The Labyrinth Of Limiting Beliefs 

(Movie spoiler below, be forewarned!)

I went through a “Henson phase” last week.

Not the boy band HANSON who sang “MMMBop,” the 1997 two-time Grammy nominated earworm… I mean, hit single.

I’m referring to the talented puppeteer, animator and creative genius who died 34 years ago. Without JIM HENSON, we would have no Sesame Street, Fraggle Rock, The Muppets, Yoda and, in turn, “Baby Yoda” (Grogu). 

I own a book showcasing Jim Henson’s ideations and projects between the late 1950s and the 1980s. This book, and the recent announcement of a documentary on his life to be released later this year, motivated me to watch a few of his creations last week.  

I recommend Henson’s lesser-known TV series “The Storyteller” for those who enjoy uncommon fairy tales. I also watched the feature-length fantasy movie “The Dark Crystal” twice last week (the first time I fell asleep so, technically, I only watched it one and a half times). The story, sets and voice actors are wonderful. Do not be turned off from this movie based on an entire cast of cringy-looking puppets or that I fell asleep the first time watching it (since I can’t stay up late anymore). 

I was most captivated by Henson’s 1986 fantasy film “Labyrinth.” It stars Jennifer Connely as the teenager Sarah, David Bowie as Jareth the Goblin King, and other puppet characters. Movie critics hated the movie upon its first release. It is now considered a cult classic.

After a third attempt to watch the movie in its entirety (note to self - do not watch movies past midnight when you are not sleeping through the night), I noticed how “Labyrinth” was carefully crafted to showcase more than one storyline and takeaway. I will not address the Goblin King’s codpiece, Sarah’s self-entitlement, the age difference between the two main characters, or other sexualized elements of the storyline (at least, not today). There is a deeper story within Labyrinth that I missed as a child.  

Henson and his team beautifully displayed the effects of limiting and false beliefs along a creative’s journey. Sarah believed she was restricted from expressing her imagination freely due to a conflicting priority forced upon her (sitting her baby brother). She concluded her life was ruined because she couldn’t create around this creative block. She declared the baby needed to go. The Goblet King, representing fear, consumed them both by stealing the baby and forcing Sarah to find them within an imposed timeframe before her brother transformed into a goblin.  

Sarah raced around a puzzling path (labyrinth) to reach her brother whom she didn’t mean to give away to goblins (even though she literally said she wanted the goblins to take her brother away… BE MINDFUL OF YOUR WORDS, PEOPLE!!!). Along the journey, she became lost, disoriented, and frustrated. She made a few friends along the way, yet was let down by a few individuals she trusted and assumed would help her. Many characters, including Jareth, sabotaged and discouraged her progress along the journey to the castle. 

Sarah’s last words to Jareth, “You have no power over me,” were a declaration of control over her fear. As soon as she uttered the words, she rescued her brother and escaped the labyrinth. Sarah also admitted her need for other characters she met along her journey to remain in her life. The references to these characters in her room at the beginning of the movie showcased the imagination she feared to lose yet will always be within her. She understood her make-believe world didn't have to go away, as she jumped into her bed with her friends from the labyrinth.

I don’t want to diss a creative dead guy, especially one I admire and would love to refer to as a distant mentor. However, I want to point out how a LABYRINTH is commonly mistaken for a MAZE. A true labyrinth has a single continuous path leading to the centre. Ironically, labyrinths were once used as a walking meditation for self-reflection, reducing stress, and enhancing creativity. So long as one keeps going forward, one will always reach their destination in a labyrinth. Mazes have more than one path, are designed to create confusion, and can lead to multiple dead ends (similar to the movie). But who’s going to watch a movie simply called “MAZE”?

Even a straight path where you cannot see where it ends may enhance anxiety and self-doubt. What happens when your thoughts go in circles (even when you’re not)? You may start to feel helpless and lonely. This is when the “goblin thoughts” or limiting beliefs repeat in the mind: 

• You are not worthy. 

• You’re not good enough. 

• Nobody is going to help you. 

• You’re going the wrong way. 

• You are too (fill in the blank) to do this.

• You may as well give up. 

• You are stuck here forever.

Sometimes I'm in a labyrinth of my own creation and unsure how to escape. I hit a wall. I am pointed in different directions. I doubt my decision-making. I become distracted. Sometimes I am discouraged to continue the puzzling path altogether. On certain days, when the limiting beliefs try to settle in my mind, I work hard to remind myself these beliefs are NOT REAL. Sharing my experiences with others is one way I identify and work through fears before they settle.

I was curious and confused when I first saw “Labyrinth” as a child. With limiting beliefs in overdrive, I couldn’t envision how the movie was created for somebody like me. Watching it as an adult made me realize this movie is for everyone, including those pursuing a creative vision. This movie, and Henson himself, shared an important message: we each have unique labyrinths to work through and grow from. However, it is not the labyrinth that has the power over us. It's ourselves.

Everyone's labyrinth is different as each creative journey is unique. When we embrace our labyrinth, we can continue taking the non-linear path and follow the dreams we wish to create. Regardless of how long it takes to determine our blocks, we can continue to work on diminishing limited beliefs.

I wish to believe there is more than one story to the movie Labyrinth beyond the path to womanhood and losing one’s innocence. It is also about:

1. Creative empowerment over fear; and

2. Believing the imagination residing inside us never goes away.

My “Henson phase” is no longer a phase. I want to rewatch Fraggle Rock and read up on future projects from the Jim Henson Company. And I plan to watch Labyrinth again, this time with my daughter…in the daytime.

I’ll let my mentor close us out, fellow creatives:

See you in two weeks!

Nadine