Confidence through play might sound like a bunch of hooey, but it is one of the most freeing things you can do to elevate yourself as an actor.
After all… Don’t they say that actors get to play all the time? I think there’s truth to that!
When Did You Really Let go?
When was the last time you let yourself play. Not just playing a video game for an hour or two or scrolling through your phone, but truly play like when you were a kid?
The kind of play where you laugh until your belly hurts, move without inhibition, and feel a spark of joy light up inside you.
For most adults, that kind of play feels rare. But confidence through play isn’t just for kids. It’s one of the most powerful, overlooked tools for growth and transformation.
At The Bright Stars Greenroom retreats, I’ve witnessed how play can shift self-doubt into self-expression, and fear into confidence. It’s why I created this space, because as we get older we tend to hustle more, play less, and ultimately lose belief in ourselves along the way.
Whether you’re an actor on stage, a creative soul, or someone who simply wants to feel more alive, the healing power of play is your secret ingredient.
Why Adults Forget to Play
As children, play was our natural state. We created stories, embodied magical characters, and let our imaginations run free. But as adults, the world teaches us that play is “childish” or a “waste of time.”
Productivity, structure, and achievement become the measure of our worth…
This mindset leaves many people burned out, disconnected, and creatively blocked. Without play, we lose touch with the very part of ourselves that fuels acting confidence, creativity, and joy.
The good news? That playful spark never disappears. It’s waiting for you to invite it back!
The Healing Power of Play
Why is play such a powerful force in building confidence and healing? Because it:
- Relieves stress: Play interrupts the cycle of overthinking and resets your nervous system.
- Boosts creativity: Through playful imagination, you access new perspectives and ideas.
- Awakens the inner child: The part of you that still believes in magic gets to shine again.
- Strengthens connection: Play brings people together, building trust and authentic bonds.
- Unlocks transformation: Play allows you to step out of your everyday roles and into possibility.
When you get out to play freely, the walls of self-consciousness will start to melt away and make space for confidence through play to take root! Here is where you will start to see transformation taking place.
Lessons from Acting: Finding Freedom on Stage
As an actress, I’ve learned that play is not an optional thing, it’s actually essential. Great acting doesn’t come from rigid performance; it comes from curiosity, presence, and the courage to explore.
Improv, for example, is pure transformation through creativity. It forces you to let go of control and respond in the moment. Embodiment exercises ask you to step into another body, voice, or persona. Even rehearsal games remind us that laughter and experimentation are as important as technique.
In these moments of playful exploration, actors gain confidence through play. They discover that vulnerability and spontaneity are not weaknesses, they are the keys to authentic self-expression.
Try this at home: Walk across your living room as if you are a mythical creature. Notice how your body feels different, how your energy shifts. That’s the power of embodiment, and it’s one of the many playful tools that unlock confidence!
Performance Capture and Mocap Actors do this a lot! They have to let their imaginations run wild. From embodying the characters, to envisioning the world around them that has yet to be created. Their capability to play is what drives their acting decisions in every videogame or production.
Lessons from Mermaiding: Embodying Magic
If the stage is one playground, the ocean is another. At my creative wellness retreats, slipping into a mermaid tail is more than just wearing a costume, it’s stepping into a new way of being.
Guests will laugh as the waves crash around them and their creativity will start to awaken! They shine during photoshoots that feel less about posing and more about remembering their own beauty. They move playfully, splash freely, and release self-consciousness.
What happens in those moments is profound: self-doubt melts away. Joy rises. Participants reconnect with their inner child healing, and they leave with a deeper sense of confidence than they thought possible.
That’s the magic of mermaiding. Sure, it’s fun on the surface, but beneath it lies confidence through play and transformation!
Confidence Through Play in Everyday Life
You don’t have to be on stage or in the sea to experience the benefits of play. You can bring it into your daily life right now with simple practices:
- Say “yes, and…” – Borrow from improv. Instead of shutting down ideas, expand them. This mindset sparks creativity and builds confidence.
- Move your body playfully – Dance, skip, or pretend to walk like a character. Embodiment invites you to break free from stiffness and rediscover freedom.
- Create for fun, not perfection – Paint, draw, sing, or write just to express yourself. Play makes creativity a joy, not a performance.
- Invite silliness – Put on music and let yourself move however feels right. Even five minutes of joyful movement can shift your mood.
- Join playful communities – Whether in a theater group or at a creative wellness retreat, surrounding yourself with play-minded people makes confidence grow faster.
Why Play Builds Unshakable Confidence
Confidence doesn’t come from perfection, it comes from freedom. When you allow yourself to play, you stop worrying about getting it “right” and start embracing who you are.
Through acting confidence, inner child healing, and transformation through creativity, play becomes your foundation for living authentically. The result? A kind of confidence that doesn’t shake when life gets tough, because it’s rooted in joy, connection, and presence.
Your Invitation to Play
At The Bright Stars Greenroom, our retreats are designed to bring this truth to life. We combine acting-inspired embodiment practices, playful creativity, and experiences like mermaiding to help you unlock your full potential.
If your soul has been craving more laughter, connection, and magic, consider this your invitation. Step into a space where play is sacred, creativity is celebrated, and confidence is reborn.
Because the secret ingredient to unshakable confidence isn’t more hustle, it’s play. And the ocean is calling at the Halloween Mermaid Retreat!
