Self Image: Who are you…EXACTLY?
Let’s take a look at the specific Acting for REAL roles that make up who you are.
Creating a positive attitude and enlightened state of mind requires a healthy self-image. Your Self-Iimage is based on an identity that is composed of the specific roles you play in life. Acting for REAL is about specificity. When you simply refer to yourself as a “human being,” you’re saying that you’re a mammal who walks on two legs, who currently has a heartbeat—you are nothing more than the highest form of animal intelligence. You are more than that—so be more than that. You are a man or a woman. You are a mother, father, brother, sister, artist, aunt, uncle, teacher, student. You are a leader. You portray many diverse and wonderful roles in life, so write them down—NOW! Take ownership of everything that you are!
The more specific roles that you identify yourself in, the more power you feed into your identity. Be more than just a human being—just one of the flock. We are born as humans and are beings until we die—we don’t have to do anything at all to maintain that identity—not a single thing. But to be successful in the personalities that we portray—to be a leader and set ourselves apart from the pack—we must see ourselves enacting our roles.
In other words, visualize the role you’d like to play and then identify the character you need to be to succeed in it. In the bible, when Moses asked God who he was, he identified himself as the one called “I AM!” Once you have accepted with certainty, your own “I AM” you will be able to create characters that will empower you. Having a clear, specific sense of your identity is one of the keys to creating the positive self-image that will drive you to success!
Here is a fun exercise used by my Actors for REAL for you to do now:
PICTURE EXERCISE:
- Find a magazine or newspaper picture in which a person is revealing each of the “I AM” personalities in the Creative Wheel of Excellence: Humor, Humanities, Sexuality.
- Now duplicate each picture (costume, pose, mood, etc.) and freeze until you get a sense of the emotion.
- Hold onto that emotion. Have fun with it!
- Post the picture up somewhere and walk, talk, and move, the way that person would in the picture.
You are now creating the psychological gesture of the person in that picture and moving closer to creating your own “I AM” personality.
You are the Star in your life—enjoy your roles!
Be Bop!
