Lessons From Jim Carrey

“You can fail at what you don’t want, so you might as well take a chance on doing what you love.” Jim Carrey

“The effect you have on others is the most valuable currency there is.” Jim Carrey

“Don’t ever let fear turn you against your playful heart.” Jim Carrey

Funny what time and learning from some of my favorite teachers like Dr. Brené Brown, Oprah, Elizabeth Gilbert, and Deepak Chopra, and now Jim Carrey after watching his commencement speech, can do to change my perspective on everyday life.

Back when I was a full-time teacher I was strict. I worked at a school with high expectations. My expectations were higher. There were so many rules. I was responsible for getting twenty-seven nine and ten-year-olds to follow all of them. It wasn’t easy. My mind was focused on our daily lessons, keeping order in the classroom, and communicating with parents and administration. If students became too silly or disruptive it was my job to deal with the situation swiftly for the benefit of the learning environment. Then I left teaching and became a substitute teacher. My eyes and heart opened.

Without all the pressures of testing, meetings, and endless paperwork, I had the time to really watch, listen and talk to students. I knew my perspective on teaching had changed, but I never knew how much until fairly recently.

I was subbing at a high school. It was 8:30 am. The class was mostly seated when a young girl came in and broke into song and dance. The old me would have asked her politely to take her seat. Instead, my first thought was: Look how vulnerable and open she’s being! It takes a lot of courage to sing and dance like that in front of her peers. Good for her! I’m not going to be the one to crush her spirit and tell her to sit down.When those thoughts ran through my mind I was shocked. Where was the first-born, responsible, we’ve got to get to work, me? She was standing in awe of the bravery of a teenager who was completely being herself. I said nothing. The girl finished her dance and went to her seat. At the end of class, when she got up to leave, she stopped and wrote on the board: Be nice to Ms. Rausin.

Dr. Brené Brown talks about the importance of laughing, singing and dancing in her Udemy Course: The Power of Vulnerability and in her book The Gifts of Imperfection. I, like Dr. Brown, have to work on letting go and learning how to embrace playfulness. It does not come easy for me. So when Jim Carrey said, “Don’t ever let fear turn you against your playful heart.” I could relate. I found it to be another great reminder to laugh, to dance, and to sing at the top of my lungs even when someone’s watching.