As we remain tentatively hopeful for 2021, it seems the entertainment industry will continue to regain it’s strength, albeit slowly. With more opportunities emerging, it’s easy to focus on pushing forward in your acting career while being unaware of the potential emotional pitfalls that may be lurking along the way. In my work, I’m able to see all the types of negative patterns artists and others have. Here are five specific patterns I recommend you watch out for in the new year and what you should do about them.
1. Comparing yourself to others.
This is an easy habit to get stuck in whether the jobs are plentiful or scarce. However, it leads to less confidence, motivation, and joy for your work overall. While you want to gather as much information about the market as possible, it’s important to check yourself for times it’s becoming harmful. Asking your colleagues about how many auditions they go on, how many gigs they book, and how they approach the process is useful. Beating yourself up because you seem to be moving at a different rate than some is not. In these times, remember that you’re on your own journey and it’s OK for it to look different than it does for some.
2. Setting unrealistic expectations.
While I encourage my clients to aim big in their careers, it doesn’t mean you can’t ground your expectations in reality. The simplest way to do that is by having the big goal, but adjusting your expectations in some other way such as the length of time it could take to reach that goal. Often I encourage clients to break their goals down into smaller ones, so they can recognize the progress they’re making while gaining a better understanding of what that goal actually requires.
The Actor’s Comprehensive Guide to Self-Care 3. Only valuing yourself outside of your work.
On social media, people frequently discuss self-care, boundaries, and valuing yourself. At work, however, it’s easier said than done. Sometimes being vocal about these things leads to reputations of being difficult or even a diva. Sometimes it’s a difficult choice between putting your needs first and getting the job done. Keeping that in mind, I encourage you to remember your needs when picking projects this year. Sometimes it’s easier to say no to the job itself than it is to try to express your needs in an unwelcome environment. I understand that sometimes working late hours, not getting enough breaks, or pushing through fatigue is part of the work. However, I also hope you look for those moments where you can put yourself first and push yourself as an artist.
4. Not making conscious career choices.
We don’t know how fast the entertainment industry will bounce back. I know bills need to be paid and résumés need to be filled. We can still be strategic though. We can weigh our options, come up with back up plans, and come up with back up plans for our back up plans. By being strategic, you can make decisions that better fit your needs. Imagine you book something, but it requires long hours and has too low pay. While it’s tempting to scream “yes!” to anything, are you really going to feel better in a situation where you have no time for a supplementary job and not enough income for bills? That doesn’t mean you should definitely say no, but it certainly means you should contemplate how you will make that opportunity work if you’re going to say yes.
5. Forgetting why you make art.
So often clients will tell me about a gig they have that is so devoid of joy, it sounds painful. Work always becomes work in some ways, but being miserable is a whole other level! One of the largest benefits to being an artist is getting to do something that you love. Yes, it comes with a difficult life, but you’re still getting to follow your passion! When you get to the point where you feel so negative that you’re not even enjoying the work, that’s the moment to catch yourself. Sometimes it means it’s the wrong gig, but many times it’s as simple as reminding yourself to savor the parts of the work you love.
Falling into any of these mindsets is natural. It’s when it becomes a pattern though, that there is cause for concern. By catching yourself in these moments, you’re able to stop them from having more impact on your career. Overall, my recommendations for how to address each of these mindsets is slightly different, but it comes down to one overall theme: being kinder to yourself. If you take the time to treat yourself with care, you’ll be more grounded in your work, more focused in your choices, and ultimately more fulfilled overall.
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