Prescription for Inspiration
Are you feeling fortunate? As creative and performing artists, the phrase “fame and fortune” is used a lot. We all know that the fame is about acknowledgment. But what about the fortune part? Is it really only about money? I don’t think so. Fortune and being fortunate, expresses itself in our daily lives in so many different ways.
If you woke up this morning with more health than illness, you are more fortunate than the million or so people who won’t survive the week. If you have never experienced the danger of war, the loneliness of prison, the agony of torture or the pangs of starvation, you are more fortunate than 20 million people around the world. If you attend a religious meeting without fear of harassment, arrest, torture, or death, you are more fortunate than almost three billion people in the world.
If you have food in your refrigerator, clothes on your back, a roof over your head and a place to sleep, you are richer than 75% of this world. If you have money in the bank, in your wallet, and spare change in a dish someplace, you are among the top 8% of the world’s wealthy.
If your parents are still married and alive, you are very, very rare, especially in the United States.
If you hold up your head with a smile on your face and are truly thankful, you are fortunate because the majority of people can, but most do not. If you can hold someone’s hand, hug them or even touch them on the shoulder, you are fortunate because you really know what compassion is.
If you can read this message, you are more fortunate than over two billion people in the world that cannot read anything at all.
You are so fortunate in ways you never even realize and NONE of it has to do with getting an agent, an acting gig, or the like.
Take a look at just how fortunate you are right now. Write a list of at least 10 “fortunes” you have. Write the list on a piece of paper small enough to carry with you in your wallet or purse at ALL TIMES. When you find yourself feeling down about missing that audition or having any other “poor me” thoughts, just take out that piece of paper and remind yourself of your riches!
Check out this quote from one of my favorite gurus –
I’d love to hear what makes YOU fortunate? What riches do you possess? Health, happiness, abundance of family and friends? Tell me…
I’m pretty grateful this morning for so many things — my health, my life, my apartment, my friends (jeez, what would I do without my friends?!), my job, my brain, my past, the fact that I get to live in the greatest city in the world — I could go on! Yes, things are pretty great right now, really great, in fact.
But it wasn’t always so. Less than two years ago, I was in constant pain, wondering if I would ever walk normally again, uninsured, unemployed and facing bankruptcy. But every day, I got up, thanked the Universe for the things I did have and what do you know — now I’m in a very different place! And all because I concentrated on the I was grateful for and made it a practice to say Thank You! all day, every day no matter what.
Lisa, you are on the right direction here — you know it and I know it and soon many more actors are going to know it too! Be grateful for the negative comments because those tell you that you are hitting folks where they live! Sometimes we have to be led kicking and screaming to the promised land — because we’re afraid, we don’t think it really exists, we don’t think we deserve it — and even if it does and we do, we still fight it because we feel safe in our old paradigms. We know how to live in lack and fear because that’s what we’ve always done! We have to teach ourselves to come in to the light, or be taught, by someone like you who has the courage of her convictions and knows that this is a true path. You’ve lived it, you’ve done it and you’ve seen what can happen if you let go and say “Thank You!” So, thank you my friend and keep on keepin’ on! xo
Hi Lisa, I just read your email on inspiration and why you do what you do, and I wanted to let you know that I love the emails you send. Even though I am self motivated and very optimistic, it still feels good to know there are people in the world who share the same ideas. My friend is someone who just started in the business but she could really use one of your seminars and if I had the money I would have definitely attended. Keep up the Goode work and keep fighting the Goode fight.
Best,
Sol Goode
http://www.gotcast.com/SolGoodeNy
http://www.exploretalent.com/solgoode2
re: The Oy that turned in to a Yay!
Lisa, I love your inspirational emails! Please don’t allow an occasional nay-sayer to deter your generosity and positive spirit.
One of the things that has drawn me to you and all the other’s is EXACTLY your spritualality (sp) There are SO many career coaches out there that I cannot read all of them. They all have something to contribute. But YOU have that EXTRA for me that I love reading what you say and how you help us. And one of the main things you have is your beautiful way of thinking and giving us not just the practical guidance but keeping us aware that we are not alone and call it what ever you want….God is by our side. Thanx and don’t ever lose that Lisa…..maray
Hi Lisa,
Just read the email you sent, about someone getting on you about sending spiritual messages. First of all, anyone who would bother to say something like that, isn’t feeling very good about themselves. As far as I’m concerned there can’t possibly be enough spiritual words sent out into the world from anyone. Especially in our business, it’s great to constantly be reminded about what’s really important in life. I’m ever so grateful for my family, friends, good health and for the work that comes my way, that I love. So please do keep sending out those inspirational words! Thank you for all you do!! Bonne Journée, Monique Bricca
I am certainly fortunate and extremely grateful for the three things you cited above, being “happiness” the most recent addition to the list. I recently came across with a very interesting research made by Neuroscientist Richard Davidson on “Investigating Healthy Minds”. He says “happiness” is actually a skill and as any other it can be worked at and developed! Only the fact I found that out and BELIEVED it really opened the doors to probably one of the most important discoveries in my life. Since I’ve started “working on it” I’ve been incomparably happier that I used to be.
Other things that make me fortunate:
– Having a curiosity bug that propels me to learn new things. My lasted passion is stargazing. Looking at the sky and being able to identify constellations as well as having an idea about where we are in this vast Uni, or as some people are now proposing, MULTIverse of ours brings me joy and a peculiar kind of comfort;
– I’m fortunate for being a foreigner allowed to legally work as a professional actor in the US;
– Having a musical ear which helps me not only with music, as I’m primarily a musical theater actor, but with speaking other languages as well;
– I’m grateful for the years I “have” for I believe growing old/maturing is a privilege. I truly love the English language but when it comes to telling your age I find much more accurate and positive answering “how many years do you have?” as we do in the romance languages, Brazilian Portuguese in my case, instead of answering “how old are you?”. Unfortunately the concept of “old” is not usually well comprehended yet.
– I’m extremely fortunate for being able to love and for recognizing and receiving it even when it comes in disguise;
– I’m fortunate for having the right people showing up in my life to teach me and guide me through paths they have successfully walked – just when I’m ready for them. I welcome you, dear Lisa (:
Thanks Lisa for more wonderful words of wisdom. If I am having a bad day, reading anything from you is a ray of sunshine. You are a loving, warm, and generous spirit, and especially appreciated in this business! Thanks too for reminding me of all the many, many things I have to be grateful for (and I do need reminding sometimes)! Shine on!