Every actor or creative goes through a slow period. A point when you feel like things aren’t really happening for you. Auditions aren’t coming in, you don’t feel inspired to pick up the pen and write. For many of us this can be a really dark time. A time when you start questioning your choices, whether or not you have the talent or even your worthiness.

As a child I grew up in the church and despite my spiritual journey taking me down another path, there are a few passages in the bible that continue to resonate with me to this day. “Idle hands are the devil’s workshop; idle lips are his mouthpiece” Proverbs 16 v. 27. Whenever I say this passage I don’t envision a man in horns and a tail handing me weapons of mass destruction. I believe it was meant to be consumed as more of a metaphor. It’s in the moments of idleness that our ego creeps in and starts to fill our minds with negativity.

And being idle should not be confused with being still. So often, when people begin taking up a practice like meditation, they give up during the process of silencing the mind. Some use the excuse that they can’t stop thinking, others say that they feel like they could be spending their time being more “productive”. Being busy does not equate to being happy or having clarity. Those can only be discovered by surrendering to that which is greater that yourself. In a time when people have the attention span of a goldfish, something like silencing the mind and being at one with yourself feel impossible. But it isn’t.  You just have to trust the process.

So this all sounds great hypothetically, but what are some tangible things that can be done in the moment of those slow times.

First off, let go of any judgement. Whether that be lack of auditions or writers block, whether it was given by choice or circumstance, see it with compassion and trust that you will receive clarity when the time is right. Everything comes in seasons and contrast. That’s the only way for you to discover what you truly want.

The next thing is to do something else that brings you joy. Too often people believe that by taking a slight detour, means that you’re giving up on your dreams. No! Sometimes you need to shift gears a bit to find inspiration again. You’ll never get it wrong, and you’ll never get it done. Life is about constant evolution.

Lastly, hold on to that joy and add it to your arsenal of memories for future encounters with the ego. There have been many times when I was sitting at me desk feeling stuck and a tiny memory from my childhood would pop into my head and it would bring a smile to my face. The little ounce of joy was enough to inspire me to sit in front of my keyboard and write a power ballad which would then give birth to my very first musical.

All it takes is a single drop of joy to invite inspiration. If you’re stuck, do something else. If in moments of silence you feel unworthy, do something that makes you happy until you get to a place where you are better equip to handle the ego. But w  ords don’t teach, only life experiences do. So try it! What have you got to lose?

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