Imagine a circus. There is this rising music, circling lights, performers doing their parts. There is laughter, drama, tension, applause; and sometimes, behind the forceful smile, a quiet exhaustion.
It may sound strange, but life often feels the same. A space where roles are being played, balance is being tested and meaning is being attached.
The comparison between life and a circus may seem absurd, but it holds meaning. We spend most of our day performing, balancing, risking and improvising. Isn't it?
They juggle balls; we juggle tasks. They wear costumes; we wear identities. However, there is this one thing common between the both - the audience’s clap.
So what is the point of the show? Who, exactly, are we performing for?
In a circus, each performer has a role:: the acrobat, the clown, the ringmaster, the strongman etc. Their value is defined by what they do. Life, on the other hand, gives us roles as well - student, parent, employee, friend, citizen. We step into them so naturally that we forget they are roles at all And the fun part is we never realize that these roles are associated to us by the society. These roles shape us, make us and construct us. And there is nothing wrong in it, like what other option one has?
Erving Goffman, a philosopher, was right when he said that social life resembles “theater”. We present ourselves in ways shaped by expectations. In simple terms, we adjust how we speak and act, all this while depending on the specific environment. We are not fake; we are just adaptive. But problems begin when the performance becomes our only reality.
Modern life intensifies this circus of roles. Social media is the best example of it. It invites us to curate our acts: highlight reels of success, beauty, happiness, even food. In doing so, we become both performer and reactor, constantly aware of the known and unknown audience. The applause comes in the form of likes and comments. The greater the applause, the greater the value. And silence feels like failure.
What is life, if not juggling?
Perhaps, juggling is the most obvious reality of life. We juggle work, relationships, health, ambition, finances, dreams and the list go on. Some balls are made of glass, drop them and they shatter. Others are rubber, they bounce back. The difficulty lies in not always knowing which is which until the failure (or if one wants to be optimistic, until the experience).
Consider a young professional, chasing career while caring for aging parents, maintaining finances and relations. Each demand is genuine. Each ask for availability, time and energy. But time and energy remain limited. The person feels like a juggler, adding one more ball while the others are already midair.
Such moments remind us that difficulty does not mean failure, it means complexity. Even skilled jugglers drop things. What truly matters is the ‘art of importance’.
Expectations
Another powerful metaphor is the tight-rope walker, poised between falling and crossing, being watched by all. In life, we face similar situation. There are family hopes, societal norms, personal standards, economic pressures. We move forward carefully, fearing missteps can result in failure and backlash.
Consider a student choosing a career path. His passion may pull him one way and practicality another. In a judgy world, the value or worth is measured by income or status. In such situation, the student is left with two choices: rebel or surrender. And we know the percentages here, mostly opt for the later one. Yet this thing is itself part of the illusion. It does not mean the end, few choices are truly irreversible, but it takes a lot of courage to do so.
Values
The tight-rope walker carries a balancing pole. What is ours? Values. Without it, every gust of opinion shakes us. But how to get those values? In my opinion, Frederich Nietzsche answers the best, he says “You must have chaos within you to give birth to a dancing star”. Simply, you need the urge within you, to give birth to those values. The balanced values, one which are carefully crafted by oneself, and not merely by the society or anyone else.
We are the performers trapped inside the role.
Perhaps the most misunderstood figure in the circus is the clown. Painted smile, exaggerated gestures, playful chaos. Yet historically, clowns often expressed hidden truths through humorous act.
In life, many people wear emotional masks; not to deceive, but to survive. Boss jokes through stress. A friend posts cheerful photos while privately struggling. Even we ourselves sometimes say “all is well” when nothing is working out.
And this is the most common form of despair, as we are not being who we truly are. The tragedy is not that we perform; it is that we forget there is someone behind the paint.
So, what truly matters?
A circus is for spectators. But in life, the most persistent audience is internal. We, constantly, watch ourselves: evaluating, comparing, judging. Even alone, we imagine how others might see us. This inner observer can motivate growth or create endless pressure.
The question arises: whose applause do we even seek? Society’s? Family’s? Our own? Or something else?
Why is the act not enough? Why only the applause matter?
When the Lights Dim
Every circus ends. Lights fade, tent empties, performers rest. Life, too, contains pauses, moments when roles fall away: illness, loss, aging, reflection. These times can feel frightening because the performance stops. But they also reveal what remains without costume.
In the end, the metaphors invite questions rather than answers: which roles feel authentic, and which feel imposed? which balls must truly stay in the air? What values form my balancing pole? when do I wear masks, and why? whose applause shapes my choices? These questions do not end the performance; they make it conscious. Think, what is it you plan to do with your one chaotic, wild life?
Life is may be a circus.
...........
Peace 🕊
