Rainn Wilson, best known for his role as Dwight Schrute on the hit TV series “The Office,” and now an author, podcaster, and humanitarian, talks about his career, how he got there, his mental health, and He spoke about spiritual tools for personal and social transformation during war. his H. Lee Scott Speaker Series at Pittsburgh State University.
Before taking the stage at the Bicknell Family Center for the Arts, Wilson answered questions and pondered life’s big questions with a panel of student leaders from several organizations moderated by Hope Rainey. It took about an hour.
There, he had an hour-long conversation with Andra Stefanoni, director of media relations at Pitt State University and former journalist.
They discussed “The Office,” including Wilson’s favorite episode (“Injury”), before moving on to topics Wilson is passionate about exploring and discussing.
“We are facing a number of pandemics, all of which have affected humanity in modern times,” he said. “Materialism, increasing militarism and toxic nationalities, racism, income inequality, sexism, environmental degradation and climate change, mental health, these are all pandemics.”
He wrote about these and possible solutions in his latest book, Soul Boom: Why We Need a Spiritual Revolution (2023), a new book that premiered days after his Pittsburgh appearance. Discussed on the podcast “Soul Boom.” .
Wilson, now 58, was raised in the Baha’i faith, which is practiced by approximately 5 million to 8 million people and teaches respect for all the world’s religions and unity among all peoples.
His mother left him when he was young, his father and stepmother were unhappy in their marriage, and he had a somewhat damaged childhood. He struggled in his 20s, a time when his own mental health was not discussed and stigmatized.
“I came out of drama school and was living in New York City, and I wanted nothing to do with religion, God, or morality,” he said. “I had a series of bad jobs and was living with a friend in an abandoned brewery in Brooklyn. I was a squatter. And that’s when a lot of things went off the rails. .”
Wilson said she became depressed and suffered from severe anxiety and panic attacks.
“I started trying to medicate myself with drugs and alcohol, struggling with feelings of alienation, despair, and disconnection,” he said. “That didn’t go very well.”
He believes that returning to his spiritual path and actively studying spirituality and world religions over the past 20-30 years helped him recover from anxiety, depression, and addiction.
He also looked outward and chose his focus, mission and purpose to help “the whole of humanity,” he said, rather than indulging only in self-help. His mission includes establishing a foundation to fund the education of girls and women in Haiti.
His series “The Geography of Bliss,” streaming on Peacock, helped him realize the value of community and human connection. In this series, he visited his four countries: Iceland, Bulgaria, Ghana, and Thailand, interacting with ordinary people and exploring how different cultures find happiness.
“I saw everything that social psychologists were talking about come into being before my eyes,” he says. “The secret of happiness lies in connections. Unhappiness is found in loneliness. We must build connections: with ourselves, with our loved ones, with nature, with God, with our community, with the church. So, at school, in a cul-de-sac.”
“Human beings thrive when we bond. I’ve seen this many times and realized how divided America is and how divided America is. We have isolation technology in our pockets. If you’re feeling frustrated, find a place to connect.”
Wilson said that regardless of which religion one subscribes to, or whether one subscribes at all, there is wisdom and meaning to be found in the world’s religions that can benefit us as individuals and as a society.
“The solutions to the global pandemic we are facing as a species do not lie in government agencies, but in the hearts and souls of every human being,” he quoted from his book. “That’s something we need to keep exploring.”
Photo by student Addi Hinterweger
About the H. Lee Scott Speaker Series
The H. Lee Scott Speaker Series: Survey of American Life was established in 2015 to bring nationally recognized leaders and innovators to Pittsburgh State University. Funding comes from a $2 million gift from Walmart alumnus and former CEO Lee Scott and his wife Linda.
