Producing and delivering large-scale arena concerts for top tier artists involves substantial financial investments, often reaching into the tens or even hundreds of millions of dollars. Many problems can arise when cities host these musical events and it’s very seldom an option to cancel a performance. Aside from major illness and extreme weather events, the show must go. This means that regardless of difficulties, setbacks, or challenges, an event, performance, or task must continue. The phrase obviously originates from the theatre and entertainment world, where performers are expected to carry on even if things go wrong backstage or on stage. The same holds true for us in the performance of our lives.
Essentially, ‘The Show Must Go On!’ is a reminder to keep moving forward, no matter the obstacles. In our lives we will encounter problems, set-backs, difficulties, moments of failure and large amounts of self-doubt. This is normal and experienced by each of us at times throughout our lives. Regardless, we can push forward despite meeting adversity. We can fulfill our responsibilities in spite of facing complex difficulties. We can strive to handle setbacks with grace and a sense of humour. We can deliver an outcome without forcing disruption. We can handle it.
What we engender within us when we keep the show running is resilience and determination. We build up our skills in adaptation and perseverance and we gain more mental power and emotional gravitas in being committed and determined to see things through. We make ourselves the protagonist of our stories. We all love a hero story and whether you like to be a traditional hero or an anti-hero, you are the protagonist of your life story.
Being the protagonist of your own life story means taking ownership of your choices, actions, and growth rather than letting circumstances or others dictate your path. Like any compelling protagonist in a novel or film, you must navigate challenges, make meaningful choices, and evolve over time. There is a real art in being a compelling protagonist and at times we might need a bit of support from others to help us when we are overwhelmed by challenges, struggling to make choices and feel stuck at a transition point in our lives.
We can also choose the path of the anti-hero. Anti-heroes are intriguing in spite of their moral ambiguity or questionable motivations. They retain the title of protagonist because we want them to overcome and to show their true colours and ultimately, they are compelling because of their unpredictable choices and the relatable qualities that resonate with us. They often reject societal norms and take unconventional paths. We love the anti-hero protagonist because they rebel and choose not to be stuck in someone else's script, they take ownership of their path which leads to greater freedom, resilience, and fulfillment.
Whether you are a traditional protagonist or have chosen the path of the anti-hero you might want to dig a bit deeper into your life story and refine your character arc. If so, why not reach out to Made Better Human or consider attending our Made Better Stories program? You might find our module on Empowering Stories particularly useful. We’re looking forward to becoming your change doula.