Mitty "acted out" his internal desires, because he lacked motivational vehicles to implement them.  He lacked the ability to grasp the opportunity in everyday risk..so he acclimated himself to "acting out" in a more comfortable surrounding - "day dreaming."   Although an interesting example of fear and its applied value in impinging motivational vehicles  - this is Not an example of spiritual Protocol.  If you want a "real-life" example of a normal person realizing extra-ordinary aspirations - use Audy Murphy (most decorated solder of WWII).

Your specific question goes to the essence of Protocol --- not the "outward appearance of it."  The true value of applied Protocol will be best recognized and utilized after our death - not during this life.  However, Protocol's essential value to us --- the ones having to scuff away daily in the "office mines" and work for a pittance living, supporting Ethyl and the 2.5 kids --- is in the arrangement of How we conduct our life as well as Why. (the "why" is the etiquete - the How is the Protocol.)   The application of Spiritual Protocol has the side-effect of building Power to control and influence the every-day lifestyle and choices available to those willing to accept the risk of the hardship --- one of the meanings behind the phrase "nothing of Value comes without Cost."

In speaking of spiritual Protocol - I do NOT speak of performers (pretenders), those who act in a way to bring attention to themselves when it is politically correct to do so - or those who "perform" only when the public spotlight is on them...I call these performers Dolts. 

A dolt could (and does) build a quasi-protocol to enhance their Appearance to the Wurld - and as this is built based on the self-decision (and deception) that appearance is more important than Substance - these folks are following their path as they have built it.  Their choice - their free will.  The payment for this "brilliant" behavior is to re-live the Wurld experience (or the quiet room beyond the Garden in the next realm, or the Pre-fab'd scenes they will live in, in the next realm, precluded from co-mingling with others because they have not the strength of will/thought to handle "disbelief") - they will play these scenes over and over -  until they "get" it.

An example of Doltish behavior - someone who could perform differently if his/her motivation were based on something other than laziness or sloth or the "easy instead of simple" syndrome, or the reward of the public spotlight (self-importance and the materialism to be gained from it)

Proper Protocol, in the sense i always speak of,  has little to do with the sake of "outward appearances" --- it has little or Nothing to do about what others' think of your performance.  Protocol is your agreement with the Wurld - about how you are going to Act - in every way, every situation, every day ---- based on your Etiquete.   Etiquete is the Agreement with yourself -- it is what you have decided to hold dear, when there is noone around but the darkness and yourself, and a single candle called Hope ---- Etiquete is based in personal Intent. If you hold the Bible dear - if you hold the Golden Rule dear - if you love and cherish your fellow Man --- Whatever binds the fabric you call "ethics" --- 

It is your Etiquette that fashions the infrastructure called Protocol...and to act "to all outward appearances" as though you Have a proper protocol - is to shame yourself in your own eyes and to spit on the very essence of who you are and What you stand for.    It is to offend the most important spirit in the whole Wurld - you.   You are harming no one but yourself - and that is the silliest action in the wurld; to make the choice of self-infliction because it is easiest to do so...but as we all have free will, and we own our choices --- we are fully capable of doing any silly thing we can think of, in the guise of learning.  It is Not just an action of Mercy that has the Most Value (for example) - it is an act of Mercy performed precisely because it was Not easy, Not popular, but simply, precisely because you Knew it was Correct.  You Weren't looking for kudos or awards or recognition - you did it for the Opportunity (spiritually).  (there is a zen-based explanation I could use - but i won't.   alot of youzz all seem to have enuf trouble understanding the Buddhist-based explanations, so I ain't gonna use 'em)

this life is a series of guesses at learning what we all think is "Correct".  We're free to make as many mistakes in answering this question for ourselves -as we need to.

That's why this place is a playground - there are a zillion silly/zany/crazy/funny things going on in any single moment...truly a great place to enjoy and laugh about.

If a person owns anything all all in this wonderful/dreadful life, he/she owns two things:  Etiquete, and Protocol.   (or your personal Intent, and your choices in life.)  To pretend to a behavior you do not in truth ascribe to, do not honor, and do not implement in thought as well as deed  - is to act as a performer on a stage, where all the performance has no real value except to the critics who write about it   So I ain't gonna criticize ya here (except if yer a Dolt).

Balance is Performance...not the mindless "to all outward appearance" version...but the conscious decision to do so at personal risk.  "As above - so Below" is not a phrase without value.  I've stated before - and will again; those homeless folks you stare at in the alleys on your way to Christmas shopping deserver a present as much as your Mommy or Daddy or Loverboy - but they will be happy to receive anything you can give them ---- they are your Opportunity.  You - are their Risk.                               so go figure it out.

go and chew on that curd, baby  four stars, two swished and a snap for flavor..........Yeowza

your welcomed, Von.  I, for one (but I'm sure there are Many who) respect your candor.  

We are all human.  This means, among other things, that even the best-intentioned and practiced of us will eventually and ocassionally fall, and fail - to the level of our training, on our worst days.  So - admitting to "Mitty-ish Moments" and emotional overflows is nothing to be ashamed of or embarrased by. 

It's to be expected.   It's who we are.  

We are a wonderful broth of emotion and logic and Intent and Free Will - and for those of Us fortunate and blessed enough to begin a conscious directive of Gathering this broth - and drinking it for the Essence...(to Remember who we Really are) --- we get Served, here, now - instead of waiting until the next Realm for the Flavor.

It's what we do - AFTER we fall and fail - on those "BAD" days --- that will Define us and individuals and as a collective.  It's how we pick ourselves off the ground, dust ourselves off, clean the spit off our faces, dig the knives out of our backs and chests - and whatever else we have to do to prepare to move forward......That effort defines us, not our failures.

Balance is Performance.   yeowza

"...wordless thoughts, thougtless words, coming together peacefully, on Christmas morning.  The music in our hearts will set us Free.

Everything's everything."