Rainn Wilson, actor who played Dwight Schrute on 'The Office', discusses his journey to stardom, exploring insights from philosophy and psychology. They also talk about Rainn's favorite moments from the show and do improv when Dunder Mifflin invites an organizational psychologist to talk to Dwight.
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Quick takeaways
Rainn Wilson found peace and purpose through therapy, meditation, and exploring spiritual teachings.
Contrary to the hierarchical and uncollaborative office portrayed in 'The Office', the cast had the freedom to improvise and collaborate behind the scenes.
Deep dives
Rainn Wilson's Journey to Success
Rainn Wilson, best known for his role as Dwight Schrute in the TV show 'The Office,' shares his journey to success. He started as a theater actor, dreaming of making it big in New York but struggled to make ends meet. Eventually, he decided to move to Los Angeles and got his big break with the role of Dwight. Despite achieving fame and success, Wilson reveals that he went through a period of unhappiness and constant longing for more. Through therapy, meditation, and exploring various spiritual teachings, he found peace and a deeper sense of purpose.
The Collaborative Environment on 'The Office'
Wilson sheds light on the collaborative environment on the set of 'The Office.' While the show depicted a hierarchical and uncollaborative office environment, the actual working conditions behind the scenes were different. The cast had the freedom to improvise and try out new ideas to enhance the scenes. Greg Daniels, the showrunner, encouraged collaboration and even sought input from the janitorial staff and others in post-production decisions. Wilson reflects on the contrast between the fictional and real-life work dynamics portrayed in the show.
Rainn Wilson's Exploration of Happiness
Drawing from his experiences hosting a TV show about happiness, Wilson discusses the common factors that contribute to happiness around the world. He highlights the importance of connection and community, sharing examples from his visits to places like Iceland, Ghana, and Thailand. Through communal activities, shared rituals, and a sense of purpose, he observed how people found happiness in their everyday lives. Wilson emphasizes the need for deeper connections and a collective sense of purpose in modern society.
Spirituality and Mental Health
Wilson shares how his own struggles with mental health and addiction led him to explore spirituality as a means of healing and finding purpose. He discusses the concept of spirituality as a connection to something greater than oneself, helping to alleviate feelings of discontent and anxiety. Wilson emphasizes the importance of practicing gratitude, living in the present moment, and finding wonder in the world as essential components of spiritual well-being.
Rainn Wilson was a late bloomer: he landed the role of Dwight Schrute on “The Office” after over a decade of struggling as an actor. But success didn’t solve all of his problems — and it even created some new ones. In this live conversation for the Authors@Wharton series, Adam asks Rainn about his unlikely journey to stardom and how it led him into exploring the insights that philosophy, psychology, and the world’s great spiritual traditions can offer on modern life’s existential questions. They also discuss Rainn’s favorite moments from “The Office” and do some improv when Dunder Mifflin invites a certain organizational psychologist to talk to Dwight.
Transcripts for ReThinking are available at go.ted.com/RWAGscripts
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