The stage is set

Today we take a walk around the Colosseum in Rome, Italy. This was the scene of many different moments in the history of the world.

It links up to an empire that has influenced the world in so many ways, and continues to have a presence in our world to this day through the stories and the history.

On the day we were being shown around the rain accompanied us for the whole time, and yet, as we were looking down from the highest point in the arena listening to our guide, all of us forgot that we were getting wet.

And I guess somehow our life as human beings feels like we are in the colosseum. Each of us battling in our own way the lions, the other gladiators, any other beast that may well be released at a moment’s notice. On our tour we were told how some of the “festivities” would run for days, and of course the spectators could decide the fate of the gladiators. The whole place was staged for maximum impact, with hidden doors in the arena, so the gladiator would be surprised by what came its way.

Doesn’t it feel like those surprise moments when you did not expect something coming your way in real life?

And doesn’t it feel like that sometimes a feeling just stays with you for days? Almost as if you have no control over it and somehow it feels like someone wise needs to come and release us from these emotions?

The world is a stage around us and we are its players, or so Shakespeare said, if we are to believe the stories. And each of us play a role in this world. Either assigned to us or self-assigned, and each of us contribute to this world with our presence. So, if the scene is set, are you the director of your own film?

Sometimes I have asked my clients to create a story board of their life, consider what type of film it would be, comedy? Drama? Tragedy? Horror? Documentary? Consider what period it was played in? Ancient times? Modern times? Futuristic times? Who are the main characters? Who are the supporting characters? And what is the running theme in this film? Is this film taking place in the present, in the past, in the future? And if this was the film/movie of their life, how is it likely to end?

This activity allowed them to explore their life a bit detached and yet present at the same time. It helped them figure out how they would like to bring the movie to its conclusion. It allowed for time for reflection. Some clients were happy to talk about it, some were ok to create and drawn a story board, regardless of the medium, it allowed for exploration.

So, now that the scene is set, now what?

What is your next step?

Will you continue the everlasting fight? Or are you willing to overcome the fight and move into resolution?

Are you ready to transcend the story, and change the movie of your own life?

Time to take out your diary and take some notes when answering the questions.

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