Imagine this: You booked a big job, woo-hoo! Does your mind immediately start spiraling instead of celebrating: What if they made a mistake? What if they hate my choices and fire me? What if I screw up? Am I good enough? Before you quit before you even start, I want to offer you a few tips to embrace uncertainty as an actor (and even use it to your advantage!).
First, let me say I absolutely get it. Been there, done that! Even before you book a job, the audition process can stir up a lot of anxiety. There is a brief moment of relief and excitement when you get that special call from your agent saying you got the part. Then it’s followed by a whole new set of worries, as your mind moves the goal post further down the timeline.
But diving into a new project, or taking any risk for that matter (personal or professional), doesn’t have to stress you out. And you don’t have to have everything perfect before you begin.
Here are 4 tips on how to embrace uncertainty and stay creative.
Maintain A Positive Perspective
I know it sounds trite to encourage you to look on the bright side, but uncertainty comes hand in hand with opportunity. Everything you have ever accomplished and learned began with a leap into the unknown.
Why not adopt a mindset of openness instead of fear? Worry isn’t beneficial to your mental and physical health, especially when you’re stressed about things that could happen but haven’t yet.
If you need extra practice with this, I have some tips on how to assume a beginner’s mindset here. Remember, being a beginner doesn’t always mean going back to square one. You still bring all the skills and amazing qualities you possess to the table, but you also recognize that you don’t know what you don’t know. And that is perfectly okay!
Accept Self-Doubt As Part Of The Process
When you’re facing the unknown, it’s perfectly natural for you to have doubts. Your brain has been engineered over millions of years to protect us, and even in our modern world, it’s still poking at plans to see if there are any holes.
So instead of wasting energy trying to stamp out self-doubt (and beating yourself up in process), use it! The butterflies in your stomach, the excitement of surprise, the curiosity and courage to seek out what could be next… it’s all translatable to your acting.
Actress Taylor Schilling, who played the lead role of Piper Chapman for six years on Netflix’s Orange Is the New Black, spoke candidly with Jessica Lange about discovering the incredible creative power of uncertainty for herself. She said, “Oftentimes there are moments where [her character will] take a razor-sharp turn, and then to trust that you don’t have to know what you’re going to find there. You just have to leap, and then more is revealed.”
Focus on What You Can Control
Ooo, we love to be in control, don’t we? As actors though, we really have to work hard to accept how little we control in the industry and cultivate our instinct and freedom.
That is not to say we actors don’t make a BIG impact, but our job is just one element in putting together a creative work.
So what can you control? YOU, of course! Your talent, preparation, work ethic and attitude are what you uniquely bring to set and completely under your control.
Even A-list actors, like Orlando Bloom, experience this: “As an actor, you can’t think about the end result or the fame; you just have to focus on the day you’re in. You have no control over the finished product, what people will think of it, so all you have is the experience of making it, and you have to stay focused on that.”
By embracing uncertainty, you open the door to a lot of self-discovery. You get to try out new things, learn new skills, connect with tons of different people and experiences, and constantly push the boundaries of your comfort zone. Don’t forget to have fun with it!
Stick To Your Values
Another great way to embrace uncertainty as an actor without feeling overwhelmed is to use your core values as a guide. At the end of the day, even if things don’t go as well as you’d hoped, you’ll know that you were true to yourself and gave it your best effort.
When you’re working toward something important to you, or that inspires and motivates you, you will be less attached to the outcome and enjoy the experience more.
How do you embrace uncertainty as an actor? Which of these tips do you think will be the hardest for you to implement? Let me know how I can support you, by leaving a comment below.
LOVE + serenity!
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