Cara Winterbottom

[This article is part of a series about how to craft an intentional life using ideas and tools from Constantin Stanislavski’s acting system for working on our inner motive forces. Previous article: The Triumvirate of Consciousness ] Emotion is one of the three inner motive forces that drive us to action, the other two being intellect and will. Being active, rather than apathetic or paralysed, is good but all actions are not positive, effective and goal-directed. To ensure that we choose positive action, we need to work on strengthening our understanding of and influence over the three motive forces. Here, I consider our emotions.  We often see emotions as beyond control. They happen to us. They are a result of circumstances, events and memories. They also have disturbing physical associations: the sweaty palms from nervousness, the heated face from embarrassment, the accelerated heart beat from excitement.  If emotions last longer, they become moods. These overlay our daily l...

Our conscious lives are increasingly fragmented. So many things demand our attention. Many of us struggle to find meaning in our lives and accomplish goals dear to us. It is simpler to follow the easy path of opportunity, rather than work to craft what we want in life.  Constantin Stanislavski developed a system which provides tools to address this. Stanislavski was an acclaimed Russian actor and director around the turn of the 20th century. He wrote extensively about his system for preparing actors to portray characters on stage with truth and a sense of reality. In his system, he introduced the three inner motive forces or triumvirate that can direct and influence consciousness: emotion, intellect and will. I believe that Stanislavski’s system is applicable outside the world of theatre. Stanislavski’s triumvirate helps us to become more self-aware, discover our goals, define steps to achieve them, and actually do those steps. How can a system designed for actors and make-believe ...