The Importance of Knowing Your Values

Do you know what your values are? How you adopted them? Who influenced them? Why they're important to you?

I've discovered whenever a choice doesn't sit well with me it means it's not in harmony with my core values. In other words, the possible outcome is not congruent with the way I want to live my life.

So instead of making a choice blindly it helps to know what my values are beforehand so I can act in accordance with the person I ultimately want to become.

Start Your Own Artists' Colony

“Mobilize a group of people around a set of values and mission that drives the enterprise to new levels – to make ordinary people do extraordinary things. To give them the tools to build a great team.”

It's Easier Than It Sounds

Forming a meet-up group is easy but you want to make sure you cultivate an environment of like-mindedness, positivity, and support.  

Each member should be equally committed to the overall team objectives, and display a willingness to collaborate.  An ambivalent and uncompromising person can be toxic to the group’s dynamic.  

As a result, you may spend most of your time putting out fires rather than focusing on the important stuff.

A Few Simple Steps for Getting a Crew Together:

1. Ask people who you think will bring out your greatest potential and push you to be a better artist

2. Set a time and location and stick to it!

3. Make sure everyone is one the same page about the group's overall mission

4. Create a safe space where people can be vulnerable without being judged or ridiculed

5. Be consistent

Cutting Toxic People from Your Life Even When You Care About Them

Confidence is a result of growing comfortable in your own skin. It's a process cultivated over time through experience and getting clear on your core values. And it's likely if you're happy with who you are and have a strong sense of your principles, you've learned to surround yourself with forward-thinking people - individuals who support your vision, have your back, hold you accountable to taking action, and try to maintain a positive outlook.

Unfortunately, cutting toxic people from your life can be quite complicated. Sometimes it's the people closest to us who always seem to have an axe to grind, or have something negative to say.

You may have spent so much time with these people over the years you don't even realize how you morph into someone else in their presence, taking on their cancerous energy. Without knowing it, you start to talk about people behind their back and refuse to see the potential in others. 

Let me tell you, once you take a step back and really take inventory of the toxic residue that's seeped into your psyche, you will be much more vigilant with your mind and time.

Even when it's difficult we have to work overtime to protect our relationship to our goals, ambitions, and sense of service. Spending time with those who fail to see the good in the world threaten your potential.

Get the memo out that you won't tolerate toxic people and their energy no matter who it is. Your future depends on it. 

The Power of Values

I look back with fondness on those times I performed in cramped, poorly lit black box theaters in the East Village. The audiences sat practically on top of one another as they huddled together to watch original works by some of New York's most promising playwrights.

I also recall rehearsing scenes from, A Doll's House during drama school. My classmates and I sat in narrow hallways after being kicked out of rehearsal spaces others had wisely signed up for in advance.

As much as I look back on those times with a sense of gratitude and nostalgia, I wouldn't do it over again. My goals have changed and my perspective has evolved. In other words, what I value as an actor and individual is no longer the same. I have grown.

Many of us often have a difficult time saying, "No." We take on too many projects earnestly believing we can do it all, while secretly wanting to please others.

I've learned that saying "no" to something means you are invariably saying "yes" to something else. It may be a rewarding opportunity now, or many years down the road. 

If there's something you feel obligated to do, but feel a voice tugging at you to pass it's likely that your values are not aligned with the opportunity. If your values are important enough to you protect them at all costs and align them with your vision.

Fleeting Motivators

We're all driven by different motivators to create - to succeed in our chosen careers. For some, it's the desire to make their communities a better place to live. Others are driven by extrinsic factors like fame, money, or notoriety. Some are even galvanized by anger; a commitment to proving the naysayers wrong.

I'm not placing judgement on what drives you. But in my own observations, I've noticed that all are fleeting. They come and go because their foundations are built on emotion. And emotions by nature are capricious - ever-changing.

Seeing something you care about all the way through from beginning to end will be require reminding yourself of your, "Intrinsic Why," over and over - through thick and thin.

How does what you want line up with your values, core principles? In other words, what does what you want say about you?

Figure that out and it'll be hard to stop you.