Many actors struggle with fear and anxiety when they have to audition or perform. And fear can be seen as something negative, however it can sometimes be used to an actor’s advantage.
Here are five ways fear can make you a better actor.
1. Fear can lead to developing goals. Fear can motivate you to develop goals for your career. Developing goals will help you manage your fears because goals help us not to focus on our fears. For instance, let’s say that you have to perform at the end of the week. If you focus on reaching on your upcoming performance, this will distract you from getting stressed and anxious. You will be focused on getting ready for the part instead of stressing out.
2. Fear can make your more organized. It is much easier to accomplish something if you know what you want and if you have a plan. Fear can force you to develop some kind of plan to reach your goals. Planning ahead will help manage the stresses and anxieties of getting want you want. Having a sense of purpose can really help you in countering the stresses and anxieties of the situation.
3. Fear can drive you to stay active and healthy. Fear creates stresses and anxiety for many people. As a result, most people tend to exercise to relieve their stresses. Fear can motivate a person to exercise and to stay in shape, which helps give a person energy when they have to perform. Exercise can also increase a person’s concentration before auditioning for a part.
4. Fear can motivate you. A person who is afraid of something can sometimes get motivated to do something to get rid of their anxiety and stress. Often, our worrying can make the problem even worse. All the worrying in the world will not change anything. All you can do is to do your best each day, hope for the best, and when something does happen, take it in stride. Fear can help make your more determined.
5. Fear helps you focus and stay in the present. Fear can put things into perspective. Instead of focusing on your worries, a person will learn to take things one day at a time. Each day can provide a person with different opportunities to learn new things, including how to deal with problems. Fear can help you focus on what needs to be done right now instead of worrying about next week.
If you have trouble dealing with your fears, then take advantage of the help that is available around you. If possible, talk to a professional who can help you manage your fears and anxieties. They will be able to provide you with additional advice and insights on how to deal with your current problem. Managing your fears and anxieties takes practice. The more you practice, the better you will become.
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Stan Popovich is the author of “A Layman’s Guide to Managing Fear Using Psychology, Christianity, and Non-Resistant Methods,” an easy-to read book that presents a general overview of techniques that are effective in managing persistent fears and anxieties. For additional information visit www.managingfear.com.
The views expressed in this article are solely that of the individual(s) providing them,
and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Backstage or its staff.
