Hi Actor,
So the new year has arrived, what a great opportunity to look ahead and make a plan for the incoming 12 months. I love a plan. I also like sticking to one. I hate it when I don't. Have you set a new year's resolution? Are you great at sticking to it? If not, lets change that. People often get caught on a few core problems when making a plan that actually sticks.
Most of the common problems come from the discomfort of a challenge, a lack of direction, low motivation and having too many rigid expectations. Using what we know about priming and practice, however, we can develop a strategic plan that sticks all year around.
Priming & Practice
As a brief reminder, Priming is utilised to help us with motivation and allow us to see for ourselves a pathway forward. Practice is the act of doing. The act of walking forward, one step at a time, towards our inevitable goal.
Here are some of the most common problems (and potential solutions) that rear their heads when working our way towards our NY Resolutions.
The Ignition Problem:
Lacking motivation? Do things that ignite you.
The Navigational Problem:
Lacking direction? Watch things that indicate the steps forward.
The Difficulty Problem:
Lacking progression? Ask yourself: "Is my practice too easy or too hard for me?"
If too easy - make it more challenging for yourself
If too hard - make it a little easier
Find that balance.
The Rigidity Problem:
Getting frustrated? Be flexible with what your practice looks like from day to day.
Even one step in the right direction is progression.
Go ahead now and write down your goals, if you haven't already. Ask yourself, what is required of me to achieve my goals this year? Break the journey down into every tiny conceivable step/ part. Now, make yourself turn up to progress towards this goal every single day. Even if it's for 2 minutes. You'd be surprised how much you can get done with only a few minutes of practice. Daily.
Let me know in the comments section what you hope to achieve this year, or email me directly! Talk soon.
Lachlan is an Australian Actor who has been working within the industry nearing a decade. He’s worked in Film & Theatre.
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