Playing the Part

Last Saturday I had a minor procedure (the details of which I wouldn’t like to get into, cos they ain’t pretty!).

Looking back at the whole experience, one thing stood out as being highly amusing.

When I was told I needed to have the procedure three days before it, a very strange thing happened.

I started to act ill!

My intention wasn’t to deceive anybody. I just played the part of being ill, because I was convinced there was something wrong with me, even though I didn’t feel ill.

I started to walk slowly, speak slowly, my energy level went down and I began slouching. And, yes, I partly felt sorry for myself.

But when I realized I didn’t have to feel that way, my mood suddenly changed. I felt more energetic and felt that I can do a lot more than feel sorry for myself.

Tony Robbins writes a lot about our “emotional states” and how we can change them by simply changing our posture and the way we behave. Rather than slouch because we’re tired, we can feel tired because we slouch!

We have an enormous capacity to feel great, and huge energy reserves we don’t tap into because we’re too busy playing a part that doesn’t take these resources into consideration.

This explains why terminally ill patients can enjoy their last breaths, without feeling bad about their condition. They’re not playing the part of the patient.

We can play the part of the victim, the overworked professional, the patient, the social outcast, the bad parent and any of a long list of possible negative roles.

Or we can play a more positive role that helps us enjoy our days and make the most out of the resources we have available to us.

What role are you playing in your life, and how can you change that to enjoy what life has to offer you?