Mindset Hack for Actors: Start Before You’re Ready
This is a guest post by Alex Collins
Do you agonize over narrowing down those 315 headshots to your final choices? Not sure which clip to add and how to edit it? Stressed over footage you haven't gotten back yet and what to do about it?
Are you an over thinker to the point of inaction? Have you ever heard the term analysis paralysis?
It happens. But, as an actor, there are going to be thousands of decisions per year that require your decision making abilities. So, give yourself permission to be a decision-making ninja instead of riding the fence...because that hurts.
What do I mean?
In every facet of life there are low importance items and high importance items that you have to expend mental energy on, but each varies in its importance to your life. For example, eating is of high importance to humans, but choosing what to eat for lunch on a daily basis is a low importance item.
How does that apply to your life as an actor?
In the big scheme of things, choosing which of three almost identical headshots should be the final choice is a low importance item.
Why? Because they're almost identical and presumably already three great choices. You're the one agonizing over the single hair slightly out of place, or your lip being slightly more or less pursed in one image versus another.
Conversely, narrowing down which of two agencies you're going to sign with could be a high importance item.
Why? This is a relationship that could last years, or even decades. This relationship dictates how strongly and effectively you'll be submitted and pitched to casting directors. The longer you wait, the longer it'll be before you're getting auditions and potentially booking work.
That said, if you've already done your due diligence and research and are excited about all agencies you've submitted to, you should already know which one you'd like to work with more and thus that lowers the importance of the decision, and thus should lower your stress.
What are some decisions that actors often spend too much time agonizing over that really shouldn't cause too much stress?
Reformatting your resume.
Which of your agent's approved 4 new shots you should add to your profile.
Relabeling clips for Actors Access.
Which audition take to submit for an audition.
Which class to take next.
Liberate yourself and give yourself permission to quickly and effectively make those low importance decisions so you have more time to focus on those high importance decisions. It's actually pretty fun and frees up mental and emotional bandwidth to dedicate on those more important decisions.
As a way of helping you manage the inevitable stress of this industry, click HERE to enjoy a little mindset mastery and mental reset to help you focus on the next task at hand.
Each of these seemingly small skills add up in a BIG way when it comes to running your acting career like a boss!
