In my work as an actress, on stage, film and tv, and in my years of work teaching acting classes of all levels, I've watched in amazement as process of developing optimal performance in acting began to illuminate process toward developing optimal performance in other areas of my life -- in all areas, in fact.

I began to see that qualities one needs to be a good actor were same ones needed to succeed in any other endeavor, including spiritual awakening. One needs confidence, full knowledge of role one is playing, and ability to make it real for oneself and, therefore, real for audience as well. (This is so like process of awakening, to me. We at once realize we are spiritual beings having a physical experience, and not other way around - as Wayne Dyer put it so well -- and in next breath, realize that we agreed to see it through, to make it real) One must be flexible, imaginative and emotionally free of restrictions and blockage.

One must be willing to dedicate time and effort, to explore script they've been given, work with other characters on stage and make their environment home.

One of best ways you can increase both your success-thinking and your creativity, is to take a good acting class. Preferrably one where there is improvisation included, which means that you work without a script - making it up as you go along. It's thrilling, scary and generates tremendous mental growth.

Books have been written on creative aspects of acting and I might write an article later on about that very subject but I only touch on it here, to let you know where some of these ideas have sprang from.

Others have sprang from my spiritual path and may include ideas and concepts that are new to you. I encourage you to just try these ten things for a month and see how you feel at end of 30 days!

10 Spiritually Sound Ways to Boost Success and Creativity

1. Accept assistance. Get help with some of what you are trying to do, or be willing to let something go when you are overwhelmed. Conquer any fear of you may have of collaboration or asking for help. If you look closely at why you feel you have to do everything yourself, you'll find some kind of fear operating that is keeping beneficial help from reaching you. In fact, during this next 30 days make it a discipline to ask for help at least once a day.

2. Vision it in! Dedicate time daily, to visualizing what you wish to create, and spend time doing some kind of practice or review of what you have done. Commit to doing something every day, but do not set a rigid amount that must be done. One sentence, written well, makes for a more successful day than twenty pages written poorly. In other words, develop a healthy respect for act of visualization and write it into your schedule as part of your work.

3. Seek non-human assistance. Ask for a totem animal, to help you manifest your dreams and to show you best way to proceed. Make a list of skills you need, and announce to Spirit that you would like a "power" animal to teach you. The animal may come in dreamtime or during your daily meditations. It may appear in your life. Personally, Spider is one of my most influential totems and appears a great deal when I am writing. If concept of Totem, or Power Animals, is new to you, you might enjoy reading Animal Speak OR Animal Wise by Ted Andrews. It opened a wonderful new world of wisdom and non-linear thinking for me and it might do same for you! You might also enjoy exploring use of Totem Essences for stronger connection to non-human teachers in your environment and spiritual realms.

Don't get me wrong, I am all for moving up and moving out. If job you have is not meeting your needs there is nothing wrong with searching for greener pastures. But looking for a new job is not an easy task. It requires a lot of time and energy. There is a lot of work involved with job search process. Unfortunately for many people look for a new job as a knee-jerk response to dissatisfaction at their current job. The good news is that a new job doesn't necessarily mean a new company. Let's examine several options you may want to consider before submitting that resignation letter.

1. Know why you are leaving. Is it money? Lack of growth potential? Personality conflicts with co-workers? Company policies? Invest time to understand why you want to leave your current employer and what you hope to find at your new employer. If these reasons are not clear to you, you may find yourself in exact same situation within months of starting at your new job.

2. Run TO something, not FROM something. If you have a dream job, and opportunity appears for you to get that job, then go for it! All of us should be so lucky to know exactly what we want to do and have a chance to do it. But if you're leaving because something at your current company is not right, your desire go somewhere, anywhere, may affect your ability objectively weigh a job offer.

3. Don't let money rule. You can always leave your current job, go somewhere else, and make more money. Its no secret that companies generally pay more to woo new comers. But think about other financial compensation you may have at your current company. Things like vesting in retirement plan, stock options, employer's 401K match, and better benefits. Dollar for dollar, these things be worth a lot more than a higher salary.

4. Look for other career opportunities within your current company. If you've built a decent reputation at your current company investigate other career opportunities there before looking elsewhere. Most companies have an internal job posting system that will allow you to apply for positions in other parts of company. Switching to another department within you current company gives much needed change that comes from starting a new job, but you won't lose any of benefits (vesting, vacation, etc.) that you've built up over time.