Hot take: Your beliefs about the industry are holding you back
Beliefs are the stories we tell ourselves.
They filter how we see the world, shape our choices, and influence how we feel about our careers.
Some beliefs help us push forward. Others keep us stuck.
When I work with artists, I often hear the same limiting beliefs about the industry:
“The industry is unfair.”
“Auditions are a waste of time.”
“Being an artist is a grind with little reward.”
“Making it in this industry would be a miracle.”
“There isn’t enough work right now, so why bother?”
These beliefs might feel protective, like they’re saving you from disappointment, but in reality, they keep you from taking risks, showing up fully, and growing as an artist.
Why Limiting Beliefs Hold You Back:
Beliefs shape behavior and performance. Our internalized expectations—negative or positive—can directly affect outcomes through the self-fulfilling prophecy or Pygmalion effect, where what we believe influences how we perform.
In performance contexts, negatively biased self-beliefs are especially common among those with higher social anxiety, suggesting a tendency to default to self-doubt in auditions.
Additionally, our self-efficacy—belief in our ability to succeed—directly influences motivation, effort, and persistence. Strengthening it enhances performance and reduces avoidance.
In summary, the more we repeat a belief, the more we start to live as if it’s the truth.
If we believe auditions are pointless, we stop showing up with our best energy.
If we believe work is scarce, we approach opportunities from a place of fear instead of possibility.
Here’s the thing: you get to decide which beliefs you feed.
If you want different results, you need a different story.
Rewriting the Narrative:
Try reframing your beliefs so they work for you, not against you:
Instead of “the industry is unfair”, try “the right opportunities will find me when I’m ready.”
Instead of “auditions are a waste of time”, try “auditions are a chance to connect, learn, and perform.”
Instead of obsessing over “making it,” focus on enjoying the process and showing up as your best self now.
Your Belief Audit:
Ask yourself:
What beliefs do I have about the industry and auditions?
Are these beliefs helping me grow, or keeping me small?
How can I reframe them into something motivating and empowering?
Ready to Shift Your Story?
When you change the way you think about the industry, you change the way you show up.
If you’re ready to uncover what’s been holding you back and rewrite it into a belief system that fuels your art, book a strategy session with me and let’s start building that new narrative together.