Being an ACTOR may be Dysfunctional

The relationship of a person to their job is one that can be confusing.  For example, a persom by define herself by what she does, her job is who she is.  If an actor does that, she risks her soul being trampled into the dust of rejection continually, because actors are continually looking for the next job.  The stats used to be 100 auditions to get 1 job.  Frustratingly, getting the next job can often be more of a job than doing the acting work.

So what do you do when your line of work is one that can be abusive, continually abandon you, and rejection is normal/ever present?  Well, the first thing a healthy person has to do is separate who they are from what they do.  If you define your success as a person with your list of credits, you're doomed.  You're doomed even if you have the career of Tyne Daly.

Tyne Daly

The doom centers around the fact that all careers ebb and flow.  All relationships have cycles.  There are going to be up times and there are going to be down times.  In the midst of those cycles life happens.   We will have losses: our parents pass, we divorce, we move, we have second careers that pay the bills, etc.  We will have gains:  we fall in love, we have children, we marry, we find other talents that we enjoy pursuing, we celebrate accomplishments with friends, etc.  Those happenings make us better people and clearer artists.

So when you're sitting at home alone and looking in the mirror wondering if you're good enough to keep going in your acting career, know that your ability to get a job does not define or limit your skills within the profession.  Feed your need with an acting class (with a teacher you admire and who supports you in your skills).  Find your love of doing with artists.  WHEN the jobs do come along, appreciate them and find your joy in them.  Celebrate them!  And always, always come back to your love of doing the craft of acting.  If you don't, take a break from acting.

An abusive relationship should never last.  Make sure you create this relationship on YOUR TERMS.

Copyright 2013 Heather Corwin