It’s a tough gig being an actor! Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.
We see so many actors come in to our studio full of hope, nervous energy and a need to succeed.
But what do they all have in common?
They all feel the same.
They all feel the same sense of rejection when they don’t get the ‘perfect’ role. They all feel the same highs and lows in the unknown world of the actor; and they all at some time question their worth and talent.
There are a number of things that can greatly help you to not only find the joy, but have true happiness in life.
Below are a few that I believe can help considerably.
1. Get a life – get a day job. The most successful actors on the planet all have a day job – Meryl Streep, Angelina Jolie. Be it child advocacy, or working in a hamburger joint. Just get out there and get experiences. Travel. Become a nanny. The more life experience you have the more rounded as a person and an artist you are.
2. Work on your craft – Take action now! Be it classes, workshops, scene studies, self tapes. Never stop working and practicing that actor muscle.
3. Never compare. Comparing yourself to another artist is suicide. You are your own wonderful individual and unique self.
4. Be gentle on yourself. No matter how much you think you might have screwed up – forgive! We all make mistakes. Learn from the mistake and move on. Life is too short to dwell on the past. Be kind and generous to yourself as you are to others.
5. Celebrate your victories. All those small victories you have had – write them down. No matter how small or meaningless they may seem. The call back , the small commercial you did last month, swimming a kilometer. Whatever it is, list it and be mindful of all those small victories in your life. This will very soon change your perspective on life.
6. Meditate – It’s amazing how much mindfulness can change you and change your outcome. If you want real change in your life – try meditation. “When you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change.” –Dr. Wayne Dyer
7. Visualize success. Albert Einstein said, “Imagination is everything. It is the preview of life’s coming attractions.” Athletes who visualize their results have a much higher rate of success than others who do not. You too can have the
same outcome.
8. Go outside your comfort zone – try stand up comedy, writing a one woman show, direct a play, create a web series etc. But take action and be accountable by starting now and finding a like minded friend that shares your goals
9. Find a passion. Write down all the things you love doing – plant a garden, sing in a choir, write a short story. Whatever it is that brings you joy – go out and do it!
10. Give back. Our world is becoming more and more insular as we think more of ourselves, and our material wealth and status. Think about a charity that can use your help and volunteer. Or help other actors in their auditions. Not for monetary gain but for the mere sake of helping others. Help primary school students learn to read.
Never forget how lucky we are in finding a career and something we love that allows us to use all our life experiences, to make us a better actor and by definition a better human.
We are in a constant form of growth. If your goal is growth through life, love and acting, then you will not only be truly happy but your success is guaranteed.
Life should be about creating happiness so that we can live a life that is kind and inspiring to others.
