Each person has a different journey to success. Nearly all of the voices that you look up to, follow on Social media and want to emulate had to go through hard times and doubt before they became the successes they are. And probably still go through hard times.
It is incredibly rare to find an overnight success. The general rule of thumb in voice over is it will take 3-5 years to be able to make a success of this business. That is if you are prepared to put in the hard work that those before you are already reaping the benefits of.
Life has a way of kicking you in the nuts once in a while! The trajectory of most successful journeys are usually shaped like a rollercoaster. All of the ups and downs, thrills and heart in mouth moments. We all will reach amazing highs which should be enjoyed and celebrated with unbridled fervor. And then you will have down parts that should be shared with people you trust and overcome with mental strength and the support of those around you.
Even the strongest people have those deep lows once in a while. We are all human after all. I am constantly caught off guard when I discover that someone I looked up to and admired for their mental strength reveal that they too suffer like everyone else. Not caught off guard in a bad way. It is just a gentle reminder that none of us are perfect.
Mental health is a fragile beast. In my mid-twenties I was struck down with severe bouts of anxiety and panic attacks. It was so bad that I became agoraphobic for a whole year. This surprised all of my friends and family as they thought I was outgoing and successful. Not being able to control your own brain is a scary thing and it crippled me! I was fortunate. I decided to stay away from medication and immersed myself into self-improvement. I had an epiphany one day. I decided that I wasn’t going to worry about my mental health anymore. I decided to give it to a higher power and changed my attitude to “if this is what the world has planned for me – then there is nothing I can do about it”.
Instead, I focused on what I could affect. I started exercising, even though that meant going outside to run every day. I started reading self-help books like “feel the fear and do it anyway”, “the 7 habits of highly effective people” and many, many more. Slowly and surely, I started to turn a corner. I started facing my fears. It was scary, and sometimes I failed - numerous times. Eventually though, I started to get my life back under control.
A different person. In truth, I look back on that time as a turning point in my life. It made me the strong, resilient person I am today. I have changed, but for me, it is a change for the better. Why am I telling you this? I don’t know! Hopefully it may give someone the strength to overcome their mental health issue or at least start to talk about it. These days, mental health does not have the stigma that it used to have. I am really glad of that. If you are struggling, talk to a close friend or relative and let them help you. If you don’t have anyone to speak to, feel free to reach out to me.
Don’t be ashamed of mental health.