Ep 5: Belief Before Results

In this episode, I'm sharing one of my favorite concepts, Belief Before Results. It is the one thing that I implemented in order to create my Broadway debut in less than six freaking months. I invite you to listen to this with a really open heart, because we are about to get into it. You ready? Let's go.

Hello! You are listening to Love Your Life as a Performer podcast. I'm Kelli Youngman and I am The Life Coach for Performers. I help actors, singers, and dancers love themselves and their lives way more. So keep listening to learn how you can love your life, both on and off the stage.

Hello! And welcome back to Episode Five of the Love Your Life as a Performer podcast. Today, we are gonna get into a concept that I like to call Belief Before Results. And this is where I also want to  share with you that a lot of what I do with my clients is thought work plus magic. Okay. We combine the power of thought work with the power of magic and co-creation with the Universe.

This is it. This is the secret.  It always feels like one of those moments where it's like, all right, I'm coming clean, coming out, you guys. I'm a little woo. And if you follow me and you've followed me forever, you know, this already. I am the queen of manifestation and it always makes me giggle a little bit because manifesting is something that we all do all of the time.

So whether you wanna believe that it exists is totally up to you and just know it's like believing in gravity. Whether you wanna subscribe to the idea of gravity or not, it simply exists. Just like what we are gonna talk about today - the fact that your belief must come before the result. And by the end of this episode, you're gonna know exactly why this is true.

So let's just talk about energetically why belief comes before results. We have to have the belief first. The belief is literally what creates the possibility. Now I wanna remind you that beliefs are just thoughts that we keep thinking, right? Our beliefs are our most practice thoughts, and we will always experience what we are most practiced at believing.

That's just how it works, because we are creating our reality. We are powerfully creating our reality with our thoughts. Right. And I want you to think about why this is true. We've sort of started to explore it in some of the previous episodes, but really sincerely - our brains and our human experience, our consciousness is way more like a hologram, a projection, whatever you wanna think about visually, it is much more of a creation than we realize.

Okay. Now, if your brain is already like Kelli, I do not understand. Just stick with me. Okay. I want you to imagine that the life that you experience is coming from your beliefs about life. Okay. Now, the reason why we need the belief before the result is because that is what creates the result, right?

Like I want you to think about like a runner who's trying to beat their record. They have to believe it's possible for them to beat the record in order for them to take the actions in order for them to even have the desire to beat the record. Right. And the same is true in your life for your career. You have to be willing to believe that you have the ability and the capacity and the talent to book the job that you want to book.

Otherwise, we're not gonna show up. We're not gonna do the actions. And this is how we get into like, literally explaining why this is true. I want you to remember that your thoughts and feelings are one happy circle. And maybe not always happy! But they are constantly in flow and connected to one another.

Right? The thoughts that we're choosing to think create the feelings or emotions that we experience. And if you're experiencing a certain emotion, you can always tie it back to the thoughts that you're thinking, right? They go together. And when we are in a cycle of thinking and feeling, that produces the actions that we take from that point, right? Our actions are coming from the way that we feel.

Now I'm gonna share exactly how I freaking did this. Right. This is how I created my Broadway debut in less than six months. Okay. And I'm gonna give you the example of what it looked like before I was in belief and then after. Okay. And I want you to remember that you're gonna think about this and how it applies to you and what this looks like for you in your life. It might not be an exact literal translation. And you are here to get what you came for from this episode.

Okay. So before I believed I could be on Broadway, it looked like really passive action, right? I was going to lots of auditions. You might even say that on paper, I was doing all of the right things. I was going to auditions, at the time I was non eq. Back in the day, we had to show up really freaking early to get on that non eq list, the unofficial list.

If you know what I'm talking about, you know what I'm talking about. We'd have to sign up, stand in a little line, really wait early, be willing to feel all of these ranges of emotions while you're waiting and hoping to be seen. Right. So I was going to lots of auditions. I was showing up. I was even taking classes at some points.

Right. But I didn't actually believe at the time that it was possible. For years. It was sort of like this wishy washy: it would be really nice if I could be on Broadway. Maybe I could be on Broadway. Like that's so nice for other people who are on Broadway. Right. But I wasn't actually tethered and connected to the belief of knowing it could be me.

Right. So I went to my restaurant job. I was going through the motions, but I didn't have the belief. So every time that something happened, right? Like I went to an audition and got cut or I got typed out. I was just using all of that to reaffirm that my chances were low. Right. My most practiced thought and belief was that my chances are pretty low. Like I want to do this. And I just like don't know how. Like I was in belief that there was something I needed to figure out that was outside of myself in order to actually be on Broadway. Right.

And so when I started practicing what I now call Belief Before Results... and as a reminder results just mean anything you're trying to create. Whether it's being on Broadway or not, having a hundred thousand dollars more or not, right? Like that's just the tangible result you wanna experience. Could be anything.

Right. When I started practicing Belief Before Results that looked like practicing thinking the thought "I am going to be on Broadway by the end of the year." I am going to be on Broadway by the end of the year. I don't know how, I don't know where or what show or why, but I know, and I am willing to practice believing that I will be on Broadway by the end of the year.

And so when we talk about the cycle of thinking and feeling, I want you to imagine how that made me feel. Like sitting in the belief and the possibility of the belief, that I was going to be on Broadway by the end of the year. It made me really freaking excited! And way more eager to engage with my career because I had the belief that it was going to happen.

Right. I was willing to think and practice and feel into the reality of being on Broadway. So when I was thinking and feeling all of the excitement and all of the eagerness and all of the inspiration of like the possibility, guess what? That really freaking impacted my actions! I was taking way more inspired action.

I was going to auditions. I was showing up as my best self. I was showing up with the intention of booking a show, not just like going through the motions. Right. I was like really being committed and breathing energy into being a performer who was on Broadway. Every single day. That is the power of believing before the result.

Right? That is what it looks like in practice. Going to auditions, leaving and not letting that be discouraging. Right. But like tethering and really staying connected to the fact that no matter what, I don't know when, how or why, but I am going to be on Broadway by the end of the year. And giving myself permission to keep thinking that thought until it became a belief - 10 out of 10. Like six months straight, I was willing to practice thinking this thought every single day.

And I will let you know that this story has a fun ending. Okay.  I remember saying that I was gonna be on Broadway by the end of the year, told everyone. Literally believed it so deeply that I quit my restaurant job. Now I'm not telling you to go out and quit your job. And I want you to really think about how much belief I had to be in to know that no matter what I was gonna be okay and that I was gonna be on Broadway.

Okay. I literally put in my notice. Did not work Thanksgiving. They told me I was gonna have to work Thanksgiving, Christmas, or New Year's. If you work in restaurants, you know what that looks like. Right. And I told them, no, I'm not doing that.  So after Thanksgiving, that I decided I was taking off, I came back and I put in my notice. And when New Year's came and went, it was this moment of like insert the F-bomb.

Okay. It didn't happen yet, but I've been practicing and believing that I'm gonna be on Broadway by the end of the year. It's either now, or it's gonna be really freaking soon. Right? I had the option of thinking I was an idiot. I had the option of like running back to my restaurant job. Like, please gimme a job. I'm so stupid. I don't know why I even did that! But instead I just doubled down on my belief.

I was all in with believing that I was going to be on Broadway and it was supposed to happen by the end of the year. But since it hadn't, it must mean that it was going to happen really freaking soon. Okay. And I want you to think about again, how this applies to you.

Are you in belief 10 outta 10, that what you want is coming, that what you want is happening? Are you connecting to the excitement, the eagerness, the fun, all of the positive emotions that get you super freaking excited. And like in your body connected to the feelings you will have when that thing actually happens.

Right? Like when is the last time you thought about the thing that you wanted with 10 outta 10 belief? And if it hasn't been a lot recently, it's not a problem, but you just wanna be aware and give yourself the opportunity to come back to it. To come back to being willing to believe before the result. Okay.

And I feel like this is the perfect time to share that. Like literally not even a week into the new year, I was out at an audition and I was heading to a class that was for alumni at The Ailey School. And I got a call from my agents that asked me, "what are you doing right now?"  And I was like, I'm about to go take class.

They're like, okay, because we might have to send you over to Lincoln Center in order for them to hear you sing. And I was like, oh, perfect. I have my book. I have everything. I'm totally in the neighborhood. I am down to go. Like, just let me know when, and I will make sure I'm available.

They were like, great, go take your class. Go do that thing. Totally fine. We'll get back to you. So after class, I took a little Horton class, and after that I went to the bathroom and freshened up. Did my hair, got ready. Went to the shops at Columbus circle and was like singing out loud, over the banister. And I was just like, getting ready to go to this next audition.

I was like, amazing. I'm gonna nail this singing. They've seen me dance before. Like, this is my time. Right. I was like, this is it. I'm booking Broadway! Like, just so in that belief. Now, I was freaking exhausted because I had gotten up really early for that audition. I had just taken a Horton class, like. It was like now pushing like four o'clock and I'm like waiting.

I'm like, okay, just gonna keep waiting. Keep waiting to hear back from my agents. They're like, yes, we're gonna get back to you. Like, we'll let you know, as soon as I have more details, right. And I went to the Starbucks that's right on 58th Street. And I very vividly like got a coffee, hooked all of my bags on my arms, and put my head down for a nap.

Literally was like, I need to take a freaking nap. If I'm gonna go over to Lincoln center and do my best and audition, I need to freaking rest my eyes. And so as I'm sitting in Starbucks, I get a call from my agents. They put me on speakerphone. They're like, Hey Kelli, we have everyone here. You're on speaker.

I was like, okay. And literally they say the words, "You're making your Broadway debut!" And I did not know what to say.  I was just like, what in the world? What? And like, I literally wasn't saying anything. And one of my agents said, I think she's in shock. Because as far as I was concerned, I was about to go to a Lincoln Center to audition. Instead, I got a phone call that told me I was booking and making my Broadway debut. This is the power of Belief Before Results.

And I literally just went back and checked my email. And on Thursday, January 7th, I had an email from the company manager saying welcome to The King and I Company. Literally.

Okay. I can't make this shit up. This is what happens when you're willing to believe. It infuses all of the action you're taking. So much belief and magic because here's the thing, right? If you have a desire, the universe has a way to line this up for you. And this is where I want you to be willing to lean into some magic, because again, I'm saying magic, but really this is just how the Universe works.

When you are in belief, 10 out of 10, you will experience it. And I don't want you to use this against yourself, because 10 outta 10 belief does not mean that you are always every day, all day in full belief. Of course, we're human. We're not always gonna be 10 outta 10, but we have to be willing to go to the place of experiencing what 10 outta 10 belief looks and feels like.

And for me that looked like being willing to have the audacity to believe that I was talented enough to be on Broadway. To believe that people wanted to hire me. To believe that my chance was coming. That it was inevitable for me to be on Broadway. That I was going to make my Broadway debut, period. It didn't matter if it was last week or this week. Or however long it took, right.

I was willing to believe that it was going to happen. So then all of my feelings, all of my thoughts, all of my actions aligned with creating that vision. And because I was so certain and so clear, and I was so committed. The Universe was able to support me in creating it. Because I was aligning with so much knowing, that the Universe had no freaking other alternative, but to deliver this opportunity to me on a silver platter. This is what I mean by magic.

And when we go back to the idea that our thoughts, the way we are envisioning our life, the way we are believing what's possible, truly shapes the outcome - this is what I mean. Because again, we are creating the narrative. We are creating and writing the movie, the book, whatever freaking analogy you wanna insert here.

Right. Like we are the source. We are the creator. You are the powerful creator of what you want to experience. And so this is where, yeah. There's gonna be moments where your brain wants evidence. And are you going to give yourself permission, the audacity to believe without any freaking evidence? Because that's what it takes.

Being willing to look around and not let the current circumstances dictate what is possible for you. Not giving the current circumstances, the power of creating the outcome. Instead, you get to decide. You get to decide with your brain, your desire, your heart. You get to decide first. And whatever you practice believing before the result is what will come to you.

It is just the freaking laws of the Universe. It's literally how it works. And if you're not willing to get fully on board with that yet, not a problem. And what would it look like to just entertain or explore the possibility that it could be true?

I have used this in my life time and time and time again. And every single time I lean into the Belief Before the Result, things shift. Things happen - for me and for my clients. Right? Like this is tried and true. The belief comes before the result.

What does it look like for you to be willing to believe that the thing that you want to experience or create is possible? What would it look like for you to lean into 10 out of 10 belief? What would be different about you, your thoughts, your feelings, and your actions right now, if you KNEW that what you wanted to happen and come true was not just somewhere far away, out in the distance, but like literally could happen for you right now? What would be different?

And this, my friends is Belief Before Results. Just give it a try and remember it's okay. If your brain doesn't get on board right away.  And, what would it look like to at least commit to practicing the thoughts every single day? Multiple times a day on loop in your brain that whatever you want to experience is possible. Who would you be? What would be different?

And again, you don't have to take my word for it, but just go do a little experiment of your own. Try it on and see what happens in this coming week. It is just as easy to create your Broadway freaking debut as it is to manifest a free cup of coffee. You get to decide. You get to decide it's all freaking available to you. As soon as you're willing to believe in the possibility.

Okay. You know what? I was a little fiery during this episode and I think it deserves the fire because I want you to hear me. As long as you are willing to take on the belief before the result, you will see some wild freaking stuff start coming into your life.

I hope you enjoyed today's episode! And if you did, make sure to share it with a friend who is also an actor, singer or dancer. You can also help spread the word by leaving us a review wherever you listen to podcasts, in order to help people find this resource.

You can find me on Instagram at @kelliyoungmanwellness. And if you're interested in coaching, make sure to head to kelliyoungmanwellness.com/waitlist to join my list now. See you soon!