MT in the City: Don’t Be Shy, Be A Star
If you were as obsessed with watching Disney channel movies as I was, I’m sure you recognize the quote “don’t be shy, be a star” from the movie Life Size featuring Tyra Banks. If not, I highly recommend you go watch the movie or at least listen to the song because there’s no way you won’t be inspired. Seriously though, every time I listen to this song it makes me want to take on the world. So, now to get to the real point: in my modern class, we were given an assignment that involved reading quotes and figuring out how they pertain to us as artists. This quote especially caught my attention (and made me think of the song from Life Size):
“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us. We ask ourselves who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? We are all meant to shine, as children do. It is not in some of us, it is in everyone. As we open our hearts more and more, we are moved in directions we are supposed to go. Our gifts well up inside us and are ready when we are. And what we give, we will receive, and what we withhold will be withheld from us.”—Marianne Williamson
When I read this quote, it really hit home for me. I know I and other performers struggle with this concept, as well as people of other professions. As an aspiring musical theater performer, I have noticed this fear of being “powerful beyond measure” in myself. Whenever it comes time for me to showcase my performance skills, I feel myself holding back and not wanting to put forth 100% of my energy. I am constantly afraid that my best efforts won’t be good enough. Needless to say, this fabulous quote by Marianne Williamson really put things into perspective for me.
I’ve learned that, as performers, we cannot belittle ourselves. We cannot take on the mentality that we don’t deserve success just because there are other extremely talented people out there. By thinking this way, we are subconsciously accepting defeat. In other words, we are depriving ourselves of the opportunity to succeed. There is something extraordinary and unique in each of us. We must first embrace what makes us extraordinary and unique before we can display that to the world.
As the fall semester comes to a close (time is literally flying), I want to challenge all of us to actively seek success instead of backing away from it. In fact, I think I’m going to make this my new year’s resolution since it’s almost time to ring in 2015. I truly believe that if we allow ourselves the chance to succeed, it will significantly improve our performance careers as well as positively impact our daily lives. So, I think now is the perfect time to listen to Tyra Banks sing “Be a Star” to get some extra motivation in our quest for success. Who knew Disney channel could give us such great words of wisdom?
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