This is the Season of Giving for many of us. And generosity is best felt from a place of abundance and love. So, how do we get there? And how do we decide when to give and when to not give? There are some simple strategies you can use to clarify why and when and how you give.  And whether you give Time, Energy or Money, you can feel great about your choices and save time going forward because you know who and what you support.  You get to support your philanthropic family, which is also a gift to yourself.

These episodes are mentioned in this podcast.

 WorkFlow Lanes for Actors

Your Three Currencies

There is a zone where suddenly, all of your senses are heightened, and you feel more alive - you can tell that something, once possible, is now much more probable.

You are in the space where things matter. Actions matter. The consequences, the stakes, the engagement. We don't live there -- that would be exhausting. But you know it when you're in it. And it is a gift to yourself and your work to know how to get there when you need to. It's where the excitement is. It's where you surprise yourself with what you can do.

Not just for sports fans, the RED Zone is for actors, and for any human who doesn't want to settle for ordinary, when extraordinary beckons. 

There are things, in acting work and off stage life, that we ignore for so so long, even when they bother us... We tolerate them. And when these things, relationships, habits, linger on, tolerated, the combined weight of all of them brings our our energy and desire down.

A broken lamp.  The time suck of setting up for a self tape.  Old resume shots. A tired relationship...

We can do better. Lighten the load you carry - of the unnecessary and unhelpful.  And find more headspace for what you really want.

There is no judgement about how often, or how much you drink. Not here.

But there is a path to drinking less, if you don't like the results in your life. Actors can seek a number of ways to release the tension of the day, or hold onto the high of a performance, or avoid our negative feelings when work (or life) is not going our way.

Be onto yourself. And just decide. Why do you drink the amount you drink? And is it working for your life?

We can overcomplicate things.  We can be dramatic.

Learn the 2 simple steps to drinking less.  And just start there.

Please note: This episode is not for people with chronic or debilitating alcohol dependency. If you suffer from the effects of alcohol, please seek medical attention and get the support you need.

Anxiety is a part of many actor's lives. And the more we get used to it, the more we say 'I have anxiety', the more of a habit it can become. There are simple concepts you can use to reduce anxiety in your acting career and in your life.

Anxiety should not rule your life.  If you think yours is keeping you playing small, or inhibiting your personality, or stifling your growth, it is time to change your thoughts.

The world needs you to be you.

If you struggle with chronic or disabling anxiety, please seek professional help.  For additional resources, please check the sites on the ActorSelfCoach.com Resource page.

Resources for Actors

Actors often resist Planning. It seems like too much structure in a career that is fluid and creative. But consider this: The work is fluid, but the structure Planning provides gives you support when you don't know what's next. This can be a beautiful gift to yourself.

So take an hour and get excited about your Next Great Year!

For those who need help financially, you can start with the link below, formerly known as the Actors Fund.

 Entertainment Community Fund

We can dramatically increase our ability to bounce back, to Recover, from any difficulty. Rejection, reviews, comparisons, disappointments - all part of our lives.  And all come with Thoughts and Feelings we can handle.  

Learn the Model for Thought work that can guide you through any problem work or life hands you.

The episode mentions some examples, outlined below:

EXAMPLE 1

Circumstance (Or Event): I am cast as Jean

Thought: I am miscast

Feeling: Uninspired

Actions: I don't  make strong choices, cycle in worry, complain to other actors, I don't Work on creative ways to feel right in the role.  I don't use my time efficiently. 

Result: I am not believably Jean

EXAMPLE 2

C: I have not received an offer in 7 months after 27 auditions.

T: I will never work this year

F: Dejection

A: Not taking care of my body to be ready, not working as thoroughly on auditions, buffering (watching TV shows other actors get to do) – overeating or drinking, consuming.   

R: I don't book work this year

EXAMPLE 3

C: The critic in the Daily Sun Times wrote “The Actor playing Charlotte seemed unsure and vague”.

T: Everyone will read this and believe it.

F: Embarrassment

A: Rethinking my choices during the play, loudly proclaiming ‘I don’t read reviews’, compulsively rereading the review, and buffering.

R: I pull back from the show.

Before you work on handling money differently and even before you reframe how you want to give and think about giving, spend a few minutes on wanting what you Have.

Abundance doesn't come from your paycheck, or luxurious items. The feeling of Abundance comes from Wanting What You Have. And deciding to keep it.

Be Generous to yourself first. Then the Abundance will flow freely to others.

We are performers who work with a different sense of time than many.

With all the amazing opportunities we have in our careers, our minds will sometimes focus on the gatherings, holidays, celebrations that we do not attend.

What do we miss as Actors? Is it worth it? And how do we handle the emotions that arise from that Thought... I am Missing something. My family doesn't understand. My friends don't get it.

Get clear on why you miss what you miss. And Like Your Reasons.

There is a difference between our image of ourselves as actors and the branding we do to sell our work. Get clear on who you want to be as an actor and step into that today. 

This episode references Ann Hathaway, the wife of William Shakespeare.  Click below for the blog on why we don't know what she thought...

Anne Hathaway's Bed