Let's have a close look at the discomfort of "The Unfamiliar"
Hi Actor,
We've discussed previously the topic of "what deep/ optimal practice should feel like”. If you haven't read that post yet. Give it a read and come back.
This week I would like us to ponder again on the topic of discomfort, but this time, focusing on the discomfort of trying something new.
Perhaps we attempt something for the first time. Let’s say shooting hoops with a basketball. Chances are we will miss a lot of our initial shots because it's our first practice session. If people happen to witness this display of supposed mediocrity this magnifies a feeling of embarrassment. We want to stop immediately and run for the hills. The feeling sucks.
I want to suggest that this feeling isn’t an indication of our inabilities but rather… It’s a symptom of deep practice. It is in itself an indication that we are doing it right. The very fact that we feel like fools and stumble 3 or 4 times before we get it right means we are making effective, efficient progress. We are learning deeply. We should celebrate that!
Don’t run away, look away or leave it to another day, persist and lean in to your curiosity.
The Actor's Constant Companion. Discomfort.
I'm under the belief that every scene/ play/ film we work on requires different parts of us. Each one can be seen as a totally new skill. So, every role comes with it an expected amount of discomfort. This is exciting. We get to grow as human beings with every passing role.
Unfortunately, this too however, is why we have the natural urge to leave our practice or prep to the last minute. Because we naturally like to find the path of least resistance and cling to it. There is nothing wrong with having the ability to work fast and be adaptable but in the context where someone is wanting to dive deeper into their craft, avoiding the work until last minute is unhelpful.
I want to encourage you, going forward, as soon as you receive a script, pick it up. Read it and start working on it. Know that this role is making you uncomfortable not because you aren't right for the part, but actually it's because it requires you to practice something new and unfamiliar. Accept that in those initial stages it should feel funky and clunky and if it doesn’t, it’s time to 'up the difficulty' by changing things.
Every project. Every creative act that we come to in our professional journeys requires us to prime and practice in a different way. This is also why it’s such an exciting profession. Every day, every script, every audition requires something new from us. It's different every time.
Another note on the 3 Zones
When you approach any new skill, if you are working on the fundamentals, it is likely that you are already sitting in that "sweet spot" of discomfort. Notice your errors and fix them as you go. From there, just persist.
When you grow more accustomed to the skill, you will find the difficulty tipping back into the 'Comfort Zone'. When you try and overdo the difficulty and jump to the more complicated stuff too quickly you might find yourself stumbling around in the 'Survival Zone'. If so, pull back and stay with those fundamentals and gradually introduce that tricky stuff. You'll find yourself swaying backwards and forwards between the 3 zones, that's normal.
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Next time you're feeling out of your depth when trying something new, remind yourself that you’re supposed to feel that way. That feeling actually means your practicing right. You're learning in the fastest way possible. So get to and start working. Let me know in the comments, are you patient with yourself when working away at something unfamiliar? I'd love to hear from you. Talk Soon.
Lachlan is an Australian Actor who has been working within the industry close to a decade. He’s worked in Film & Theatre.
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