1. Deconditioning my need for novelty

Welcome.

Welcome to the inaugural edition of Acting Out. I have wanted to pen this newsletter for a while now, and am so excited to share my musings on acting, creativity, and healing with you.

My acting journey began during the pandemic with Rekindle’s online introductory classes. I had just finished reading The Body Keeps the Score, which piqued my interest in the healing power of acting. I enrolled in classes with the hope that acting could help me regain my creativity, focus, and sense of self. Fast forward two years, I’m now studying the Meisner technique at Empowerhouse Acting Studio. I'm learning more than I ever could have imagined. This newsletter explores one of the first lessons I’ve gleaned.

Letting go of my need for novelty.

Much of our class has centered around the repetition exercise. This exercise begins with sitting across from someone and repeating the same phrase over and over again. Imagine yourself sitting across from me, and us saying to each other ad nauseum: “You look nice today.” “You look nice today.” “You look nice today.” “You look nice today”. Wild right?

This exercise was deeply uncomfortable for me the first few times I did it. I felt absurd. I felt awkward. I wanted to nervous laugh the whole time. After many practices and rounds of feedback, I realized the root of why I felt so off kilter doing this. My discomfort stemmed from a need to "add value" to a situation by contributing a novel idea or thought. I couldn’t exist without feeling compelled to add some amount of differentiation.

Doing this exercise has drilled into me that I am enough. I don't need to be witty, funny, or performative, to merit the space I occupy. So, for the people in the back, I hope you can hear me loud and clear: You are enough. You are enough. You are enough.

Reflection Prompt: How does the need for novelty show up in your life? What ways is that serving or limiting you?

May you find a moment of stillness and calm to reconnect with yourself.

In other news: Cringey Casting Call

This month’s cringey casting call perpetuates disempowering stereotypes of people with dwarfism. On one hand, it uses a an acceptable community term and compensates talent for their time. On the other, it doesn't sit well with me that someone thought this was a good idea. What internal events marketer thought this was a brilliant idea? For more on why this matters, check out the below thread by Eugene Grant.

Things I’m Consuming

• Drinks: Green lantern smoothie, Throat coat tea

• Books: The Actor’s Life, The Four Agreements  

• Music: Broken Pieces off of Frank Ocean’s Lonny Breaux collection

That’s it for this month’s edition, be sure to subscribe so you don’t miss the next.

Thanks for reading and remember: YOU ARE ENOUGH.

XOXO JZ