According to the dictionary, acting is “responding to stimuli in imaginary circumstances in an imaginative, dynamic manner that is stylistically true to time and place, so as to communicate ideas and emotions to an audience.”

Wow! That is a lot to wrap your head around.

In my 40-plus years as an actor and many many years of teaching actors, I have found some key ideas that help simplify the process of achieving a believable and honest performance.

The Number 1 rule in Acting:  Never get caught acting. 

If it looks like you’re acting – it is not believable.

The Number one skill of an actor is the ability to LISTEN.

LISTEN and  REACT : When I say ‘listen”- that means being aware of everything that is happening around you. You should be watching body language, tone, everything.

This is what we do as real people. We don’t just listen to words. If we do- we are missing a lot.

Just as in real life, we are focused but aware of  our surroundings and the nuances of the conversation all at the same time.

In this way, acting helps people to practice mindfulness. That is, they stay in the moment.

This can be especially beneficial for people who are struggling with anxiety and can be helped by practicing focus on the moment instead of too far into the unsure future.

PRETEND: Acting allows someone to pretend to be someone else or in another situation. This can be a much needed break for someone currently struggling with difficulties in life.

Many people report that they are able to embrace the distraction and the moment where they can assume the role of having another life or a different situation.

This break from reality can provide much needed rest to the mind and emotions.

LEARN THE ROLE —-NOT THE LINES : The lines will come if you spend enough time working on the role and thinking about why your character says what they say and how they feel about what the other characters are saying.

The satisfaction resulting from completing a scene where the lines were delivered correctly and the feelings were delivered correctly as well provides increased production of dopamine, the feel-happy neurotransmitter in the human brain.

This often results in lower blood pressure and a decrease in anxiety.

Give it a try. Get wrapped up in a role that allows you a satisfying distraction.

Used by permission of Alan Dysert. Alan Dysert is an actor and coach who teaches acting classes in the Nasvhille area.