You might get stuck in the fear of making mistakes when preparing for a role or audition. You might notice you obsess over learning your lines perfectly, repeating them endlessly, afraid of forgetting or messing up. Or maybe you catch yourself figuring out what the casting director wants or how the character should be played.
When you watch my training below you will discover that this mindset of “I have to get everything right” is not creative—it's defensive. It makes acting feel like taking a test, full of pressure and fear. This approach sucks the joy out of your work. It’s like you're constantly preparing for the future, trying to avoid failure, and never fully present in the moment of creation.
Here's the thing: in art, mistakes don’t exist. Take Picasso, for example. If he had been afraid of making mistakes, he never would have painted women as cubes or challenged artistic rules.
When you’re fully expressing yourself—your impulses, your truth—there’s no room for mistakes, because it’s all part of the creation. It's not about being good or bad; it’s about being authentic and present.
Children know this instinctively when they play. They aren’t worried about "getting it right"—they’re just living in the moment, expressing their imagination without limits. You need to reclaim this sense of freedom in your work. Yes, you might forget a line or stumble over a word, but even those moments are opportunities to create something new.
However, you have been conditioned to fear making mistakes—especially by the educational system, where you’re taught to follow rules, behave, and avoid mistakes. This conditioning creates a mindset where fear governs your actions, even when it comes to acting.
But acting isn’t about survival—it’s about expression. You can’t create from a place of fear. The path to freedom as an actor isn’t about learning more, taking more classes, or doing more takes. It’s about undoing this conditioning, breaking free from the ropes that tie you to the fear of making mistakes. You need to reset yourself and undo the mindset that there’s a "right way" and a "wrong way."
Watch my training to hear all my thoughts on this topic.
After you watch the training, I'd love for you to join in the conversation happening in our private Facebook Group THE INSTINCTIVE ACTORS' SOCIETY. You can get answers for your specific situation directly from me and connect with THOUSANDS of like-minded actors across the globe, so we can move things forward faster together.
If you're not already a member, be sure to request to join ASAP here.
See you there!
Jo Kelly
Creator, The Reset Journey From Resistance to Freedom
P.S. Whenever you're ready, here are three ways I can help you:
Get your FREE training on how to STOP TRYING TO BE A GOOD ACTOR SO YOU HAVE A CHANCE AT BEING GREAT
THE ACTORS REHAB
A 3 Day Detox with Jo Kelly. Stop feeling like shit, fall in love with acting again & know that you ARE going to make it.
Get on the waitlist for my program, The Reset Journey From Resistance to Freedom, and stop struggling to access your natural, authentic talent in the audition room or on set. You'll learn how to reset your instrument to be 100% instinctive and free in just 33 days.
Comentários