Going Beyond the Bare Minimum

There's a security guard at the supermarket I go to. I'd guess he's in his mid-50s or so. He wears the standard uniform and always makes the rounds through this busy shopping center with a smile. At first glance, there doesn't appear to be anything unique about how he goes about his job. Except there is...

Whenever he has the chance he bags groceries, (something he's not paid to do), he offers people help with their items, and he walks around the store with an enthusiasm you can't fabricate. He takes genuine pride in his job and goes beyond what is expected of him. 

As a result, he's earned the respect of his colleagues and appreciation of customers. He understands that just because we can do the bare minimum of what are duties officially demands of us it doesn't mean we have to.  

Find Someone Who Only Believes in Possibility

If you're ever in need of inspiration get around someone young. I recently started working with a 22-year old actor from Los Angeles who has infused a new sense of energy into, To the Prospective Artist movement.

His excitement and enthusiasm for the mission to help actors and artists live bold lives "off-stage, full of new experiences, relationships, and people has been a real inspiration to me.

There is just something about having everything out in front of you than can't be fabricated. There's a joy and belief that anything is possible that accompanies youth and though we can protect that sensibility as we get older, being around someone who only sees how an idea will thrive is pretty special.

Resilience is a Muscle

Winston Churchill one said,  "Success consists of going from failure to failure without loss of enthusiasm. To the Ancient Greeks, enthusiasm meant "divine inspiration," or "to be filled with god."

But in order for enthusiasm to thrive, one must first cultivate a sense of resilience because inevitably your passion will be tested.

Resilience, like any muscle, must be trained. In order for it to grow that guidance must be consistent. 

In my experience, it helps to keep in mind that there will be ups and downs in your artistic career. But what is most important is maintaining a sense of poise and belief in what you do through such storms.

In time, this belief will translate to an incessant drive within, one you may not have even known you possessed; an inherent belief in yourself and mission will have been refined over time because you'll have trained your body and spirit to know no other way.

You've Come Further Than You Think

In Adam Grant's book, Originals he puts forth one of the best courses to take when you have doubts on the road toward achieving a goal:

"When our commitment is wavering, the best way to stay on track is to consider the progress we've already made. As we recognize what we've invested and attained, it seems like a waste to give up, and our confidence and commitment surge."

In other words, we need to set-up small "wins." When you track your progress, your doubts often turn into a sense of enthusiasm. He goes on to say:

"Once commitment is fortified, instead of glancing in the rearview mirror, it's better to look forward by highlighting the work left to be done. When we're determined to reach an objective, it's the gap between where we are and where we aspire to be that lights a fire under us."

Remember to take inventory of what you've already accomplished. It's likely more than you think and enough to persuade you to continue on your path.

Protect Your Enthusiasm

In Greek, the word "enthusiasm" means to be filled with God. You don't you have to be religious, or even particularly spiritual to appreciate the notion of living with vigor, passion -- a sense of zeal.

But beware. Regardless of what path you embark on you will undoubtedly come across "enthusiasm bandits" -- people committed to stealing your spirit. They may even do so inadvertently or without knowing.

The trick is to protect your enthusiasm. You can do so by sharing your greatest dreams and aspirations with a community of like-minded folks who will support you. You needn't say a word to those who will scoff, snicker, or criticize. 

Another approach you can integrate is to regularly check in with your, "why." If your reasoning for pursuing your creative ambitions is so strong and embedded in the the DNA that makes you who you are, it will be more difficult to be ruffled when someone doesn't support your dream.

Protect your spirit as best you can. You'll need it.

Old Theaters

Whether in New York, Los Angeles, or the San Francisco Bay Area, I often find myself strolling past old theaters. Many were clearly churches, synagogues, or community centers at one point and depending on the type of actor you are, perhaps you already view the theater as a tabernacle of sorts anyway. Maybe the transition is all relative.

I love looking at the upcoming seasons posted outside the doors and when I get a chance, I'll even go and check out a show. My reasoning is simple. The longer you do anything the easier it becomes to lose perspective and forget why you fell in love with something in the first place.

Being near the theater, any theater, reminds me of the fervor, the enthusiasm, the passion I once couldn't contain. I allow myself to get back in touch with that young man who was once convinced one monologue would change the world.

It's not about living in the past or trying to recreate what once was. It's simply a way of reminding myself why I still need this so very much.