“No one is useless in this world who lightens the burdens of another.”

― Charles Dickens

If you’ve attended one of my workshops or a consultancy you will have heard me tell you to move into service. This is a far more empowered place than we normally occupy as actors and it is such a win/win. It makes us feel less nervous, more valuable and we are also contributing positively – wherever we are being of service– so everyone’s a winner.

However, actors often ask me how to do this. This is because we have lost our belief that we have anything to add or to give. In the times we are currently in, there is no work to be booked, or auditions to be had, so being of service is even more relevant. More relevant, because all we have right now is our power to give, to pay it forward. So, let me show you what that might look like.

This means instead of asking to receive we move into giving. We give the very things we want and more. The concept behind this is that is starts things moving. In order to breath in (receive) we must breath out (give), there is no point simply holding one’s breath! You may find as soon as you start to give, we move things in such a way as to also receive, because everything is connected.

Here are a few ideas for now, and for after the lock down, of where you could be of more service.

Write a review or testimonial.

We all love to have positive feedback, especially when it is public, and our audience/industry professionals can see it. But when was the last time you gave someone a review or testimonial? Perhaps for that Air BnB, that haircut or that plumber. Now we have the time to do this instead of writing the reviews in our head and never actually putting into the public domain.

Take time to truly see those around you.

Most of us want to be seen, as actors and as human beings, so the invitation is to pay other people more attention. This is one for when we’re back in public again, but make eye contact as often as possible and set the intention to truly see people, especially those who we may normally not even look at – because we are so busy.

Listen better.

Another core need is to be heard, connected to the above. We can all moan that our emails go unread or we are not heard by our partner or agent or the industry, so start being a better listener yourself. Properly hear someone and don’t just jump in with your story.

Give things away.

Again, this may need to wait until charity shops are open again but let me plant the seed. Everything is energy, your time, money, things. When we hoard, we create a block of that energy, so give things away. We know how good it feels to do a clear out – so think who might benefit from your donations or recycling and give things away.

Connect people.

We know that people work with people they know, like and trust. And we all want a good network. Switch into service and think – who can you connect? You may think you don’t know anyone, but you do, you will. It might be connecting two writers who could benefit from working together.

You get the gist. Want help? Go help someone else. Want appreciating? Go appreciate someone else. Want forgiveness? Forgive someone else. Once you start this you will see how good it makes you feel, how it raises your vibration and your self-worth, and in time, this will bear fruit – which by then will merely be the cherry on the feeling-good cake. So, get out there (metaphorically!*) and be of service. You have so much more to share than you think. And, later, let me know what comes back into your life as a result.

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