Are you the director

Have you ever met a person who wants to direct or control all that surrounds them? I worked, many years ago with a boss, who recently died, who wanted to control everything at work and in his leisure time. We were talking about going camping and I said that I love it because of the freedom from time that being in the wilderness gave me. He responded that if he went camping, he would create a time schedule so that every minute of his camping trip was accounted for when he was camping. He was a good boss as long as you never presented him with a surprise. Changes could be made and he would approve them but I had to make sure that every possible issue was looked at and explained in great detail to him. Now I am a big picture thinker and having to worry about details had not been part of my routine. However, working with him for eight years made me a better person, because I was able to continue to look at the big picture and I grew to understand how important the details were to make the big dream/picture come to life.

I also realized that there are many people who think it is or would be amazing if they were able to be the director. From time to time I am guilty of trying to be the director. I do this because I expect people to:

behave a certain way and at a certain time.

react to situations in a certain way.

say certain things in certain situations.

send the correct emoji response to my last text.

The issue is that I am not the director and I cannot control what other people say or do in real life and the times that I have tried have been embarrassing for me and for others. The fact is life is not a well-scripted play and there is not a director.

Life is more like improv theatre.  Each of us is totally free to choose to say whatever line we want to say.  To act and react however we wish.  And if that often frustrates your inner director, it is time to let the director in you off the hook and enjoy the improv that life gives to us every day.