Acting is cool because it’s simultaneously about doing something and about listening.
But it’s a great balancing act.
When it doubt, though, the answer is to listen more.
With most things, really.
I remember at drama school, our teacher encouraged us to stop clapping, or wooting, or whooping, when our classmates did amazing work.
He was encouraging us to normalize the outstanding. Because if we’re amazed every time someone does incredible work, that work becomes something out of reach, something separate from us. It’s only when the outstanding becomes normal that we can actually build on it and create something even more extraordinary.
It’s important to celebrate our wins. But we mustn’t colour that celebration with astonishment.
I think it’s important to remember that life is a puzzle, not Russian roulette.
With a puzzle, you try a piece. Maybe it doesn’t fit. That’s fine, you put it down and you try another one. It probably won’t fit either. Still fine. You just keep trying pieces until one does. Nothing about a wrong piece ends the game.
Russian roulette doesn’t work like that. Get it wrong, and you don’t get to play again.
We do well to remember that most things in life are a puzzle, not Russian roulette. The piece that doesn’t fit isn’t a verdict. It’s just information. Put it down, pick up the next one, and keep going.
It’s worth considering how you begin something. With yourself, another or with a new group of people.
What do they need to know? What needs to be said? Who needs to be thanked or acknowledged?
Before rushing ahead with the ‘thing’, be sure that you start well.
It sets the tone, it releases anxieties and and the ‘thing’ will be better too.
This is the only life we have and we if can engage with it charismatically we’ll get the best out of it and put the best into it.
But being present is a pretty close second.
Striving, pushing or forcing an outcome can lead us down the opposite path to the one we want.
Being present doesn’t do this.
Questions like:
Who’s here now?
What needs my attention?
What’s real now?
What actually matters?
Will guide you along the way. The results may or may not be ‘amazing’
But they’ll be real and you’ll have been serving more than yourself.
And that’s pretty remarkable.
Special things require special places.
A beautiful gift is seen as beautiful because it’s in a lovely and thoughtful box.
We remember to use our tooth brush because it has a little home in the bathroom.
I’m about to begin rehearsing a show and I wondered why my relationship to the actual script wasn’t feeling as strong as other projects.
I realised it was because the script was floating around the house in random places; it didn’t have a home.
So yesterday I hole punched each section and put it neatly in ring binder. Everything I need to do that work is in one place.
When I look at the folder I get a little gleeful flutter. That project has a little home now and I’m much more likely to do do productive work with it.
Goodness, he’s good isn’t he?
And I think its more than just being a nice guy.
His entire orientation on Grand Designs is one of awe and possibility.
He meets people in the very moment of potential- the moment before the birth of their building.
The word ‘build’ captures what he does perfectly. He’s all about building; building people up, building excitement, pleasure in architecture and building a connection between us watching at home and the brave souls on the journey to create their home.
Long live Kev!
I’m workshopping a new musical this week with a group of wonderful people.
Have you ever noticed that there is always one person in a group who is the electric charge of the group? A person that elevates the room?
Imagine you’re one of 10 actors reading a play and Jim Carrey walks in to join in.
In my mind, the moment he enters it elevates everything.
He’s what I’d call a room improver.
Got the picture?
Yeah, this musical workshop is a room full of room improvers.
It’s great
