The Direction of Intention

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Jim Edmondson is one of America’s great theatre directors and for a few years at the beginning of my career I was fortunate to assist him several times and was able to call him friend. He told me once that the best actors are only “in” the play about 40% of the time. I was amazed because I thought the best of the best were capable of a higher percentage. I learned that what he told me was true; it is herculean to be present in a performance 40% of the time!

So much of what he taught me has carried over into this broader study of life. Think about it: how present are you “in” your life? Do you ever hit 40%? Will you ever be present 40% of your allotted time on this earth? It’s a tough one to crack because trying to be present guarantees that you are “out” of your play (because you are watching yourself). It is herculean to allow yourself to be “in” life, even if you know what your play is.

I like the terms “in” or “out” of the play, meaning to be present or not. It is a trick of language when “in” the play means your focus is out side of your self. You are “in” your life when your focus is on something other than your self, forget about your self and flow is yours! “Out” of the play means you are concerned about how you look or how others perceive you. It’s hard to be in the flow when your awareness is dancing with the inner critics.
Jim taught me a trick for when I would fall out of the play (life). Place your focus to something small, your thumbnail or a flower or a scent on the air – and once you have it, once your attention is “out there,” open it to include the people in the play with you. In the end, the play is not about you or me, it is about the space between us; flow is about the relationship we create together.

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