Steps to Success:

Watching “The Sound of Music” at the Rosebank Theatre, is one of my earliest childhood memories.

I couldn’t have been more than six. Sitting in the dark, mesmerised, I had a realisation:

I wanted to be Julie Andrews.

Julie, Julia — her name was so close to mine, I felt it was almost my destiny. I knew I wanted to try out different lives, professions, experiences, have costume changes and be dramatic.

But I never pursued an acting career. I dabbled. I didn’t like to audition. I was afraid of rejection and that if I tried and failed, then I’d have to give up on that dream.

Holding on to the idea of being an actress someday was more appealing than its actual reality of hard work in a tenuous career.

And now, in my first foray in more than a decade, I’m back treading the boards (ever so lightly) in a small part in an upcoming BMDS production.

The show is “Allo, Allo”, a situational farce set in German occupied France, based on the long-running British television show.

I play Helga, a German soldier partial to taking off her clothes. (A bit of a leap from my original aspiration of the singing nun in lederhosen)

It has been such fun to be in the theatre again, part of a hilarious cast and awesome crew.

My experiences there have taught me about far more than just acting. Life lessons from playing this Nazi stripper include:

You might not always get what you want, but you can get what you need.

For years I longed to train as a professional actor — but why? What is it that really draws me to it?

The excitement of acting, for me, includes all the variety that I have already mentioned.

It is also the joy of collaborating with energetic, creative people and being part of something bigger that brings pleasure, different ideas or at least sparks dialogue in others.

I get a thrill from testing my courage and stretching my comfort zone and I have always loved playing ‘dress-up’.

It turns out that I am already getting most of what I desire, just not in the package I originally expected it.

Outside of amateur dramatics I have long-since orchestrated aspects of my real job that fulfil many of these needs: running workshops and teaming up with other practitioners.

I attend courses and participate in groups through which I meet different people, face challenges, and get to work creatively.

And you may remember, recently I even worked with a wardrobe coach — which is just a grown-up version of ‘dress-up’, only with less of the beads and mother’s lipstick.

Being clear about what we really want from any endeavour or situation helps us to find that satisfaction we are seeking more readily.

Creativity and flexibility in approach helps us to meet our needs rather than putting off our happiness by attaching strict conditions to it.

“I’ll only be happy/satisfied when I’m …”

Where can we work our joy into our life now?

What’s my motivation Mr Hitchcock? … Get it where you can.

I’ve admitted before, I’m a procrastinator. Sometimes I require a shove to do things, even those I genuinely want to.

I’ve also learned that I’ll do more for others than I will for myself. Knowing this, now when the house gets really untidy, I invite people round for a dinner party so I tidy up.

Playing Helga, the script requires me to shed some clothes (much to my mother’s horror).

I’m not comfortable doing this at the beach, let alone in front of an audience full of spectators.

So in similar fashion, I have been inspired to address some issues that I have been … overlooking.

For the first time I have hired a personal trainer, affectionately known as ‘Becky the Butt-inator’ (however often called worse things under my breath during workouts).

I have discovered muscles I never knew existed, and even alleviated some back pain issues in the process.

While there’s still be more jiggle to my ‘goose-step’ than I would ultimately like, taking this part has prompted my change in the right direction.

Seeking added sources of motivation can help us reach our goals.

Ask questions like: Whom does this action benefit? What are all the possible positive outcomes that can result from taking this action? What help do I need to stay on track?

Where there’s a will, there’s a play.

It is amazing how, when we really want something badly enough, we can make things happen.

Tony Robbins said that a business never failed from a lack of resources, only from a lack of resourcefulness.

As a single parent of a young child, attending daily rehearsals seemed impossible.

But with the support of family and friends, and calling in every babysitting favour (possibly for the next year) I have managed to swing it.

When we see our goals and desires as musts, we will do what it takes to make them work. Refocusing ourselves by asking, “what is this going to give me?” and “why is this important?” strengthens our determination.

“Don’t take anything personally” — one of The Four Agreements offered by Mexican nagual guide, Don Miguel Ruis (Amber-Allen Publishing, 1997).

Regarding auditions: I have learned that rejection is all about how we look at it.

It’s a cliché but true that for every ‘no’ we get, there are more opportunities just waiting in the wings — if we’re not moping too much to recognise them.

Yes, the ego feels sore, but do we really want to be in a situation that isn’t right for us: be it a part in a play, a job, a relationship?

Forcing a role doesn’t make it a good fit. I’ve learned from auditioning that people are looking for their expectation.

It doesn’t mean we’re not good and capable of doing a great job, just that we don’t match their idea.

And it’d be counterproductive trying to be something that we’re not.

Get Older and Bolder.

Back when I had a body better suited to stripping off my clothes I would probably never have taken a role like this.

The older we get, the less we seem to care, but why wait? There’s a joy in relaxing our inhibitions and daring to be and accept ourselves as we are.

We tend to hold so many limiting beliefs that stop us from fully participating in life. -Challenge these by asking: who says I should do/not do this?

What would or could happen if I did? What is likely to happen?

Can I live with those consequences? What would I think of someone else doing this?

Taking the time and effort to do what we love, and keeping the embers of our passions burning, builds more happiness and contentment into our lives.

I may not be Julie Andrews, but I’m living my dream in my own sweet way. And I wouldn’t want to give up the day job!

‘Allo, ‘Allo opens at BMDS, April 30th. See www.bmds.bm for more info.

Julia Pitt is a trained Success Coach and certified NLP practitioner on the team at Benedict Associates. For further information contact Julia on (441) 705-7488, www.juliapittcoaching.com.