It was announced yesterday that the great comedian and actor, Robin Williams, was found dead of an apparent suicide. His wife issued a statement saying that he was suffering from severe depression. I understand that he had a history of depression, alcoholism and drug abuse.
I have been very sad since hearing about Mr. Williams’ death. I’ve loved his movies and shows. I’ve always been very impressed with his creativity and humor. He was bursting with talent. I don’t know about any of his religious or political views. At the moment, I don’t even care. All I know is that I loved him and am mourning his passing. As I look back on the years at all the things he’s done, starting with Mork & Mindy, I realize what a part he has played in my life and in the lives of my children. A talent such as his is very rare. He will definitely be missed.
Because I work with depression and other physical and emotional issues using the Emotion Code and Body Code, I’ve been thinking a lot about the depression that Robin Williams was dealing with. I don’t generally work with people who are on the verge of suicide or have significant mental illness, but I do work with people who are struggling with various issues in their life. As I’ve thought about Robin Williams, I’ve wondered what part did his depression, the issues he was struggling with, play in his genius. Was he so talented in spite of his emotional struggles or because of them? I’ve heard it said that you have to have suffered to become a truly great artist. Was his humor his coping mechanism? If he didn’t have the horrible emotional issues to deal with, would he have been so talented? Would he even have been so funny? Why was he able to bring so much joy to others when he found it so elusive for himself?
Our pain, our joy, our trials, our experiences – all these combine to make us who we are. What if Robin Williams didn’t have the pain and consequently didn’t have the degree of talent to be so hilariously funny and popular? The world would have lost out for sure. On the other hand, we wouldn’t have another victim of suicide. It’s impossible to know what would have happened, how Mr. Williams’ talent would have developed without the inner turmoil.
This all begs the question – what is going on inside of our minds that is shaping who we are? Would we have the skills, the talent, the compassion, and the understanding that we have now if it weren’t for our pain and trials? It’s hard to say. It’s just as easy to think about the wonderful things we could achieve if we weren’t held back by the baggage of our past traumas. I personally believe that it’s truly worth it to do all we can to overcome and release the negative effects of our past difficulties. That way we can maximize the joy in our life. We can still draw from the experiences of the past without continuing to feel their pain. After all, joy is the reason we exist.
Writing this blog entry is my way of dealing with the pain of losing this wonderful beacon of talent. I will remember the wonderful contributions that he’s made over the years. Thank you, Robin Williams!
Tags: depression, Emotion Code, Robin Williams
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