Love vs. Obsession

Obsession? Love.

We know in our hearts how differently love and obsession feels. The teenage crush versus the mature relationship. I would say that obsession hurts, while love satisfies; obsession drains, while love feeds. Obsession is toxic, love is healing… etc. Most importantly to my point, however, is that obsession is selfish – needing only one party to participate. Unfortunately, the focus of the obsession sometimes becomes the enemy.

If my basic premise is true (as I’m sure those of you who aren’t currently appearing in a Reality Show would attest), then how do you approach your acting career? Ouch. I know.

Are you putting your acting career up on a pedestal as something just out of reach? Does it frequently cause you pain? Do you spend more time obsessing over being an actor than you do on loving the work that you do as an actor? Do you go into auditions coming from the-aching-hole-of-need-in-your-being, asking the casting director to validate your very existence, while making all your bills and feelings of low self-esteem vanish? Are you the only one participating…?

Or do you go into the room loving the opportunity to work, loving the character, loving your objective, even loving the casting director for being of service by giving you some of their precious time?

Sure, some people might make an argument that acting takes obsessive energy and zeal. I would disagree and say that acting takes loving energy and zeal. Would you rather be an obsessive parent to your goals, or a loving parent? Watch “Toddlers and Tiaras” to see what an obsessive parent looks like. Watch the children to see the ensuing results.