The Truman Show: Challenging the reality you accepted

I love movies. I always have.

Of course I love movies that entertain or those that bring me to tears. I like to feel. Even more, I like to think. Some of my favorite movies have made me reevaluate my life and become a better person.

Lately, I have come to realize how so many movies have buried within them the philosophy and principles of success which have helped me grow from a self-conscious and emotionally abused employee to a successful entrepreneur with an income that continues to multiply.

I have been continually surprised in how an old favorite movie can be viewed through the lens of new understanding and provoke profound revelations. Perhaps there was a reason I was drawn to those movies in the first place.

I would like to begin curating some of these profound movies with commentary to help you also discover a deeper meaning for yourself as well. Along the way, I hope to quicken your understanding and application of these success principles.

Last night, my young family decided to watch the 1998 Jim Carrey film; The Truman Show.

Briefly, Truman Burbank (Carrey) was legally adopted by a corporation before his birth. Every moment of his life was destined to be filmed for the functional in world television program, The Truman Show. Keep in mind this was long before “reality tv” became popular.

Actors were hired and an elaborate city was constructed in a studio where every angle and moment of Truman’s live could be filmed and aired 24 hours a day. Truman is unaware he lives in a controlled world and his wife and best friend are indeed actors. As suspicious events begin to take place, Truman slowly becomes aware of the controlled nature of his world, and begins a journey to break free.

“We accept the reality of the world with which we are presented.”

Christof (Ed Harris) is the show’s television director and producer, and omnipotent creator of Truman’s world. Christof is quested in an interview about why Truman hasn’t discovered the secret to his false world.

“We accept the reality of the world with which we are presented. It’s as simple as that,” says Christof.

Why do you do what you do every day? Think about it.

Why do you have a job instead of own a business? Why are you an accountant instead of an artist? Why do accept the amount of money you earn is all you are worth? Why do accept that struggle is an inherent part of your life?

Christof has the answer for us, and it is unsettling.

It is unsettling because it is true.

Ever since I was in elementary school, I accepted abuse from my peers and teachers. In every single company I have worked, I allowed myself to be bullied by supervisors or managers. For my entire adult life, I accepted that I was underpaid, undervalued and would always be.

When my wife underwent surgery to remove her brain tumor in 2015 and became disabled, I awoke to a choice. Either I would accept the likelihood I would loose my home and struggle to provide for my family; or I was going to break free and finally take control of my life.

I began to believe in a world beyond my physical senses. I took a pen and set a goal to triple my income. I had no evidence in my current reality it was possible. Everyone around me thought I was crazy.

You are programmed to live your life.

This brings me to the next point from the movie. The nature of a TV show includes a degree of “direction.” Christof had a story to tell, and it required keeping Truman controlled and directed to follow the story.

In the movie, as Truman became more aware, he made more and more attempts to test the measures of control in his life. If he would follow a person he wasn’t supposed to, a crowd would appear and push him back the other way. Sometimes, other people would say or do things to maximize his fear, manipulate his thoughts and outright lie to him.

Truman was programmed to live his life. He was programmed to succumb and be powerless.

You are likewise programmed to live the life you are living. We are programmed both genetically and environmentally. Look at the people you spend the most time with. You will find you think, believe and act in very similar ways.

In my years of experience, people most likely choose the career they are in because it is what their parents did. Or, simply because they were good at math they became an accountant.

I have a friend who is battling her programming of wanting to be a business owner, because in her Indian culture, she was raised to believe the only way to be successful was to become a doctor, lawyer, engineer and so forth. Everything else is discouraged.

When you start challenging your programming, or how everybody around you believes you should think, believe and act…those people in your environment will resist your change. If you allow them, they will condemn your new thoughts and goals. They may even punish your attempts to grow in an effort to keep you in the zone of the familiar.

If you allow the people, your circumstances and environment dictate who you are and what you think you can accomplish, you will never succeed.

Napoleon Hill writes about his his in classic success manual, “Think and Grow Rich.” To pass the persistence test, you need to have “a mind closed tightly against all negative and discouraging influences, including negative suggestions from relatives, friends and acquaintances.”

Desire drives us.

Truman is ultimately chasing freedom, but it is freedom cloaked in the identity of a mysterious woman he believes fled to Fiji. This burning desire captures his mind and his dreams. He holds it close to his heart. It is precious fuel he uses to finally begin to take action. Desire is also the first principle to riches in Hill’s “Think and Grow Rich.”

What do you desire? What do you really, really want?

You need to realize your desires are an awareness that you can become more than you are. That possibility is out there for you to attain. Also know this, your desires will absolutely challenge your programmed life. To become more than you are, you will have to break away from all that you know. That’s okay, it’s called growth.

In the movie, Truman was forced to become both unpredictable and subtle to forge his path to freedom. Toward the climax of the movie, even the environment—the very waves of the sea and wind in the air became enemies against his triumph.

And there is triumph.

You too, will triumph!

For all the naysayers in our life, and those who are critical and negative; they will eventually cheer you on.

All the countless viewers of The Truman Show crowded around the television to watch his struggle. While the TV show executives panicked about Truman’s discovery of his potential and freedom, and worried about what it would do to their popular empire, the fans in the end celebrated Truman’s every step toward freedom.

Human beings love triumph and success. It speaks to our heart and soul. But, why?

It is because the human story of triumph speaks to our spirit which is trying to expand your awareness and whisper to you, “You can do it, too.”

The truth is you have likely accepted your reality when you don’t have to. You probably have dreams and desires to be, do or have more in your life. You are also surrounded by people who love you, but also believe you shouldn’t be taking risks. Why?

Because they are not taking risks, and no one wants to be left behind.

The next time you celebrate someone else’s achievement, ask yourself, “What more can I accomplish if I really allowed myself to want it bad enough?”

If you listen closely, that inner knowing will guide you on the right path to break free of the current reality you have accepted. From there, it is up to you to decide what you are going to create for yourself, and those you love. 

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Todd L Bauerle is a certified coach helping people unlock their professional and personal potential. Todd is personally trained by Bob Proctor to coach the “Thinking into Results” curriculum to leaders, teams and individuals. Todd also works with executives to make powerful career transitions, leading them closer to financial success and fulfilling careers.

To learn more about Todd and his coaching, schedule a consultation with him today at https://calendly.com/bauerleconsulting.