In these past two weeks, I saw some of the best performances I have seen all semester. Not that every performance was perfect, not that there isn't always room for constructive critique, self-reflection, and improvement -- that is a constant, especially in a subject like Acting. However, this week I saw people stretch, try something different, take on a challenge, overcome a fear, take direction and apply it successfully, and master an element of performance.
When I read your self-reflections, most of you were too hard on yourselves. You did not give yourself enough credit for what you accomplished and instead focused on what you saw as flaws or shortcomings.Now, self-reflection and even self-criticism is essential to setting personal goals for improvement. However, if you are too harsh on yourselves, that functions as a paralysis tool -- and actually limits your ability to progress.
Here is an excerpt from an article talking about how to tame the inner critic (not get rid of it entirely, but how to keep it in perspective):
http://www.londonactorshub.com/2014/05/05/self-doubt-self-sabotage-fear-silence-inner-critic/
One of the most important issues any actor needs to address first and foremost is fear, or THE FEAR. It strikes at different times but it is the quiet and oh-so-clear voice that crushes your confidence, steals away your self-esteem and leaves you feeling bereft of any ability to do, well, anything.
The fear is the inner critic. It is a part of every mind. Not just yours. These thoughts occur to everyone in various forms, at different levels. It is part of our human experience. However, working in a creative field that demands we be observant, agreeable and malleable as performers, all well as emotionally honest creatures – our inner critic can take over. This stops being helpful when instead of observing a conversation and scanning to see how it’s going, you stop engaging completely, feeling as though there’s nothing to offer.
The inner critic is linked to our self-worth, our confidence, and our-self-esteem. As such it’s incredibly important to ensure that we have a healthy relationship with it; both to maintain our physical and emotional well-being, and also to make sure that we’re ready and capable to work as the artists we strive to be.
WAYS TO ACKNOWLEDGE, BUT NOT ACT ON, THE FEAR
1. BE PREPARED
Most fear comes out of the unknown, the unexperienced; things we can’t control. You have no control over whether anyone will like you or like your work. This is a universal fact. However, you can control what you take into that room. You can prepare the sides, monologue, songs, dance. Know what you can prepare backwards. Make clear, well-thought out, well informed choices about the work. Be warm. Be physically and vocally ready to work.
2. WHEN THE INNER CRITIC RANTS – WRITE IT DOWN
Get a pen and some paper. Oh yes. Old school. Write it down. The thought of affirmations still freak me out, but I have to force myself to do this; for every negative thing, write three positives e.g.
Negative
- I completely messed up that audition
Did you really? What did they say? What did they look like? How long did it last? Chances are it was fine. It may not have been perfect, you may not have got the part this time, but you still worked, you performed honestly and openly for them, if only for a moment.
Positive
- I met a room full of talented industry professionals
- I’ll write to them saying how lovely it was to meet them, to keep me in mind for more suitable projects in the future
- I’ll go see the show, be open to it and write to them again after that
One complete positive, and two positive active steps to take in the future.
3. HOLD YOURSELF ACCOUNTABLE
If you know you’re slacking, allowing things to slide, check in with yourself and assess why. If you’re not working hard enough, getting seen enough or writing to people enough; assess and accept why you’re behaving in this way. Keep an eye out for these self-sabotaging behaviors, keep a diary of them, try to assess a pattern and plan to combat them.
4. SEE GOOD PEOPLE AND DO GOOD THINGS
Simple to read, hard to do. Actors get painted, or rather tarred and feathered, with the self-obsessed brush, and as such it can be really hard to talk to people when these fears strike. You can do as much as possible to stay positive yourself but this is what friends and family are for. Other actor friends will no doubt regularly go through similar stages. Collectively expressing them and understanding that these feelings are normal can help enormously.
Thoughts don’t automatically lead to actions, in both positive and negative thought patterns. Be careful, pause before a thought becomes action and ask is this a choice you want to make? It is in your control how you choose to behave, the decisions you choose to make and actions you wish to act on.
Believe these thoughts are universal. They are part of us as people and, as artists, we choose to explore that territory; live in, embrace, and not ignore these less than desirable emotions. It is a commendable, worthwhile and brave action to accept all parts of ourselves, a little bit more each time.
