# data[].attributes.body
My mother showed me this documentary a while back as I began to struggle with different aspects of my life. However, Jim Carrey's outlook on life is really motivating and it conjures up a desire to make the most of what you have. Things are not always going to go your way, but that's okay because you can subsidize that pain by implementing these helpful "distractions." Also, I find it very comforting to listen to a well-known comedy actor reveal how he's coped with the dark times of his life. It goes to show that everyone, even those who take part in the comical side of life, struggles with something.

# data[].attributes.body
Wow, I had no idea Jim Carrey was an amazing artist. We see him in movies, usually as a silly character, when he is so introspective and thoughtful. I think so much of what he says truly resonates. Creativity and passion are so important to self-realization and expression. Having a talent, hobby or job that is a true calling is such a gift.

# data[].attributes.body
I feel that everyone needs something in their life that makes them happy and takes them away from the troubles of reality. It's important to have that one thing that can brighten your day even if only by a little bit. For me, that is my dog, Herbie. When I come home from a rough day at school, my dog always comes running out of the house just happy to see me. He gets so much excitement from me coming home that it makes me feel happy. No matter how bad my day was or how much homework I still have to complete, I always take a few minutes to spend with my dog. It allows my brain to become calm again before I start back at my work.

# data[].attributes.body
In my life most recently I have discovered listening to albums as a way to relax and forget about things. Not listening to hit singles or putting a playlist on shuffle, but listening to entire albums has become really calming and enjoyable. Albums are cohesive and each one has its own mood and message. They portray emotions and experiences beyond what just one song can do. I can easily pick an album that matches my mood and for 40 minutes I can listen and connect with what an artist is saying and feeling. For the most part I listen to older albums because I originally enjoyed older music and the older albums generally have the mood and cohesion I am drawn towards.

# data[].attributes.body
Jim Carrey is an introspective and thoughtful guy. There was an interview recently where he gives a very nihilist metaphysical perspective on the meaning of life. I think everyone uses helpful distractions to control their thoughts and mood. I suspect its especially important for Jim, though, based on my impression of him. I personally like to listen to music. Another super effective distraction is exercise, especially running. Obviously the physical element of running connects directly to a mental issue chemically. I suspect music does a similar thing by stimulating certain parts of the brain.

# data[].attributes.body
The fact that Jim Carrey has a whole different personality beside the one Hollywood shows, reveals a lot about humans in general. It shows that often times, people discover themselves when they feel broken. Jim Carrey found his love for painting when his heart was broken and now it is a part of him. Obviously, pain is not a fun part of life, but how we handle it says a lot about who we are.

# data[].attributes.body
Jim's paintings reflect a psychological need for all to shift their attention away from the craziness of routine and ordinary life to find solace elsewhere, amidst a world where distractions are nonexistent and one's mind is free to wander.  In order to truly perform at best throughout every day life, a hobby such as Jim's is a necessity for the human mind.  So often I fail to create the time and opportunity for my mind to wonder, to truly think through life and all its complexities.  I feel that this is true of well over half of society, as the arts are diminishing in schools; without such activities throughout society, we are lost-- when creativity is exterminated, so, too, is the future of our innovative world.

# data[].attributes.body
I never knew that side of Jim Carrey.  I always looked at him as a  funny guy, but I think the video shows that everyone has struggles in life.  Instead of being upset about his situation, he decided to take his passion of art and put it to use.  I believe that focusing your attention on something other than what makes you upset helps heal your heart and even your mind. Everyone should find something they love and that makes them happy every day, and pursue it. Sometimes people, myself included, get wrapped up in problems in life and there doesn't seem to be any way out. However, as the documentary demonstrated, using something like art as a distraction helps to make you happier.

# data[].attributes.body
I never knew that Jim Carrey was an artist but I can definitely agree with him in the fact that everyone needs or has something that takes their mind off of what is happening in their life and around them. For Jim Carrey, his way is painting but for me, my distraction from life is reading. Reading gives me a way to relate events that are happening in the book to events in my own life. This allows me to feel like I'm not alone in my problems. Also, when I'm not distracted by the negatives in life, I am able to find more positive things and be happier.

# data[].attributes.body
I never knew that Jim Carrey was a painter.  From the movies I have seen him in, it looks like he is always happy but the video showed the other side of him as a person. I think it's cool how he found something that he can use to express his thoughts and feelings. It is important that everyone finds something that can heel them when they go through a rough time. A distraction is always something that helps me when I cannot got over a situation. What I like to do is watch sports., whether it be pro, college, or high school. When I watch games my mind goes off into its own little world and I can just relax.

# data[].attributes.body
The documentary is really a celebration of why he feels he can express himself through art and therefore acknowledge his difference. I was actually really surprised because I knew that Jim Carey was an actor and I enjoyed his movies, but I never knew that he painted, let alone so well. I also think it is interesting that he feels like expressing his love this way and he wants people to approve of it and enjoy it. It really gave me a new perspective of who Jim Carrey is and I now have a deeper appreciation for him as a person.

# data[].attributes.body
I can relate to Jim Carrey in the same way, when I lost my grandmother in my best friend I went through a deep void in my life. My grandmother passed away my freshmen year, and to combat that I made Jesus and going to church such a huge part of my life. This was an extremely "helpful distraction," because it not only healed me but also made me a better person. When my best friend left for college, I went through the same void as I did when my grandmother died. To combat that, I constantly prayed- and I still do- every single night to be more emotionally independent. When you're going through such a rough time, you have no idea how much God is there to help you unless you really call on him. I realize now all the good things that God has done for me, especially when it comes to answering my prayers. I also started writing letters. I never sent them to my best friend, but it was a good way to tell him how I felt without actually telling him.

# data[].attributes.body
When I first found what I was really passionate about, I was going through a difficult time in my life. I felt alone in a lot of ways and I didn't have many friends. I began to watch TV to get my mind off things, but I soon realized it was less of a distraction and more of an escape. When I watch movies or TV shows or even read a book, I don't have to be myself anymore. I can be the person I wish I was or dream to be. In the same way, it also allowed me to be myself too, because I didn't have to worry about what other people would think of me. Many times, stories are not from the perspective of the popular people, but from people who have struggles and are quirky. It is so important for people to have escapes because the world can be a scary place. People get too caught up in the material things in their lives, when all they really need to focus on is the people in their life.

# data[].attributes.body
When I want to rid my life of something that is bothering me or I can't get out of my head, I go to what I know best and that is working. Whether that be working on homework, working out in the gym or on the field, or doing yard work, those are all things that involve my definition of work. Something that is physically engaging and gets my mind moving so that I no longer have to think about something else. All my life I have had to work hard for what I've gained and that is all I really know. Working makes me feel free and like I said that is all I know. I am not looking for recognition or reward for my hard work but the fact that I know something wasn't handed to me and I got it myself and I finished and didn't quit, that is what makes me feel good.

# data[].attributes.body
Jim Carrey is a prime example as to how people can hide what is truly going on in their lives. On the exterior, he is a happy, funny guy, but internally, he has struggles, just like everyone else. In order to cope with those struggles, he uses art. His art allows him to heal, and I think everyone needs an outlet like that. An outlet that lets them heal and grow, an outlet that distracts them and lets them be free...is truly a beautiful thing. When I want to rid my mind of something, I turn to reading. With reading a book, I can immerse myself in another world, and I can forget about my world for a little while. It allows me to calm down and get lost in another realm. I think having these coping outlets is EXTREMELY important, because not only does it allow one to heal, it also encourages people to find themselves. Jim Carrey found parts of himself in painting, and I feel like a lot of people have the potential to truly dig deeper into who they are by owning a coping mechanism.

# data[].attributes.body
The documentary finds Jim Carrey hard at work in his art studio, and it features some truly jaw-dropping paintings made by the actor. Carrey picked up art six years ago as a way to “heal a broken heart,” and it’s produced some of his best work ever. With that being said, what activities in your life have you found to be helpful when wanting to rid your mind of something? Also, why do you think it is important to have these "helpful distractions?

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Jim Carrey - I Needed Color - Behind Closed Doors He's An Amazing Artist

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Jim Carrey describes what was missing from his life. Color