"Holiday Magic"

Looking After the Unconscious

Life can be series of experiences that ultimately just confirm things we already know.

Watching people working at building their acting skills it is not surprising to see that those who work hard at understanding and practising their craft get better and better. So why is it a surprise to discover that not working at these skills can also produce results. A number of actors returning from the Christmas break have made significant steps forward in the application of the acting process. Why is this? Maybe it's just that 'old holiday magic'!

Take a Break
The relaxation that is generated by turning off, letting go and not actively thinking about achieving goals is obviously very productive too. If hard work and effort has been put into learning, then relaxing and unwinding is also of use it would seem - particularly when working with a process that has a large intuitive component. Perhaps it allows the acquired information and knowledge to enter the unconscious mind, to be drawn upon later with relaxed confidence and trust. Working with a process that does require confidence and trust means that a relaxed well-placed self-confidence also produces great results. So looking after the actor's unconscious process is as important as working at the conscious one.

But we knew that! Every time we return from a holiday we know that.

Vive le "holiday magic".

January 2003

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