Stop Overthinking the Moment: Start Owning It

EPISODE #399

Stop Overthinking the Moment: Start Owning It

Hey amazing people — welcome back to Casting Actors Cast. It’s me, Jeff Dreisbach, here to help you unlock your potential as an actor and a creative human with big dreams and an even bigger heart. Today — we’re tackling one of the sneakiest acting problems on this Earth. One that has taken down even the most talented people. One that shows up at the worst possible time, usually right when you hit record.

We’re talking about overthinking.

That mental spiral where suddenly your brain is narrating your audition like it’s doing play-by-play commentary during the Super Bowl. “Here comes the second line — careful, careful — don’t mess this up — oof, eyebrow twitch — bad eyebrow! Reset! Reset!”

Overthinking is the enemy of presence. The enemy of impulse. The enemy of surprise. It’s like having a backseat driver take over your brain while you’re trying to actually drive the car.

So let me ask you a question: When you’re really living a moment — like REALLY living it — do you think about it while you’re in it? No! You just live it. You notice the other person. You feel the emotion. You react like a human — not like a student trying to pass a final exam.

That’s the shift we’re going to make today: from thinking the moment… to owning the moment.

Let’s talk psychological truth first. Your brain wants control. It’s wired for survival. It’s constantly scanning for danger and mistakes. And auditions? They feel like danger. So what does the brain do? It over functions. It takes over. It micromanages.

But acting happens in your body. In your breath. In your heart. Thinking is preparation. Feeling and responding is the work.

So how do you shut off the mental commentator? You don’t. You simply make it irrelevant. You override it by having a clear objective. What do I want from the other person? How does what they say change me? What do I do because of that?

Those are actionable questions. They take you out of self-evaluation and into storytelling.

Here’s another helpful truth — your impulses are smarter than your plans. Every actor has experienced that moment where something happens you didn’t expect — a laugh, a pause, a physical shift — and suddenly the scene comes alive. THAT’S what we’re chasing. Not the perfectly mapped-out, pre-approved performance… but the living one.

So let’s go deeper. What causes overthinking for actors?

Fear of being wrong. Fear of being judged. Fear of being boring. Fear of looking stupid. Fear of not booking.

Fear, fear, fear, fear, fear. Fear is loud. And fear makes you think instead of do.

But guess what? The only wrong choice is the choice you’re afraid to commit to.

I want to offer a simple technique. Before you start a tape or walk into a room, say out loud: “I am here to tell the truth, not to be perfect.”

This frees your nervous system. This restores breath. This invites humanity.

Now let’s look at how overthinking physically shows up:

• You hold your breath

• Your eyes dart

• Your shoulders tense

• You disconnect from the other person

• You go faster than the scene’s rhythm

When that starts happening — and it will — ask one question: What did they just make me feel? Not: How did I do? Not: Are they impressed? Not: Did I blink too much? Just: What does this moment do to me?

That question automatically puts you back into presence.

So here’s a truth bomb: Acting is reacting. Reacting requires listening. Listening requires relaxation. Relaxation requires trust. And trust requires knowing who you are as an artist.

You are not here to show something. You are here to reveal something.

That means the moment isn’t happening inside your head — it’s happening between you and the other person.

Try this: Pick a single, simple playable action for the audition. Not ten. ONE.

“I need you to confess.” “I need you to stay.” “I need you to love me.” “I need you to notice me.” “I need you to tell me the truth.”

That is your anchor. Everything else becomes instinct.

Let’s talk bravery. Owning the moment is brave. It means risking… everything. It means letting go of the illusion of control. It means trusting that your training lives in your bones and will come through when needed.

Think of your most memorable performances — on stage, in class, wherever — I guarantee those moments felt like flying. Not like thinking.

What if every audition could feel like flying?

It can. When you stop overthinking and start owning. When you stop policing yourself and start participating. When you stop needing the moment to go a certain way… and start letting it unfold however it does.

I want you to hear this: You do not need to earn the right to be yourself in the scene. You already have that right.

So tell the truth. Trust your instincts. Be discoverable. Let the scene change you. Be alive.

That is how you book roles.

Thank you for choosing to be present with me today. Thank you for your bravery. I believe in your ability to show up with confidence and curiosity. I cannot wait to see you own the moment — not survive it.

Prepare smarter. Act better. Book more. I’m Jeff — and I’ll see you next time.