Actors and Thought Work

Oh, here it is...

The one you haven't been waiting for.

What we do when we aren't doing the things we think we want to do. Should do. Ought to do.  Have told ourselves repeatedly we need to do.  

And yet. 

Somehow. Aren't doing.

First:

Actors aren't alone in this, of course.  We have the whole of humanity who, given free will, will trot briskly back into the cave in order to conserve energy, avoid pain, and seek a little (OK, let's make that a LOT) of pleasure.  

You may have noticed a pattern in your work life.  If you book a job, you start working hard to 'be ready' for the rehearsals, the shoot, the requirements of the role.

Or. 

You use the lack of work as evidence of lack of opportunity. 

You stop working to be ready, because a clear vision, a specific job, a notable audition, isn't in your calendar, beckoning you toward greatness.

Let's examine the framing of the word, 'lack'. 

The state of being without, or not having enough of something.

So, sure.  When you're not...