Konstantin Stanislavski was a seminal Russian theatre practitioner. He was widely recognized as an outstanding character actor and the many productions that he directed garnered him a reputation as one of the leading theatre directors of his generation. Why is this important to you in this New Year?
Well, Konstantin discovered that the most powerful performances in the theatre – the ones that drew the loudest applause, the biggest crowds, the ones that kept the audience at the edge of their seats – were by actors who did something different than all the others. Instead of being worried about what others thought about them and their performance, instead of trying to impress others or prove themselves, they instinctively understood how to focus their attention outside of themselves to impact someone or something on the stage.
You see, the world has changed. Leadership has changed. There is a whole new world out there. It doesn’t work the way it has worked in the past. It’s no longer about hierarchical structure in order to be powerful and have power over others. We no longer have the luxury of compartmentalizing our work life from our personal
Who you are in real life shines through
You’ve got to become the best you – the real you – the you you were meant to become. It’s the only way to find joy in your life’s experiences and fulfillment in your life’s accomplishments.
So, instead of worrying about what others think of your performance, what should you worry about? I believe you should focus on YOU. You may think that sounds selfish. No, it’s not selfish. What’s selfish is diminishing your power, your gifts, your talents. What’s selfish is shrinking yourself and keeping your best from this world.
As Marianne Williamson writes in her book, A Return to Love:
“Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won’t feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory… that is within us. It’s not just in some of us; it’s in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.”
Marianne Williamson, A Return to Love: Reflections on the Principles of “A Course in Miracles”
How will you let your light shine in the New Year?
Instead of worrying about how to impress others or prove your worth to others, think about how you can impress yourself. What your life look like if you were able to impress yourself?
Don’t only think about the things you want to have or the things you want to accomplish. Think about the person that you must become in order to have those things.
What personal attributes do you already have that will help you to achieve the things you want to achieve?
If you think about the people who you admire, what characteristics do you most admire about them?
Make a list of the attributes and characteristics you want to work on in the New Year. What would you like more of? What would you like less of? Create a small chart. Here’s an example:
| MORE… | LESS… |
| Confidence | Fearful |
| Patience | Reactionary |
| Open-minded | Judgmental |
| Present | Worried |
| Authentic | Pretentious |
| Trustworthy | Incongruous |
Now create your own list:
| MORE… | LESS… |
| _________________ | _________________ |
| _________________ | _________________ |
| _________________ | _________________ |
| _________________ | _________________ |
| _________________ | _________________ |
| _________________ | _________________ |
OK, good job (if you really took the time to put your list together.) Now, how are you going to shift your thinking to become more of who you want to become?
Shift my thinking???
Yes, shift your thinking. Albert Einstein once said, “You can’t solve today’s problems from the same level of thinking you were at when you created them.” So, how are you going to raise your level of thinking? How are you going to change your focus?
Well, Konstantin developed a systematic approach. Throughout his career, Stanislavski subjected his acting and direction to a rigorous process of artistic self-analysis and reflection. His system of acting developed out of his persistent efforts to remove the blocks that he encountered in his performances.
So, what blocks are you experiencing in your performance that, if removed, would make this an unbelievable New Year?
I bet some of your more words would be helpful, right? I bet minimizing your less words would also accelerate your progress.
Now, all you have to do to make this year unbelievable is set your goals around becoming more of who you want to be. As you set your accomplishment goals, ask yourself “If I accomplished this, would I become more [ insert more words from above ]?” If the answer is “No”, then you might want to look at setting your sights on another goal.
Would you like to start off the year walking through a 7-step process to become more of WHO you want to be? We can help! Check out the free web event below for more information on just how to do this!
Free Webinar: Jan 10, 2019
Create an Unbelievable Year
7 Keys to Mastering Your Mind
- Learn how to stop getting in your own way, how to get unstuck, and perform powerfully.
- Learn how to use your talents and cognitive assets to let your light shine.
- Learn how to liberate yourself from fear and experience your best year yet.
Happy New Year!!