E04: The Wizard of Oz: Reality versus Illusion

My name is Alvat Garewal.

Today, I want to talk about The Wizard of Oz and how reality and illusion affect us. Sometimes, what we see—or what we think we see—can shape our entire perception of a person, a situation, or even ourselves. We build things up in our minds, making them seem larger, more powerful, or more intimidating than they really are. But when we step closer, when we dare to look beyond the illusion, the truth is often very different.

So let’s explore how perception shapes our world, how illusions can both deceive and protect, and what happens when we finally see things as they really are.

Transcript

The Wizard of Oz: Reality versus Illusion Hello and welcome. My name is Alvat Garewal. Today’s topic of conversation is The Wizard of Oz. 

Now, I know what you’re thinking—am I going to break down the entire plot of the movie? No, not exactly. But there is something about that story that fascinates me, something that relates to our everyday lives in ways we don’t always notice. 

It’s the idea of how we see things as far bigger, more powerful, and sometimes more intimidating than they actually are. We do this with people, with situations, with challenges. But when we pull back the curtain, we often realize that the things we feared or revered were never as daunting as we imagined. In fact, they might even be vulnerable themselves. 

The Wizard’s Illusion 

Think about The Wizard of Oz for a moment. Dorothy and her friends embark on this great journey, facing all sorts of challenges, just to stand before the mighty Wizard of Oz. To them, he is this all-powerful being who can grant them what they need—courage, wisdom, heart, and a way home. He seems larger than life, his voice booming, his presence commanding. 

But when they finally reach him and pull back the curtain, what do they find? Not some powerful sorcerer, not an all-knowing master of the universe. Just a man. An ordinary man, using smoke and mirrors, amplifying his voice, creating an illusion of greatness. And what’s more, he’s just as flawed and vulnerable as everyone else. He isn’t a bad man, but he isn’t what they expected either. 

And that, to me, is an interesting reflection of real life.There is a saying in India “Khodiya pahad to nikala chuha” translated it means “we dug up a mountain only to find a mouse”. 

Fear of the Unknown vs. Reality 

How often do we do this? How often do we build things up in our minds as bigger, scarier, or more difficult than they really are? 

Take public speaking, for example. I once knew someone who was terrified of standing in front of an audience. To them, the people in the crowd were like a jury, ready to judge every word, every mistake. They avoided it at all costs. But one day, they had no choice—they had to speak. And guess what? The audience wasn’t analyzing every little thing. They weren’t looking for mistakes. They were just listening, just people, just there. The fear had been an illusion, just like the Wizard’s smoke and mirrors. 

The same thing happens when we meet someone famous, someone we admire. We expect them to be these larger-than-life figures, almost untouchable. But then we talk to them, and they’re just... people. They have their own fears, their own insecurities. They are not all-powerful. 

I remember hearing a story about a journalist who interviewed some of the world’s most powerful leaders—presidents, CEOs, celebrities. After years of these interviews, the journalist said, "They all ask the same thing when the cameras turn off: ‘Was that okay? Did I do alright?’" Even the people we see as confident and untouchable wonder if they’ve said the right thing. They worry, just like us. 

I remember that when I was doing a programme for BBC Radio Oxford, I had to interview Zakhir Hussain,who was this world famous Tabla player. To me he was this figure that I admired and was in awe of. When I actually got to meet him he made me feel that he was my friend. He was very down to earth,not what I expected. 

When Big Challenges Seem Impossible 

It’s not just people—we do this with situations, too. 

A new job opportunity. A big task at work. A difficult conversation. How often do we hesitate, build up the difficulty in our minds, and assume it’s too much to handle? 

I knew someone who had to switch careers unexpectedly. At first, it seemed overwhelming. They thought, I don’t know anything about this field. I don’t have the skills. How will I ever succeed? But when they actually stepped into the role, they realized something—everyone else was learning too. Everyone had their own fears, their own struggles. It wasn’t as intimidating as it had seemed. 

And then, of course, there are the things we avoid for years because we assume they are too complicated. Have you ever put off something, maybe fixing something around the house, learning a new skill, or having a tough conversation—only to finally do it and realize it wasn’t nearly as hard as you thought? That’s the illusion at work again. 

The Power of Perception 

This all comes down to perception. 

We see what we expect to see. If we expect something to be intimidating, it will be. If we expect someone to be untouchable, we will hesitate. But the moment we shift our mindset, the moment we question that illusion, we start to see things for what they truly are. 

And sometimes, just like in The Wizard of Oz, the things we feared the most turn out to be the least frightening. 

The Lesson: Pull Back the Curtain 

So, here’s what I want you to think about. 

What in your life have you built up in your mind as bigger than it really is?
 What have you avoided because of reputation, fear, or the illusion of difficulty?
 Is there a Wizard in your life—something or someone you see as all-powerful, but might just be another person behind a curtain? 

Next time you feel intimidated by a person, a task, or a challenge, take a step forward. Pull back the curtain. See it for what it really is. You might just find that it was never as daunting as you thought. 

Bullet Points & Key Talking Points: 

• ●  The Illusion of Power & Reputation 
  • ○  Things often appear more powerful or intimidating than they really are. 
  • ○  The Wizard of Oz as a metaphor—the Wizard is feared and respected, but 
  • behind the curtain, he is just an ordinary man. 
• ●  Fear of the Unknown vs. Reality 
  • ○  Public speaking: The fear of being judged vs. the reality of people just listening. 
  • ○  Meeting famous or powerful people: The perception of their status vs. their human side. 
• ●  Big Challenges That Seem Impossible 
  • ○  New job roles: The fear of not being good enough vs. the reality that everyone 
  • is still learning. 
  • ○  Avoiding difficult tasks: Putting something off for years, only to realize it 
  • wasn’t hard at all. 
• ●  The Power of Perception 
  • ○  What we expect to see influences how we feel. 
  • ○  Intimidation is often a product of our own minds. 
• ●  The Lesson: Pull Back the Curtain 
  • ○  Step forward and see things for what they really are. 
  • ○  Don’t let fear or reputation dictate your response. 
  • ○  The reality is often far less daunting than the illusion. 

Let me know your thoughts. Have you ever been surprised by how different something was from what you expected? 

Take care, and as always, You are in my thoughts.