In his book At Left Brain Turn Right, acting coach Anthony Meindl says:
“The true source of happiness in creating is derived not in the end result of what creating can bring us because it’s insatiable, but simply in the creating itself.”
Our desire to create is insatiable. It’s the same for you, for me, and for Meryl alike.
The truth is, there is always room for more – more money to make, more success to be had, more jobs to be won. There is always going to be more to achieve. There is always going to be another step in front of you.
A lot of actors say, “Oh, if my agent could just get me into this room with that director…” or “If I could just have my own TV show…” or “If I could just get one great role in a film…” then all my worries would fade and I wouldn’t have a care in the world.
Truth is, if our agent could just get us into this room with that director, we would then say, “If only now they could get us into that room with this director. If we just had our own TV show, we would then say, “If only now I could just get my own film.” And if we could just get one great role in a film, we would then say, “If only now I could just this bigger role in that better film.”
Insatiable.
The way I see it, I have two options:
- I could sit here and complain that I am not a series regular on a TV show. Yet. That I am not the lead in a film. Yet. That I am not sitting in the plush chair next to Jimmy Kimmel’s desk at 11:35. Yet.
- Or I could be grateful for the time and ability I do have to truly find my calling, to develop my acting skills, to discover my passion for writing. And I could recognize that I am able to be creative whether or not someone hires me to do so, whether or not I am getting paid millions to do so.
What about instead of focusing on all the things we don’t have in our lives, we started to focus on all the things that we do have in our lives? All the things that we are accomplishing, the opportunities we do have, the creative ideas we are developing.
The things we think we want will never truly bring us happiness. They are temporal. Fleeting.
“The things we want can’t bring lasting happiness but they can compliment our inherent natural state of joy.” – Anthony Meindl
While we can find joy, peace, and satisfaction in the journey, in the in between times, in the process of it all – after all, life is a process – when it comes down to it, all the stuff, the money, and the “more” of this world will never satisfy us.
Only God can do that.
Only God can satiate the insatiable in our lives. Question is, will we allow Him to?
“For I satisfy the weary ones and refresh everyone who languishes.” – Jeremiah 31:25
“You open Your hand and satisfy the desire of every living thing.” – Psalm 145:16
