It Has to Be for YOU

As a creator, you're going to come up against a lot of resistance. People won't understand or appreciate what you're trying to say. You'll wrestle with your own doubts of whether or not a pursuit devoted to telling stories and creating are is worth it. You may even start to compare yourself with the careers and work of others, which never leads to anything good.

What makes be an actor or artist so difficult is how mentally tough you need to be. Because a life devoted to telling stories and creating are is such a solo endeavor you spend a great deal of time battling the voices in your own head that tell you what you do isn't impactful.

What will sustain you through those challenging times is the fact you are ultimately creating art for YOU. If it's for someone else's approval you'll never be happy. 

If on the other hand, someone finds joy in work you ALSO find meaningful, well, it doesn't get much better than that. To share your voice with the world and have it resonate with a community of like-mined people is why we do what we do.

What is the Cost?

If you've been an actor, or artist long enough chances are you've had to defend your decision to pursue a less conventional path at some point. Maybe there's been a spirited debate or two between parents, or friends still holding out for the off-chance you'll become a doctor. "There's still time!" you may have heard.

Change is unsettling to most. It challenges people's understanding of the world - or at least what they think they know. It creates disharmony in our routines, and oh, how people love routine.

Still, at some point YOU have to decide who's life you're going to live. Your time on this planet is limited and many of our decisions have far more significant impact down the road than we can imagine. 

There's an impressive list of folks who kept their head down and decided to appease a parent, or a loved one at great sacrifice - by giving up that which they held most dear; the pursuit of becoming a creator, a dreamer, an artist.

Ask yourself, what is the cost of living someone else's life?