The Official Newsletter Of The New Collective Acting Studio
Meditating On A New Year
The Resolution Problem
The arrival of the new year often symbolizes fresh starts and new hopes for the future. It’s also a time when many people set big resolutions. But are these resolutions always a good idea? Here are a few reasons why they might not work as well as we hope:
All-or-nothing mentality: This mindset can be problematic because even a small mistake can make us feel like we’ve failed.
Focusing on the end goal instead of the process: Goals are achieved through consistent effort, one day at a time. Focusing too much on the outcome can make us overlook the importance of the journey.
Shame-based motivation: When we try to fix what we see as flaws in ourselves, it can lead to an endless cycle of self-criticism and pain.
Reflect
Taking time to reflect on the past year can be surprisingly enlightening. Often, we don’t realize how much we’ve accomplished until we sit down and write it out. When we do, we start to appreciate the progress we’ve made, both big and small. So, take a moment to reflect—not just on the major milestones, but also on the little wins, which are just as important.
Look Forward
Looking ahead is about imagining what you want for the year with no limitations. But instead of thinking in terms of "all or nothing," start with how you’d like to feel throughout the year. Let that feeling guide you as you set realistic, achievable goals that align with your vision. Creating a vision board is the great exercise for following your feelings into your imagination. A good dream is something that we can feel in our belly. Dolly Parton once said that dreams are more powerful than wishes: wishes are just the “hope” for something to happen - dreams build convictions because people need to work hard for them to come true.
Start In The Work
Starting the new year in your work is the strongest first action we can take. Remember, it can be big or small. As an actor, starting in the work can be many things:
Go to your acting class
Begin working on a new monologue
Set up your self taping equipment and practice
Invite a few actor friends over for a table reading
Begin writing down your short film idea
… and so on.
Here’s to embracing the new year as a chance to grow, explore and build towards our dreams!
