In the performing arts, the word “no” is almost as common as applause. Rejections, setbacks, long waits between gigs – they’re all part of the journey. But here’s the truth: how you experience those moments depends not just on the situation, but on your mindset.
That inner dialogue running through your head? It’s more powerful than any director, agent, or critic. And it can either propel you forward or keep you stuck in place.
The Choice You Face Every Day
When you get knocked back in an audition, miss out on a role, or see peers booking jobs you want, how do you respond? Do you shrink into thoughts like:
- “I’ll never be good enough.”
- “There’s not enough work to go around.”
- “I’m just not one of the lucky ones.”
If so, you may be sliding into what’s called a victim mindset – one that views the world through the lens of scarcity, defeat, and fixed limits.
But what if you flipped the script?
Choosing the Stronger Story
Take Rubin “Hurricane” Carter — a professional boxer wrongfully convicted of triple homicide in the 1960s. Despite being sentenced to life in prison, Carter refused to let his situation define him. He showed up to prison in a suit, declared he’d fight the injustice, and spent the next 19 years studying law and philosophy. When his conviction was eventually overturned, he walked out with grace and resumed his life, refusing to carry bitterness.
His story reminds us that even in the toughest conditions, your mindset is your greatest power. If he could maintain purpose, learning, and hope in a prison cell — what’s possible for us, in the face of rejection or a bad day?
Scarcity vs Abundance: What Lens Are You Wearing?
Think about it: have you ever felt deflated scrolling through social media, seeing someone else’s win? That’s a sign of a scarcity mindset – one that says there’s not enough success to go around.
But the abundance mindset cheers for others while knowing your time is coming too. It sees possibility, not competition. And it keeps you focused on what you can do, rather than what’s seemingly out of reach.
Abundance says: “If it’s possible for them, it’s possible for me too.”
Growth Mindset = Career Longevity
In an industry where learning never stops, performers with a growth mindset thrive. They know talent can be developed, feedback is fuel, and failure is part of the path to mastery.
By contrast, a fixed mindset assumes “I’m just not good at that” – and stops progress in its tracks.
Ask yourself:
- Are you willing to fall on your face in a dance call to get better?
- Will you take voice lessons even when it’s humbling?
- Can you pitch your cabaret idea even if it doesn’t land the first time?
If the answer is yes – you’re cultivating a growth mindset. And that’s one of the greatest tools in your performer toolkit.
Let Go of Black-and-White Thinking
Perfectionism, comparison, “always” and “never” statements – they keep performers stuck in fear and self-doubt. Life isn’t all or nothing. One failed audition doesn’t make you a failure. One ‘yes’ doesn’t make you invincible.
Great artists live in the grey areas – where messy growth, vulnerability, and real transformation happen.
Quick Mirror Check-In
Try this: Look at yourself in the mirror. Think of a worst-case scenario — notice your posture, your breath, your expression. Now shake it off and think of something exciting you’re working towards. See the shift?
That’s the power of thought in action. Use it. Regularly.
Your Call to Action
This week, challenge yourself to retrain your brain for performance success:
- Catch your inner critic. When you hear “I’m not good enough,” reframe it: “I’m learning and getting stronger.”
- Shift to abundance. Celebrate others’ wins. Say: “That means success is possible for me too.”
- Use affirmations daily. Speak powerful truths out loud: “I am capable. I am resilient. I go after what I want.”
- Reframe failure. Didn’t get the gig? Ask: “What can I learn?” Then apply it next time.
- Keep showing up. Even when it’s hard. Especially when it’s hard. That’s where breakthroughs begin.
You are not powerless in this industry.
You are a creative force — and your mind is your greatest tool.
So, what story will you choose to believe this week?
Make it one where you grow, thrive, and keep showing up.