The first time I saw the movie 'Me Myself & Irene', I guess I was in the latter half of my teens. It was hilarious and I had a good laugh. Jim Carrey, his three kids, the kids’ actual father, the cow on the highway, made me laugh big time. Charlie and Hank the two faces of Jim Carrey had such contrasting attitudes toward life and thus their behavior. It’s a funny movie based on schizophrenia. That was about it, until it suddenly crossed my mind a few hours ago. It suddenly occurred to me that I have seen the real Charlie some where.
Charlie is a nice guy, who is unable to say no, constantly trying to please people around him. Well, it makes him a very amiable guy, helps him make friends easily but at what cost? A volcano that got seeded since he doesn’t know when, that was dormant all along suddenly becomes active. Since it’s intended to be a fun movie the relatively tough and bad guy Hank does only mischief to entertain the audience, but what if the Hank is dangerous? There are a whole lot of movies that depict schizophrenic characters in the bad side as well.
Though all the guys who are like Charlie, trying their best to please others might not turn schizophrenics, they might still trouble themselves and others around them. These people tend to lie frequently as they believe that it’s always best to please and help others. With out their knowing they develop an obsessive compulsion to lie. They reach a point when they find it impossible say NO. They could be bright, smart individuals who can analyze a given situation very thoroughly but they are carried away in the heat of the moment to please others. Even if they realize that they ultimately have to say no they tend to procrastinate the ‘no’ landing themselves and those dependent on them into trouble.
There are many Charlies around. You come across them in your work place, in school, or even at home. The best Charlie whom I can think of is Karna the eldest son of Kunti in Mahabharata. Not intending to disturb his teacher when a wasp stings him, he remains silent bearing the pain only to incur the teacher’s wrath later. Knowing that Lord Indra would come in an opportune moment to take away his immortal shield he does nothing. Knowing that he is on the wrong side in the war, well aware that the Kauravas are the bad guys he continues to stand by his friend Duryodhana, for he doesn’t want to bring a mark to their friendship. The only time he says NO is to his mother is when she asks him to spare the Pandavas in war. Even that’s less than a quarter NO as he says to her ‘will not harm any of your sons, save Arjuna’
So if you think you are a Charlie learn to say NO. The first step is realizing that you are a Charlie. Then find a way yourself. Don’t ask me how ;)
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