For me, 'Rent' was all about coming out of myself, finding out

When Idina Menzel said, “For me, ‘Rent’ was all about coming out of myself, finding out who I was, learning the power I could have as a performer,” she revealed a truth that extends far beyond the stage—a truth about the sacred journey of self-discovery, transformation, and the awakening of one’s inner power. Her words speak of the artist’s path, yet their wisdom belongs to all who seek to find their voice in a world that often asks us to remain silent. To “come out of oneself” is to be reborn, to peel away fear and doubt until what remains is the essence of the soul, radiant and unbound.

Menzel’s rise to prominence through Rent, a revolutionary musical born in the 1990s, was more than an artistic triumph—it was a spiritual unfolding. The show itself, filled with themes of love, loss, and identity, became a mirror for her own becoming. Within its music and story, she did not merely act; she found herself. To “find out who I was,” she says, and in those words lies the timeless struggle of humanity: to move from imitation to authenticity, from uncertainty to self-realization. Every great creator, every thinker, every hero of history has walked this same path—the crossing from shadow into light, where one’s true power first reveals itself.

The ancients would have understood her revelation well. They believed that power was not bestowed by birth or granted by others—it was awakened within, through courage and experience. When the philosopher Socrates urged, “Know thyself,” he was not teaching philosophy alone; he was teaching liberation. Idina Menzel’s Rent was her temple of awakening, her arena of testing. Like the apprentices of old, she learned by doing—through vulnerability, through failure, through risk. In embracing her craft, she discovered that the act of expression itself was transformative. It was not the applause that gave her power, but the act of standing before others and daring to be fully seen.

In every age, there are those whose lives reflect this same awakening. Consider Eleanor Roosevelt, who began her public life as a quiet and uncertain woman, overshadowed by her husband’s greatness. Yet through years of service, speech, and action, she too “came out of herself,” discovering a voice that would echo across nations. Like Menzel, she learned that strength is not an inheritance—it is a muscle shaped by courage and self-belief. Her journey, like Idina’s, reminds us that every human being possesses a hidden reservoir of potential, waiting for the moment of awakening.

To “learn the power I could have as a performer” is not merely about artistic skill; it is a declaration of spiritual realization. Power, as Menzel came to understand, is not domination—it is the ability to move others, to channel truth so deeply that it stirs the hearts of all who witness it. The great actors, musicians, and poets of the world are not powerful because they perform, but because they embody authenticity. In that moment of fearless self-expression, they become mirrors for others—reminding every soul that it, too, can shine. Thus, her words are not confined to the theater—they are an anthem for anyone who dares to live truthfully and speak from the heart.

Her quote also teaches the sanctity of vulnerability. To come out of oneself is to step beyond the armor of appearance—to stand exposed before the judgment of others and yet remain unshaken. The ancient warriors of Japan called this bushido, the way of the warrior: to act with complete presence, knowing that death—or failure—may follow, but holding firm to purpose nonetheless. For the artist, that “death” is the fear of rejection. For the dreamer, it is the fear of insignificance. But as Menzel shows us, when one moves beyond fear, what emerges is a radiant and unbreakable strength—the power of authenticity.

So let this teaching be passed to all who seek meaning in their craft, in their work, or in their lives: you are your own instrument of transformation. Do not wait for permission to grow. Do not hide behind doubt or comparison. Step into the light of your calling—whether it be art, compassion, or courage—and let it reveal who you truly are. Every moment of honesty, every act of daring, every expression of your truth brings you closer to the fullness of your being. For as Idina Menzel discovered, the journey of learning is not only about the craft—it is about becoming oneself. And when you finally find that voice within you, do not whisper—sing.