When my convictions have nothing to do with others (which should almost always be the case), it’s okay that others don’t understand. It’s also equally okay for others’ convictions to clash with mine.

Remember how Laurence Olivier suggested that Dustin Hoffman — who, at the time, was going to great lengths to prepare for his role in Marathon Man — should “just try acting…?” Two titans of their craft. Both seemingly quite convinced that they know how to access what’s required to play characters that have resonance. And while we don’t know the rest of that story (at least I don’t), I hope Hoffman told Olivier something along the lines of, 

“I believe you are right. I also believe I am right. That we can both be right about this is not pandering. It is to recognize that we both aim to express ourselves as these characters as truthfully as we possibly can. This is what I have to do to get closest to that truth. Perhaps I could do more, even, and would get closer. But this is as far as I can go. Others will go farther. Others less. Some start closer to it than others and thus needn’t go too far to reach it. But we’re all merely asking for it to take our extended hand. Even if just for a blink.”

Now… I am a corporate hack who has thrown on a blindfold and spun in circles for a dozen years. And even after pulling and gnashing at this blindfold for a fraction of that time, I’m still attempting ferally to fumble my way to truth. My blindfold is perhaps at least askew now, but it’s still very much tightly knotted around my dazed head. But I’m still trying.

So, reminder to self, it’s okay that others have their own way of seeking truth. And it’s okay if they don’t understand yours. But I cannot make the mistake of thinking I should allow myself to be convinced that it’s going to take me anything other than immense effort to even stumble in truth’s direction.