By the time you’ve been turned down for the 100th time in 100 auditions, it is completely understandable and acceptable to be bitter, frustrated, angry, to swear never to audition again … or by the time you’ve endured the 200th snide or caustic remark from a passive-aggressive cast member or producer or director, it’s enough to make you swear that this will be your last show.
I get it … life’s not easy. Life’s not fair. It is very easy to get into the mindset of “Why do terrible things keep happening to me? Why can’t I get just one break?”
And if that’s not enough to handle, all of us know that one person in our life who complains about everything. We probably know more than one person. Without fail, they find reasons why things won’t work out. Ever. And it is very easy to commiserate, to feed the discontent, to complain, to justify why you are absolutely right to complain. And then to do it all over again the next day.
Firstly, it is completely natural to feel this way. Everyone does.
But not everyone stays that way.
I guess my question is - does complaining move you closer to achieving your goals?
If it doesn’t, then yes - absolutely still give yourself the space to vent, to yell, to scream, to be angry … give yourself space because bottling it up won’t help either. But then decide when you’ve had enough of it. You decide.
Personally, I know when I’ve had enough of being a whiney little shit. I choose to re-frame my circumstances into a learning opportunity. I choose to be grateful for what I have. Staying grateful is just as important as keeping your performing instrument finely tuned. It’s not about sweeping issues under the carpet or ignoring problems. It’s about moving fowards. It’s about preparing for the next opportunity. I’m not saying it’s easy. It’s not. At all.
But the alternative is becoming a bitter human being who is justified in being angry - and that’s not who I ever want to be.
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My name is Eu Jin. I embarked on a career as a professional actor after 20 years in the corporate world. I am a big supporter of personal growth and I dedicate time and energy in performing arts education, specifically in the arena of practical approaches to inner health because I believe that this lays the groundwork for a sustainable career as an artiste.
If you would like to engage in a conversation about a healthy inner life practice, please leave me a message on the "Contact" page of my website and a way to contact you. Thank you very much!