I'm going to talk about something that affects us all. I actually think that this is one of the biggest elements that determine success in an Actors career...getting rid of "need" in your life. 

Many of you who know me, know that I'm a spiritual person. But the good news is, even if you aren't spiritual, you'll understand how this definitely applies to you as well. 

I was reading in the book, "A Course In Miracles" which is one of the most popular and best books on manifesting what you want in life. The great thing about this book is that it was written by a very popular Psychologist during her time. So it has both spirituality but also psychology behind it which was perfect for me. In this book she wrote a section called, "The Illusion of Needs". In it she talks about how need leads to fear. We all know fear does not help us. In fact, in my career, its not the Actors who say, "I still get butterflies", that are the most famous or talented. I find a lot of successful Actors still say it but the majority of the best ones no longer have fear or need. And the ones whose careers are slowly going down hill tend to be the ones who operate from a sense of need / fear the most. And their careers keep nosediving. 

WHEN I WANT SOMETHING...IT DOESN'T HAPPEN...WHEN I STOP WANTING IT AND DON'T CARE...IT APPEARS

This is a common belief and was my belief for years. I talked to friends about it and they confirmed that they thought this too. At least our perception led us to believe this is how the universe works. An Actor friend of mine would describe this as the, "Kerfuckery of life." Thanks John. :). However, after learning about how Need stops the world of manifestation (because nothing great can get created from a world of need which goes hand-in-hand with fear), I thought about this belief I and a lot of my friends had. 

The other night I had a great discussion with my roommate which is nothing new. She clarified this quote perfectly. I told her that I understand in the past this whole, "when I stop wanting it and don't care it finally appears", wasn't really "want". It was need. I was always desperate for it no matter what it was. And this of course was a big feeling for roles that I auditioned for. I needed them. I needed to be great, I needed to impress the Producers, I needed to get the part because the money would change my life etc...And when I wouldn't get it, I was sad, depressed and didn't know where to go in my life. But then if I had an audition right afterwards and I didn't care whether I got it or not, I usually got it! So to me, this was a test, a silly game that life threw at you. And I thought that in order to get what I wanted, I had to stop caring about it entirely which didn't feel right. I was in a pickle basically. And had to get out. 

It was only until yesterday, ten years after I landed my first big acting role, that I finally learned this wasn't a test from life at all. I just didn't understand the road block I was putting in front of me. I Needed things and when they didn't happen because I was operating from a place of need, I was depressed. But what about those times when I so call didn't care about the audition and got it? Well back to my roommate who clarified this perfectly. Of course we cared. We love what we do. Even if on the surface we thought we didn't care, deep down we did. But getting rid of the "need" to get the job freed us up to enjoy what we do and practice loving what we do. And I bet our performances are always stronger when we put ourselves in a state of not "needing". So we always cared when we thought we didn't. We just didn't "need" the role we were auditioning for anymore. And not needing made us better Artists because we were free to not be afraid and practice loving what we do. And those are the key ingredients to a great performance.

Now I believe on a spiritual path, you cannot manifest anything great in your life so long as you have need in it. Need is desperation. It implies you have a lack of something in your life. So if you are feeling "lack" or "not enough" the universe responds by saying, "your wish is my command". Its only when you stop "needing" and understand you have everything you "need" in life and its time to start going after what you want and desire but you don't need it, can manifestation truly take off. But even from a purely psychological level, need creates fear and puts your focus on the wrong things before, during and after your audition. Before your audition it makes you think of who else is auditioning. Are they better than you? Who is the Producer? How do I do this? etc...What you should be thinking is for example, "Great! Another opportunity to perform! I'm so grateful for this present to perform in front of others. I can't wait to make this character my own and show them what I can do because I love this work." One puts your focus on things out of your control. The other puts your mindset into a world you can control. And when you operate from love, you automatically operate from confidence. And that shows in any audition. All Casting Directors will back me up on this. If you walk in with a smile on your face and confidence, not ego (false confidence), that gives you a huge leg-up on the so-called competition. NOTE: I don't believe in competition. If I don't recognize it, it doesn't affect me. I suggest adoption of this philosophy. 

A few years ago I was in a financial pinch. I asked my mother for some money to help pay a bill until my finances sorted themselves out which wasn't too long afterwards (a matter of a week or so). She said, "how much do you want?" I said, "I need $80". She told me that I could pick up the money at her office but she'd be busy with a client. I told her thank you and expressed how grateful I was. When I got there, I found the money in an envelope with a note inside of it. There wasn't $80, there was if I remember correctly $120. The note read, "Never ask for what you need. Always ask for what you want." It is only now that I truly understand how profound and life altering that message is. 

What will I do now? No matter what my circumstances I refuse to get into a state of "need". Everything I "need" exists. Even if I get sick, I don't need a doctor. That's rediculous. I have one. So there's no need to need if that makes any sense. You aren't put on this earth to "need" things. You are put on this earth to manifest and go after what you really, truly want and desire. What do you truly desire and want? Ask your heart, not your head. And read from people like Wayne Dyer, Deepak Chopra, and Dr. Helen Schucman's book, "A Course In Miracles". But remind yourself every day as I will, "I don't need anything". I am going to practice and do what I love, be grateful for it and I know what I practice every day manifests.