TRAP 12: “GETTING SICK OF YOUR DAMN SELF“
YOU: Now that I’ve memorized my story, I am SICK and TIRED of it. Of myself, in fact. I’m afraid I’m indulgent, pretentious, un-funny. I want to quit!
ME: Hurray! You’ve finally reached my favorite part. You’re sick of your ‘self’!
Another reason why it’s important to memorize your story and not try to wing it is that you spend way more time with it. People who wing it miss out on the repetition that truly puts your ‘story’ in your face to the extent that you get sick of it — and get perspective on it. The repetition brings you to a point of detachment — and sometimes even repulsion. You begin to see beyond your story and through it. You begin to reject the notion that you are your story or your memories or your thoughts.
Because ultimately, you are not your story. You are essence. You are so much more than your story. You are limitless. Seeing through your story enables you to identify with something larger. You realize are the witness of the person-puppet that tells this story about who you are. Your story begins to fall away. When you put it back on for the stage, it can hang loosely. You can take ‘yourself’ less seriously. This a ‘transmission’ you can now give to the audience.
A meta-perspective on who you are. Humor arises easily from this place. We can make fun of our ridiculousness! The audience will love this. And they will love the ‘you’ in your story, and they will love the ‘you’ that is the essence underneath. This is awakening!
(P. S. If you’re looking to create a one person show / solo show, write a standup comedy set, or deliver a keynote speech, and you want to avoid these traps, I can help you. Obv. And if you’re not ready for a 1-1 experience, join my Embodied Writing workshop to cultivate a body of writing.)
Love,
Alicia
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