness of this instrumental and superficial reality.
And then silently ache to release our authentic selves.
But being authentic requires that you know who you are and what you want.
And that you understand what reality is and how life really works. 
Because the key is not to embody your roles.
But rather to embody your essential nature.
Your desire to uniquely dance with the dynamic energy of the world.
To be curious and creative, and to step, consciously, in and out of your complicated and nuanced human roles.
Fully aware and with acceptance and love.
The poet Rumi wrote:

“Take someone who doesn’t keep score, who’s not looking to be richer, or afraid of losing, who has not the slightest interest even in his own personality: he’s free.”

Indeed!
That person is free to soul play.

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