In an effort to speak responsibly on step eight, my inner psychology nerd did some digging. Lay back on my “couch” as we cozy up with our favorite emotion: rejection.
There’s much science to be studied on the topic of rejection. As a tribal species we’re programmed to feel rejection strongly in order to warn of impending banishment, which leads to death. By forcing us to change our behavior to fit in, the feeling of rejection kept us alive. With a hardwired red-alert response to rejection, how are actors supposed to handle so much of it? Reprogramming is essential. When faced with any circumstance that could lead to rejection, there are two essential moments to reprogram: before and after.
Before any audition, the chances are great that you will not get the part (see Step Five: Managing Expectations). Accepting this is key. Rejection is a part of the process. Remember there are myriad factors at play, most of which are illogical and outside of your control. I have been both too pretty and not pretty enough, too talented and not talented enough. Psychologists say that expecting rejection can lead to low self-esteem, so let’s differentiate. Expect that the people in the room will love our person, but
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