Beyond Structure: Creating What Can’t Be Taken Away

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This intimate conversation explores the balance between craving stability and embracing uncertainty in artistic pursuits.

Our guest, an established actor, shares their strategy for navigating the feast-or-famine nature of the entertainment industry. Rather than remaining “at the beck and call of some force that might grant me a job,” they’ve discovered the power of self-created projects—work that generates passion, purpose, and forward momentum regardless of outside validation.

The discussion takes a fascinating turn when examining the language we use to describe our needs. What begins as a desire for “structure” transforms into something deeper: self-actualization and creative autonomy. Through gentle questioning, we uncover what truly lies beneath—a yearning to create something enduring in a profession defined by temporary roles.

For anyone in a creative field struggling with uncertainty, this episode offers a fresh perspective on building a sustainable creative life. It’s about honoring what you create that won’t vanish when external projects end, cultivating balance that isn’t disrupted by professional ups and downs, and finding fulfillment through self-directed work aligned with your deepest values.

🎧 Listen now to discover how you can build a creative foundation that remains steady—even in uncertain times.

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Episode Transcript

guest (00:00):
you know, giving myself a structure that, so that it's
not just the audition or the theacting, you know.

Lisa Hopkins (00:12):
It's interesting the word sorry, I harp on the
words with my clients.
I'm like structure.
That's an interesting wordchoice, especially for someone
who's lived such a structuredlife, structured by everything
else.
So if you were to to maybe Idon't know reframe that word as
something that really worked foryou, about what you really what

(00:34):
would that be.

guest (00:36):
I mean right, yes, I think honestly like giving
myself projects, things that I'mpassionate about, things that I
can look forward to working onevery day, so that I'm not at
the beck and call of some forcethat might grant me a job.

(00:57):
But you know it's like so Ithink it's more about yeah, if,
if structure is not the word,then it would be like I don't
know Self actualization in mythen.
It would be like I don't knowself-actualization in my days,
like you know, something that Iset out to do that I don't need
anyone to sign off on, you know.

Lisa Hopkins (01:22):
Yeah.

guest (01:27):
It's interesting, because what?

Lisa Hopkins (01:30):
I'm hearing underneath what you're saying is
is balance that won't bedisrupted.
So so I understand what youmean, Like it would make sense,
knowing you and knowing justeven what you've just told me,
that you're used to structure.
You're used to the structure ofan eight week show or of an
agent, or you know your wholelife has been structured.

guest (01:44):
Yeah.

Lisa Hopkins (01:46):
And I and I understand that you don't want
to be at the back and call.
However, you also acknowledgethat that is the life of an
actor.
Yeah, yeah, so, but but whenyou say structure and your brain
knows all that data you are,you're a natural.
Like the words you use werelike work that I want to be

(02:07):
passionate about.
You could have been talkingabout what you do.

guest (02:10):
Right, right.

Lisa Hopkins (02:11):
Yeah, you said projects.
You said work.
Yeah, passion, that's exactlywhat you do.
Yeah, you work on projectsyou're passionate about, and
right, and, and what I'm hearingyou say is because you know
you've grown vertically, let'ssay, right, you've grown.
You've definitely risen, asthey say in your field, and will

(02:31):
continue to.
There's no doubt.
If you want to keep doing that,you will, and that's just about
a series of choices andopportunities and a lot of
things you can't control.
I know that if you want to do it, you will control your vessel
and you will take care of yourbody.
I know you will.
So I don't.
I don't worry about that, butwhat I'm hearing and you tell me
if you think this is true,cause I could be totally wrong

(02:53):
but what I'm hearing is thatyou're you're yearning for
something that you create thatwon't go away.
When right that?
Honor it's like something youhonor and value.
That doesn't go away when youget drawn that way.

guest (03:12):
Yeah, totally that's it, that's it.