Rainn Wilson: "I was so unhappy during The Office!" (Dwight Schrute)

The Diary Of A CEO with Steven Bartlett

FlightStory

Society & Culture, Business, Education

4.6 • 13.2K Ratings

🗓️ 28 August 2023

⏱️ 84 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

In this new episode Steven sits down with actor, comedian, podcaster and author, Rainn Wilson. Rainn is best known for playing Dwight Schrute on the US version of the TV sitcom ‘The Office’, which ran from 2005 to 2013. During this time Rainn was Emmy Award nominated three times for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series. In 2008, he co-founded the digital media company SoulPancake, which aims to encourage open-hearted dialogue about what it means to be human. In this conversation Rainn and Steven discuss topics, such as: His childhood in the jungle of Nicaragua Growing up in a loveless home Childhood depression and anxiety His struggles with addiction How therapy has changed his life His mothers affair Being grateful for his traumatic childhood Channelling pain and trauma into comedy His spiritual and mental crisis Why he chose to become an actor Struggling with anxiety attacks His search for meaning and purpose in life His journey into spirituality How humans are spiritual beings having a human experience Why a lot of life is just static Coming to spirituality out of necessity The impact of his son's birth Feeling of unfulfilled while filming 'The Office' The cultural impact of 'The Office' Being unhappy despite his massive success Why there is no end point of happiness Why the present moment is all we have The importance of gratitude The battle of the ego and why it causes unhappiness How everyone has a shadow self The 12 step programme and how it encourages change The power of surrendering You can purchase Rainn’s most recent book, ‘Soul Boom: Why We Need a Spiritual Revolution’, here: https://bit.ly/3EbRwPP Follow Rainn: Instagram: https://bit.ly/462rF99 Twitter: https://bit.ly/3Eb6fdN Watch the episodes on Youtube - https://g2ul0.app.link/3kxINCANKsb My new book! 'The 33 Laws Of Business & Life' pre order link: https://smarturl.it/DOACbook Follow me: Instagram: http://bit.ly/3nIkGAZ Twitter: http://bit.ly/3ztHuHm Linkedin: https://bit.ly/41Fl95Q Telegram: http://bit.ly/3nJYxST Sponsors: Eightsleep: https://www.eightsleep.com/uk/steven/ - CODE: STEVEN (save $150 on the Pod Cover) Wework: we.co/ceoworks Huel: https://g2ul0.app.link/G4RjcdKNKsb

Transcript

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0:00.0	We're going to talk about the office. I promise, stick around, folks.
0:04.0	Rain, welcome, actor, writer, producer, you know as...
0:08.0	Dwight Shrut, assistant regional manager.
0:10.0	One of the most iconic characters in TV history.
0:12.0	Hold on, Michael! I am coming!
0:15.0	I experienced a lot of pain in my life.
0:18.0	Neglect, abuse, abandoned, and then with anxiety and depression and addiction.
0:23.0	I remember getting these anxiety attacks that would leave me shaking on the floor and sweating.
0:28.0	And I thought I was dying, waking up at three in the morning, going, why should I keep living?
0:33.0	But this is the curious thing.
0:35.0	I'm grateful for it.
0:37.0	There's a reason why so many comedians come from painful backgrounds,
0:41.0	because comedy shifts your perspective away from pain and trauma.
0:46.0	Here's your choice, are you? Kill yourself or do comedy? And that was my path.
0:50.0	This is my greatest dream come true.
0:52.0	You said, when I was in the office, I spent several years mostly unhappy,
0:55.0	because it wasn't enough.
0:56.0	I wanted more opportunities, I wanted more money, and as long as we want to promote the ego satisfaction,
1:01.0	we'll never be happy.
1:03.0	We all have a shadow, and it's always there.
1:06.0	It's self-important and righteous and entitled to buy.
1:09.0	I'm not going to get rid of those aspects of myself by keeping that shadow at arm's length.
	...

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