Heres' the thing - this is not something new. In fact, I've heard "enjoy the moment", "be happy where you are", and "have fun in the journey" ton's of times. I always knew- "well yes, that is how you should be, it makes sense" but until I really BELIEVED it, it made only temporary difference. Once I did actually believe it - it was like a light went on. One of those "oh, shit" moments.
As actors, we all know the business is "hard", it's "really tough to break in," blah blah.
For instance here's a little story to help explain my point: awhile ago I got a audition notice for a pilot with a casting director I've always wanted to go in for. Believe it or not my initial reaction getting the audition was added stress. Immediately my mind went crazy - "oh I have to make sure I do an awesome job, oh I have to schedule a time to work with someone on this material, oh I have to rearrange my day for this audition, I NEED to do good" -whatever "good" means. So going there I was already in a bad head space. Long story short - went in and whether the audition was "good" or not I had a horrible time. The flip side of this, which I've done also, is trying to not care about it, even though you do. That doesn't work either.
I went out to eat with a friend of mine that weekend and during talking to him ultimately had a realization that felt like a lightbulb moment for some reason...
I can provide a good life for myself, outside of acting, and I do. My previous blog talks about this. Getting yourself set up for the future. It's a 10 year business. It takes 10 years to get a career going. Sometimes people get lucky and things happen before then, but usually they are ready, like having went to a performing arts college and been really working at it for a few good years. So set yourself up to have earn a good living outside of acting and try to avoid being the 40 year old bartender/waitress. That's kinda cute at 20. There's plenty of ways of doing this. I actually just heard a good podcast with Arnold Schwartzenegger interviewed by Tim Ferris (author of the 4-hour work week) that proved my point. Here's the link: http://fourhourworkweek.com/2015/02/02/arnold-schwarzenegger/ - I think in it he explains how he was a millionaire or close to before ever getting the acting career going. He was smart. Through real estate and other endeavors.
Who is your daddy.. and what does he do..?
So back to my point-
If I'm set up for the future, doing something where I enjoy and feel self-respect doing and that provides me the necessities (food, clothing, shelter) and actually a lot more, then why would I do anything I didn't fully enjoy? If I didn't fully enjoy acting, why do it? If you are another actor reading this, you know that you just have to, I know. You can act in class if you need to. But where does the stress and lack of fun, and idea that we have to suffer as artists come in? Truthfully probably a bit of it is ego. It's something we do to ourselves about the career. In reality, at least for me, if I look back I've already come further than I really thought I would. In fact, anyone who's had any professional jobs really acting have probably come further than 90% of the people who say they want to be an actor.
In most cases whether you know it or not. When you actually are enjoying the moment with something you are infinitely better at doing it because you are more relaxed, and happy, which frees up your creativity.
What happened next was pretty phenomenal. I had a few instances where I had to perform. I think it was a couple auditions and scene work in class and I decided to do one thing - HAVE FUN. Regardless of the outcome who cared. I didn't give two F's if anyone liked what I did. I was going to be selfish and perform for myself. In return I had a blast. The ironic this about this is whether I booked the job or not was irrelevant. However, what happened was that I seemed to get GREAT feedback and I didn't ask or wasn't looking for any of it. I was doing it for me and that was it. But as artists, doing it for yourself, just like painting or playing music, actually invites the audience in to go on a journey with you. At the end of the day, who cares you don't need it anyway. So try to enjoy it, and you may get surprised...