I went on an audition recently and saw a familiar face.
It was an actor I’ve seen on and off at auditions over the years. We are a similar type, close in age. We recognized each other from the familiarity of showing up at auditions. We didn’t know each other’s names, just our faces. We exchanged smiles and he later came up to me, introduced himself and said, “Looks like you’re still living the dream.” I looked back and said, “Yes, you too it seems.” We chatted a bit and parted. He had a great energy about him.
That moment stayed with me for some time. Am I living the dream? Did I really feel that way or was that a quick answer to avoid the thought? I pondered on this for some time. If I get this job, sure, I thought. If I don’t, I’m not so sure. It got me on a brain rant. Am I in touch with living the dream? What a great feeling if I was. I contemplated on this for days, I kept asking myself, “Am I living the dream?” On the outside for anyone observing me, yes, of course, the logistics of my life say yes. I go through the motions, do my work, but do I really feel it inside? Do I really believe it? Am I positive, grateful, and in the flow of love and gratitude in my work? Do I feel I make a difference and am I positive about making a difference? As my brain went on and on I remembered a quote:
“Is your reality based on your beliefs, or are your beliefs based on your reality?”
This is a question I put to my students from time to time. When you’re not working do you still believe, or do you need a job to make you feel good? It’s about energy and consciousness. Some say you do what you are, and some say you are what you do. What comes first? And more importantly, how do you view it?
Sometimes it takes getting work to feel like you’re living the dream. When you’re not, it can bring you down. And if you’re down and don’t bring that positive energy to your auditions and life, it makes it harder to get work. So I put this out to you today, Are you living your dream, more importantly, do you feel like you are? That is the magic, that is the work, the invisible energy that makes you shine and makes people want to be around you.
If you’re pursuing acting fervently, making the sacrifices that actors make to be in this business, you are doing something big, something that matters to you. Keep reminding yourself, yes, you are living the dream, and follow your passion, your purpose. Embrace it, share it, walk with it, own it and let your light shine. Get yourself in touch with “it.” Stand in it. Keep reminding yourself of that.
I hope I book that job of course, but if I don’t, I hope Roy does. Thank you Roy, you made a difference by just being who you are. That’s what we must do as artists. Thanks for the reminder.