The Theatre of Life!

Not being as engaged in theater anymore, I still benefit greatly from the experiences.

It taught me many things that are still of great benefit to my life.

Having experienced many things in theater, performing in numerous plays, and being directed by various directors.

I learned many good and strong fundamentals, such as not caring about what other people think.

One time, I needed to do some grocery shopping, but we were also in the middle of a rehearsal, and for some reason, I was wearing a yellow corset and makeup.

However, I still needed to get my groceries, so I did it while wearing my costume.

I have also done grocery shopping in a dress and multiple times in a suit.

After reflecting on all my experiences, I realized that everything I learned from theater - the frameworks, the theory, the styles of playing, the mindset - could also be applied to life.

Why shouldn't we use frameworks that are used to replicate life in life?

When you watch a bad play, it could be due to a couple of things why it is bad.

It is badly directed or they had a lack of time for rehearsals.

In life, it is the same.

You either direct your life in a bad way, or you do not put in the time to make something out of it.

Theater is an art where you need to develop multiple skill sets, just like the art of living.

In this article, we talk about a couple of frameworks and mindsets from the following topics:

• Rules of presence on the floor

• Character development during rehearsals

• Directing your play and rehearsals

Rules of presence on the floor

You have to focus on what is happening.

You're always on and paying attention so you can see everything and give everything focus.

You are always conscious of your presence and that of others.

Think of it like a switch.

When an actor is in their head and not focused, we say they are turned off.

But when they are present and focused, whether they have lines or not, we say the actor is switched on.

A good actor is always switched on.

In life, it is the same.

When you're off, you will not achieve anything or less because you're half asleep.

And when you're switched on, you take action and react.

You're active and present.

When you're present and able to react to what is happening, stop!

Before you react, you need to absorb what is happening to you.

Collect it internally, so you slow down for a second and then react.

In this way, you gain more control over your emotions and can react from a more honest and thoughtful place.

This works on the floor as well as in life.

Live in the moment, you know what is coming next in theater, but the situation is always different.

Embrace the here and now, as it is always.

React as if you are here and experience everything for the first time.

The things that I struggle with in theater are also the things I struggle with in life.

I have a lot of difficulty staying in the moment in theater, and in life, I struggle with being too much in my head.

What you are performing is, in one way or another, some kind of reflection of yourself.

Character-development

You are who you are with full conviction and dedication.

That is your character.

It could be for a role you're playing, or it could be that you behave a bit differently around certain people.

That is all part of your character.

Everything you ever play in theater is always a part of you.

You cannot wash away who you are just because you play someone else.

Leonardo DiCaprio is different in "The Revenant" than in "The Wolf of Wall Street" and again different in "Shutter Island".

We still see Leonardo DiCaprio.

But he approaches each different role in a different way with full conviction.

It works that way in life as well.

See yourself as a character and live that character with full conviction.

Just like in a movie, your character develops over time.

Your character's development is created by everything you do, say, and experience.

The character always has a purpose, and because he has a purpose, he makes choices.

You need to make choices based on the purpose of your character.

What you say is always loaded with intention and meaning; it has a purpose and urgency.

Because what you say comes from a choice to go for something.

When what you're saying has no intention or meaning, your words become shallow.

You did not make a real choice, but most likely a half one.

That is also a lesson I take with me in life from theater.

To have a purpose, always be conscious of my intentions, and in that way work on your character development through the choices I constantly make.

If you embrace that philosophy: You show up to achieve your goal as an individual.

You turn the switch on and strive to do better.

Directing your play & Rehearsal

You determine how you control your situation based on how you rehearse.

A play can be either good or bad based on the time you spent creating it.

How much time did you invest in your rehearsal?

Everything needs to be practiced.

When you invest the time and effort, you will become competent.

If an actor does something repeatedly, they can do it like the back of their hand.

And when something goes wrong, it is a present because a challenge arises to prove how competent you really are.

You can only handle the present if you are present.

If you are switched on.

It is something that you cannot anticipate, and that is what makes it fun.

You are always proud when the upcoming problem or so-called present is solved, and otherwise, you just learned a new thing.

Time to Play

If we break down all the principles we talked about, we know that:

You can learn how to give fewer fucks.

You know that you need to have focus and give focus to things.

Turn on your switch.

When you're switched on, you:

• Are aware.

• Listen.

• Focus.

• Act.

When you're present and able to react to what is happening.

You need to absorb what is happening to you, so you can slow down and have more control over the situation.

Live your character with full conviction based on the needs and goals of your character.

Make your choices in a way that is beneficial to your character's development.

When you put in the time and effort, you will become competent.

And when something goes wrong, it is a present given to you!

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That's it for now. I wish you a good day - Job Baltes.