Don't Compare Yourself to Other Actors - by Robert Curtiss

Actors can be supportive and encourage each other in this business, but actors can also feel competitive with each other. Some actors will get breaks that you did not, and others may become quite successful while you are still slogging away in a restaurant job or just trying to make ends meet while taking classes. These situations may feel bittersweet. You may want to feel happy for them, but you may also feel envious and frustrated that you have not been as fortunate. Try to resist the urge to compare yourself to them, and instead be happy for their success, as you would want others to be happy for you if you were in their place. The fact is that only one person gets cast in a role. So make peace with that fact and continue honing your craft. Hopefully sooner than later you will be cast.

Although it can be hard not to compare yourself to others, remember that comparing yourself to someone else is an inaccurate measuring stick, and it can erode your self-esteem and send you into depression. When you compare yourself to others—whether in regards to a relationship, a career, or other achievement—you are only comparing yourself to your perception of others. Everyone has different life circumstances and different paths. You are on your own unique journey, and it may take longer or go in a different direction. However, it will never be the same as anyone else's, and it has just as many opportunities and possibilities.

It is understandable to feel envious of others’ successes, but remember that envy is usually just a good indicator of your own insecurities. When you can figure out why you are feeling insecure, you can start to overcome it. A good psychotherapist can come in handy for these situations, and help you focus instead on your own strengths.

When you find yourself comparing yourself to others, stop for a minute and ask yourself: What am I grateful for in my life? What relationships have I made that are important to me? What accomplishments have I made in my life? What have I done recently that I am proud of? In what ways have I grown and improved? What steps am I taking to keep growing?

After all, these are the things that really matter.

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Why You Need to Keep Growing as an Actor - by Robert Curtiss

“I'm too old to start now.” “It's too late for me.” “I'm too old to change.” How many times have you heard someone say these things? Have you ever said them yourself?

It’s sad how often we repeat these beliefs as if they are the unquestioned truth. The more we say something, the more we come to believe it is true. These beliefs limit us. When you say these things—when you really believe these things—it means you've stopped adapting to the world around you. It means you're stuck in the past and not adapting in the here-and-now. It is not a healthy mindset. I am often struck by how many people talk about dealing with their problems, yet they don't actually deal with them at all. They shun the idea of therapy by saying, “I can handle my own problems” or “I'm too old to change,” but they don't truly deal with their problems by talking about them. They don’t try to change their problematic behaviors and instead keep repeating the behaviors that cause the problems!

Older people also use the phrase “In my day” as a way to make the present inferior to the way “it used to be.” However, they use it as a way to excuse their non-participation in the present. Think about it—is today not your day?? Are you too old to learn something?? Of course not!

Sometimes we get complacent, and trying something different feels scary. However, remember that a flower in a small pot can only grow so far. An actor in Wichita, for example, who stays in Wichita, will only go as far as is possible in Wichita. That is fine for some people—being the big fish in the little pond can be satisfying. However, if you want to achieve greater things, you need to grow, to push your limits.

We all must keep growing until we die. It is the nature of all living things. It is never too late to start something that can enhance your life—be it piano lessons, or therapy, or quitting smoking.

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