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Don't You Dare Trash Your Dreams!

by Mario A. Campanaro

Don't You Dare Trash Your Dreams

by Mario A. Campanaro

Let’s face it. The life of an actor, or any artist for that matter, is no cakewalk. There are seasons of tremendous accomplishment, and then there are seasons of utter drought and despair. The ups and downs of our beloved art form and industry are unfortunately realities that come with the territory.

The average person walks on a somewhat level playing field, having a general idea of where the next step will bring them, while the artist daringly chooses to ride some pretty bumpy waves, with the heartfelt hope of reaching the beautifully unpredictable destination of their dreams. But, just like riding any wave or wild horse, it’s very easy to be thrown off course by chaos and instability, and then want to give it all up for the pool in the backyard or the easy ride on the merry-go-round.

But after everything you’ve been through—after all that hard work and perseverance, after all that hope and faith, after all that sacrifice and investment—is it worth trashing everything for something that may seem easier? Let me tell you this: anything that does not align with your soul’s purpose and your heart’s greatest desire will never be easier. There will always be a price to pay when you give up something you love. And you can take that to the bank!

So, if times are tough and you’re seriously contemplating throwing in the towel, take a minute, catch your breath, and give yourself the opportunity to re-mind yourself of these ten important facts:

1. The love of the art form.

The love you have for this art form, no matter how trying the circumstances may be, is a tremendous gift. If you’ve forgotten how much you love it, re-mind yourself why your heart hungered for this way of creating in the first place. Remember, it’s that subtle soul center within you that yearns to reveal your true essence to the world through this chosen creative process.

2. Your support system believes in you.

Very often, the journey of an artist can feel isolating and lonely. Sometimes it’s easy to get caught up in temporary disappointments and forget that you are deeply and unconditionally loved by whatever support system you have chosen in your life. Those loved ones want you to fulfill your dreams and desires just as much as you do. They may not know or understand the ups and downs of this industry and the ins and outs of how the process works, but the yearning for your success is there just the same.

3. Look how far you’ve come.

The fact that you continue to stretch your limits and openly reveal yourself is a testament to your inner strength, creativity, and light as a true artist. Do not take for granted the fearlessness that this art form demands. It’s not for the faint of heart. The artist continues to persevere where many others may have crumbled.

4. It’s your heart’s intention.

Your very desire to live your highest purpose as an artist has been the seed that’s already been planted in the rich soil of the universe. Now is the time to nurture that intention and witness yourself achieve what you wholeheartedly crave to experience.

5. Tomorrow.

The song “What A Difference A Day Makes” contains the ultimate truth. Life is always in flux. Anything and everything changes from moment to moment. Knowing this, why wouldn’t it flow in your favor? It’s beautifully surprising what a change in perspective can do for your reality. Each day is a chance for alchemy. You must continue to feed that which you desire and hold it in your consciousness as much as possible. Even if it’s the tiniest little thing, do it! The greatest painting in the world started with a single stroke of the brush.

6. Hope, hunger, and drive.

The hope, hunger, and drive within your heart can move mountains. Never underestimate this energy. Don’t take for granted how powerful it is in sustaining your artistic journey to achieve your lifetime’s purpose. These qualities are the recipe for dream realization.

7. The “im-possible” is possible.

The notion that dreams can be realized only by “other” people has no value or truth. This is a structured conditioning that needs to be broken and re-minded in your repertoire of thoughts. You are the creator of your experience. Though your journey isn’t about proving others wrong, it’s about affirming to yourself that you truly are a powerful being and can achieve any dream you desire to fulfill. No one should be imprisoned by thoughts of impossibility.

8. You are necessary.

You are here to share, expand, and grow. You literally affect everything in this universe. Your life as an artist is vital to the transformation of the world’s consciousness. You and your art are the conduit of change. It may seem minuscule to you, but one life can change an entire planet. Think of the impact made by great souls like Martin Luther King, Albert Einstein, Mother Teresa, Steve Jobs, Meryl Streep, and others—people who never gave up on their dreams and made extraordinary contributions to the transformation of our world.

9. You are an inspiration.

You have no idea how the accumulation of your life experiences revealed through your work can touch so many lives. You have the ability to enliven all of the previous reasons to fulfill your dreams in another person. Your life and its story may be the very thing that inspires someone else to go after their own dreams. You are the re-minder that the impossible is possible, that their presence is necessary and important, and that they are a small yet powerful part of something infinitely vast.

10. There is only one you.

Every day, if you can re-mind yourself that there is only one you and the mold has been broken, you would not be so eager to struggle to be something you’re not. In fact, if you fully embrace this truth, you’d begin to see that all those things you might have labeled as imperfections are the very things that make you perfect. Your star quality is your willingness to reveal the human condition courageously, fully, and freely, using the accumulation of your life experiences. It’s beautifully messy. It’s all your imperfections that make you perfectly human. You are the instrument to story. You are the conduit for giving the story life.

This is the beauty of being an actor. This is the impact of being an artist. Bring all of this to your life and your work. Bring YOU to your work. The world deserves and loves seeing YOU!