The Thriving Actor: Healing The Person Behind The Mask

By Laura Piquero

I believe that initially, we all choose the acting career and to become an actor out of the wonderment, the bliss, the creativity and the passion. Then at some point, we get inundated by external requests, and if we are not careful, outside influence will push us towards being less and less ourselves. Then it goes on and on, jumping from suggestion to suggestion of how to go about this career and being "a successful actor". Trim here, do this, change this, take this workshop, get this credit even if it is unpaid, network at these lifeless events hoping someone will "see you". From wearing a hat, heels and skirt to an audition to be "remembered", to hearing very likely prefabricated stories of "unknown actors" hitting the jackpot at the subway and for going to the right place to get their coffee, over time, the performing arts career as we know it, can become a life-long battle for validation to be creative and a "race for approval". The truth is, this industry is not an almighty powerful. We are the co-creators of our reality because we are creative beings, naturally connected to our emotions, as such we can craft worlds of beauty and inspiration. If we leave it up to them (those perceived to be in power), they will have us running in circles until we chase our own tails, out of desperation. Actors are supposed to do this and that, but at the end of the day, we are simply playing parts that are honest and compelling to play, and it is ok to say: "I am done playing, I want the real deal", a life of purpose and meaning. This book will resonate the most when you have encountered the "darker" sides of the profession and the industry, you have become somewhat disenchanted and want to make your own thing. Also, if you feel ready to revamp yourself and fight once more, but with your own rules/boundaries, knowing all along that if it no longer serves your needs, you can quit and pursue your true creative talent, outside of the standards of artistic careers and more towards creative entrepreneurship at its finest. There are so many valuable lessons about self-worth, resilience and soul growth, that I do not discourage being in this career, nor leading a standardized artistic path called an artistic career (with rules and protocols). The goal of this book is for you to assess where you are with it and to start setting some boundaries, or learn from it, from "all of that involuntary opening up" in hand with "giving your power away to Big fish and minions", It is an invitation and a supportive read, to start doing consciously deep soul work and getting much needed healing from jumping from role to role. Most importantly, this book is about shared struggles and helping heal the artistic and sensitive soul, who stepped into an industry that brings alongside wins, fails, and more than not, breaking one's own heart over and over again, as one learns to grow a thick skin, in the midst of trying to craft an artistic career.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1521968896
• ISBN13: 9781521968895
• Release Date: July 2017
• Publisher: Independently Published
• Length: 194 Pages
• Weight: 0.64 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.5" x 6.0" x 9.0"