Forget the Need for Approval

If you've been an actor, or artist long enough chances are you've come up against some form of resistance from family, or friends. This "resistance" may have occurred in the form of judgment or disapproval. 

If there's one thing I've learned in pursuing a less conventional line of work that also happens to pose some lofty challenging, it's that it will rarely feel like others are supporting you. And that's okay.

It's my hope that you have a like-minded group of friends who believe in you, but because there's so much solitude in pursuing an artistic career you'll need to possess an inherent belief in yourself. 

You'll have to know what you're doing is the right thing for you even when tested against the majority's idea of conventional success, i.e. big salaries, summer homes, titles etc. 

Because you have an unconventional path you will also have an unconventional definition of success. And as long as you take ownership of that notion you'll be less likely to feel the need to justify what it is you do. Your approval is what matters.

Stella Adler once wrote, "In spite of all the things people say to discourage or belittle you, in spite of all the failure and defeats, you're trying. That is what people are jealous of - not your success but of your trying.


So forget the need for approval because you'll likely never get it. But what's great is you also don't need it.