The Four Agreements For Actors
“Every human is an artist. The dream of your life is to make beautiful art.” – Don Miguel Ruiz
As I was thinking about this past year, I found as actors we all deep down have one common goal: to make beautiful art. Don Miguel Ruiz’s book, The Four Agreements, came to mind and I felt compelled to share as a beautiful way to start off the new year. By following these simple, yet not so simple, agreements, your life as you know it will transform, you will no longer feel stuck, make excuses or complain; you will live the life of an artist.
1st AGREEMENT: BE IMPECCABLE WITH YOUR WORD
For me, this has been so powerful, not only in how I live life, but how I live the life of an actress. LISTEN to what you are saying and what you are hearing. We truly speak things into existence! Don Miguel Ruiz states that being impeccable is not going against yourself, you don’t blame or judge yourself for anything, and this goes for auditions! We don’t criticize and we don’t gossip! We do our best, we prepare, we get to the audition on time and walk into that room with confidence that we are what they are looking for, and if not, than it wasn’t meant to be . . . this time.
2nd AGREEMENT: DON’T TAKE ANYTHING PERSONALLY
This was definitely one of the hardest ones for me, especially as an actor. I remember walking out of that audition room praying they would choose me. Now, I pray for everyone in the room, hoping every actor does their best, and what a difference this makes! You may not have the right eye color or height or hair cut! Things that are not in your control. All you can be is the best version of yourself! In life, one of my all time favorite quotes is from the beloved Dr. Wayne Dyer, “What other people think of me is none of my business.” When another person puts you down it’s never about you, it’s about them, so don’t take anything personally!
3rd AGREEMENT: DON’T MAKE ASSUMPTIONS
These days, with texting being the key communication at times, it’s hard to know what the tonality of a sentence means. ASK QUESTIONS! DON’T ASSUME you know what someone meant if you really don’t! Assuming leads to gossip, to taking things personally, and going down a road of self-sabotage as I shared in my last blog. When you are in an audition room, ask questions if you don’t know something about the character or where you are meant to go with the scene. If you don’t ask, you’ll leave the room kicking yourself for not speaking up. When the director, producer, or writer is in the room and I don’t have any questions, I will let them know I made some choices, and if they would like me to take it in another direction, then I would like to try that. Asking questions has led to a much more peaceful life.
4th AGREEMENT: ALWAYS DO YOUR BEST
This sums up all of the three agreements. Do your best in being impeccable with your word. Do your best by not taking things personally. Do your best by not making assumptions. And do your best in every situation that comes your way. Sometimes your best may not feel like your best, but once you’re aware of what comes out of your mouth, how you walk in a room and through life, and you stop yourself from assuming by asking questions, you are on your way to a life of freedom, peace, and so much more joy — the ingredients this world needs right now, and it can start with you, by keeping these four agreements in your back pocket! Your world, as you know it, will transform and the year approaching will be different, new, and happy. 🙂
HAPPY NEW YEAR, all you beautiful artists!
Seminar Recap