Recently me and my daughter were watching the movie, ‘The Truman Show’. And what struck me is how we live our life on autopilot with set beliefs, values and sometimes restrictive principles and workarounds.
There’s something hauntingly familiar about The Truman Show. A man living in a picture-perfect world… unaware it’s a lie. A town that never changes. A sea he never crosses.
A routine that never wavers. Until one day, he begins to question it all. But what’s even more unsettling than Truman’s false world—is how much of it resembles our real one. From our childhood there is a set life that’s showcased by our elders -well-wishers and then the design is copy-pasted on each one, with a conviction that this is what is good for us. The model of life, the education system and everything around us is inspired by set rules of the game.
The Safe Illusion of a “Good Life”
There is a safe illusion of good life; that we are made to feel is the template for happiness and achievement -recognition. Most of us live in a curated version of reality. A life designed around comfort, predictability, and low risk. We are scared to move to a different neighbourhood, meet new people, change our jobs. Everything revolves around the simple guide book of the social acceptance and how we have nurtured our belief systems over the years. We all are constantly stuck in vicious cycle of safety net and need to avoid any challenges or struggles. In fact we tell ourselves, “This is good enough. This is safe.” We resist disruption. We avoid uncertainty. We fear the unknown more than we fear unfullfillment.
Just like Truman, we find it easier to stay within the walls we didn’t even realize, were built around us.
The Human Need for Familiarity
Psychologically, we’re wired to stay with what’s familiar—even if it doesn’t serve us.
The brain finds comfort in patterns.
We create our own reality bubbles:
— The approval of others
— The steady pay-check
— The title we think defines us
— The stories we’ve been told about “success” And in doing so, we trade freedom for familiarity. Familiarity which gives us autopilot mode of life.
The Door Out is Always There. But It’s Not Easy.
While discussing about the protagonist, me and my daughter realised that we all have a choice like Truman, however its tough to go towards it. Similarly, when Truman discovers the truth, he doesn’t leap toward freedom with joy. He hesitates. He fears. He nearly turns back. Because stepping out of a false, controlled world—even if it’s beautiful—means confronting chaos, doubt, and the unknown. Isn’t that true for us, too? We know there’s more. But it’s inconvenient. It threatens the stability we’ve built. It asks us to start over.
What Are You Stuck In?
What are the things that you are stuck in… Narrative you have defined for yourself, job that feels scripted and cripples your creativity and voice, relationship with no depth, friendship where you are not able to express yourself and your values. A life that looks good on the outside but feels hollow on the inside?
Are you living someone else’s definition of success…
Are you silencing your instincts to keep others comfortable and happy…
If your days are blending into one long predictable loop… This may be living your own version of The Truman Show.
The Sea Is the Only Way Out
Remember the sea Truman fears? It was the limit placed on him. The edge of his world.And yet—that sea was his escape. The fear, the storm, the uncertainty—it was the passage to his authentic life. Real life isn’t perfectly lit. It’s not always applauded. But it is yours.
Don’t Let Life Pass While You’re in the Waiting Room of “Comfort”
The tragedy isn’t just Truman being watched. It’s that he almost never knew. That’s the cautionary tale. Most people don’t live their truth not because they can’t—but because they never look for the exit and are constantly stuck in the loop of so called approved milestones set by others. Are you ready to plunge into recreating your story …
Choose Freedom Over Familiarity
Its time we looked into our true existence and how we want to spend our time and freedom. In beginning this attempt to find freedom we can always question the template thats given to us, challenge the script handed to us, dare to imagine the new even though it may be uncomfortable, learn the lessons of the new, walk through the new doors and also find windows to our vision while we are still unsure of its outcomes. In the need for a predictable outcome we often loose the most exciting adventures and experiences of life.
As life is not a reality show where everybody needs to applaud your steps, it’s a revelation of your creative spirit. Because in the end, the real show isn’t what they make of your life.
It’s what you do with it once you realize that your role is time bound and you can create your own script for it!
“Good morning, and in case I don’t see ya, good afternoon, good evening, and good night.”
— Truman Burbank
Whose script are you living today? If you had the free will how would like to rescript your life, who are the characters that you would like to introduce in your space, what new aspects would you like to explore!!
drsonaliduttabaanerjee 