--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If I could go back to my first year of…" description: "\"If I could go back to my first year of acting school, I'd probably say: 'Relax. Stop taking yourself so seriously.'\" — Seth Numrich" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f64/seth-numrich-25399_acting_if-i-could-go-back-to-my-first-year-of-a_1940092.jpg" --- # If I could go back to my first year of acting school, I'd… ![“If I could go back to my first year of acting school, I'd probably say: 'Relax. Stop taking yourself so seriously.'” quote by Seth Numrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f64/seth-numrich-25399_acting_if-i-could-go-back-to-my-first-year-of-a_1940092.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f64/seth-numrich-25399_acting_if-i-could-go-back-to-my-first-year-of-a_1940092.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f64/seth-numrich-25399_acting_if-i-could-go-back-to-my-first-year-of-a_1940092.jpg) > “If I could go back to my first year of acting school, I'd probably say: 'Relax. Stop taking yourself so seriously.'” [Seth Numrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-numrich/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He advises actors to relax and not take themselves too seriously **In simple terms:** Relaxation improves performance and authenticity Key Takeaway Practice humility and ease in creative work Themes acting mindset self-awareness Mood lighthearted encouraging Type creative motivational When to use this quote - rehearsals - auditions - live performance Key Concepts improvisation confidence stress management Questions to Reflect On - What techniques help you stay relaxed on stage? - How does humor affect performance? A Different Perspective Over‑seriousness can block creativity ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Acting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acting/) [Acting school](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acting-school/) [Actor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actor/) [School](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/school/) ## Related quotes > [It's no secret that my family was very, very poor, and I don't want that for my life or my children's life certainly. 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Let them tell you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-tyler/to-my-earlier-self-i-would-like-to-say-relax-the-story-will-come-in/) [Anne Tyler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-tyler/) > [I went to acting school for like a year and ended up doing voiceovers and stuff. I could have done a lot more with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mic-geronimo/i-went-to-acting-school-for-like-a-year-and-ended-up-doing-voiceovers/) [Mic Geronimo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mic-geronimo/) > [Some people don't know how to relax and have fun. Stop taking everything so seriously, life's too short to be uptight and miserable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonya-parker/some-people-don-t-know-how-to-relax-and-have-fun-stop-taking/) [Sonya Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonya-parker/) > [I loved getting classical training in terms of acting. I would've stayed in acting school for the rest of my life if I could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dane-dehaan/i-loved-getting-classical-training-in-terms-of-acting-i-would-ve/) [Dane DeHaan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dane-dehaan/) > [If I could go back and talk to the me who was just starting to do comedy, I would have told myself to relax…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christian-finnegan/if-i-could-go-back-and-talk-to-the-me-who-was-just-starting-to-do/) [Christian Finnegan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christian-finnegan/) > [People love to judge, get used to it and stop taking it personally.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathryn-budig/people-love-to-judge-get-used-to-it-and-stop-taking-it-personally/) [Kathryn Budig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathryn-budig/) > [If you are content with yourself, you'll stop taking those little steps forward and begin taking big steps backward.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-maddux/if-you-are-content-with-yourself-you-ll-stop-taking-those-little/) [Greg Maddux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-maddux/) > [“Old Age- You can tell when you're getting old when you stop taking drugs for fun and start taking them to keep you alive.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-matthew-nespoli/old-age-you-can-tell-when-you-re-getting-old-when-you-stop-taking/) [J. Matthew Nespoli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-matthew-nespoli/) > [You always have to remember to take care of yourself first and foremost, because when you stop taking care of yourself you get out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jada-pinkett-smith/you-always-have-to-remember-to-take-care-of-yourself-first-and/) [Jada Pinkett Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jada-pinkett-smith/) > [“When you stop searching, you find. When you stop looking, you see. When you stop battling, you win. When you stop taking, you receive.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-marques/when-you-stop-searching-you-find-when-you-stop-looking-you-see-when/) [Joan Marques](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-marques/) > [The only time you run out of chances is when you stop taking them](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-pope/the-only-time-you-run-out-of-chances-is-when-you-stop-taking-them/) [Alexander Pope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-pope/) > [The only thing that could stop me from taking selfies is a photo of what I look like taking selfies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-only-thing-that-could-stop-me-from-taking-selfies-is-a-photo-of/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Seth Numrich > [When I was six, someone in my family gave me a yellow pencil holder that had my name printed on it. I still have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-numrich/when-i-was-six-someone-in-my-family-gave-me-a-yellow-pencil-holder/) [Seth Numrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-numrich/) > [I'm always interested in storytelling and whatever form that comes in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-numrich/i-m-always-interested-in-storytelling-and-whatever-form-that-comes-in/) [Seth Numrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-numrich/) > [Boxing is really an art form. It might just look like two people beating each other up, but when you look closer, it's actually…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-numrich/boxing-is-really-an-art-form-it-might-just-look-like-two-people/) [Seth Numrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-numrich/) > [I don't think there should be a hierarchy of what is valid in the arts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-numrich/i-don-t-think-there-should-be-a-hierarchy-of-what-is-valid-in-the-arts/) [Seth Numrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-numrich/) > [I've gotten pretty good with a tray between acting jobs. In fact, when I got the TV show 'Gravity' I was still doing my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-numrich/i-ve-gotten-pretty-good-with-a-tray-between-acting-jobs-in-fact-when/) [Seth Numrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-numrich/) > [Math was always hard for me, but my dad would come up with ways of making it fun. 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Although I remember our annual dodge-ball game as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-numrich/during-my-childhood-i-played-just-about-every-sport-imaginable-which/) [Seth Numrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-numrich/) > [I really hope that I can continue to do classical theatre - it's something I am really passionate about and I'd love to explore.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-numrich/i-really-hope-that-i-can-continue-to-do-classical-theatre-it-s/) [Seth Numrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-numrich/) > [Theater has been my way of learning about everything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-numrich/theater-has-been-my-way-of-learning-about-everything/) [Seth Numrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-numrich/) > [Theatre has been a part of my life since before I can remember - my dad is also an actor and a director and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-numrich/theatre-has-been-a-part-of-my-life-since-before-i-can-remember-my-dad/) [Seth Numrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-numrich/) > [Working with Al Pacino was an amazing experience. He's such an amazing guy. He's an incredible performer and actor - and, aside from that,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-numrich/working-with-al-pacino-was-an-amazing-experience-he-s-such-an-amazing/) [Seth Numrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-numrich/) > [If you think you're in shape, try boxing. You'll discover that you are not. It's the most physically challenging thing I've ever attempted, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-numrich/if-you-think-you-re-in-shape-try-boxing-you-ll-discover-that-you-are/) [Seth Numrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-numrich/) > [Next to acting, being in the great outdoors is my biggest passion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-numrich/next-to-acting-being-in-the-great-outdoors-is-my-biggest-passion/) [Seth Numrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-numrich/) [Explore all 23 Seth Numrich quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-numrich/) ## More Acting quotes > [I actually think acting is a form of self-hypnosis. You have to be hyper, hyper aware of what's going on around you. You have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julianne-moore/i-actually-think-acting-is-a-form-of-self-hypnosis-you-have-to-be/) [Julianne Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julianne-moore/) > [Many Republicans have always reminded me of professional WWF wrestlers. They come into the ring all pumped up and acting like they're invincible and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-feig/many-republicans-have-always-reminded-me-of-professional-wwf/) [Paul Feig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-feig/) > [I'm a big fan of all the Boston guys that are acting - Matt Damon , Ben Affleck, Mark Wahlberg - they made a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenny-wormald/i-m-a-big-fan-of-all-the-boston-guys-that-are-acting-matt-damon-ben/) [Kenny Wormald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenny-wormald/) > [Acting is a grind, just like music is a grind. Sometimes it takes longer than what you can give.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/big-sean/acting-is-a-grind-just-like-music-is-a-grind-sometimes-it-takes/) [Big Sean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/big-sean/) > [It was only when I started making short films in college and I was looking for girls to play the me-ish parts that I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lena-dunham/it-was-only-when-i-started-making-short-films-in-college-and-i-was/) [Lena Dunham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lena-dunham/) > [Writing is something I took up rather than anything I had an inclination toward. I like acting -delivering someone else's message - but writing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-martin/writing-is-something-i-took-up-rather-than-anything-i-had-an/) [Steve Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-martin/) > [I can still function when I don't have that balance I crave. I had a tendency to be precious about acting, thinking of it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-regan/i-can-still-function-when-i-don-t-have-that-balance-i-crave-i-had-a/) [Laura Regan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-regan/) > [Actors don't hate acting. Most people don't hate acting! Whether you're a child mucking around with your friends or a grown up being paid…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liv-hewson/actors-don-t-hate-acting-most-people-don-t-hate-acting-whether-you-re/) [Liv Hewson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liv-hewson/) > [It was only when I went to acting school that I was like, "You are absolutely such a pigheaded freak show that you thought…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giles-matthey/it-was-only-when-i-went-to-acting-school-that-i-was-like-you-are/) [Giles Matthey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giles-matthey/) > [Once I committed to acting, this has been it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernie-hudson/once-i-committed-to-acting-this-has-been-it/) [Ernie Hudson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernie-hudson/) > [It definitely helps to have the acting experience going into singing, because when you're singing, you have to portray the emotion you were feeling…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-newman/it-definitely-helps-to-have-the-acting-experience-going-into-singing/) Ryan Newman > [The show was number one in the ratings, Gordon Russell was our head writer, the story lines were magnificent and the acting most exciting.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-storm/the-show-was-number-one-in-the-ratings-gordon-russell-was-our-head/) [Michael Storm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-storm/) > [I've done so many other projects where you're in a room with a reader and you're acting your lines out: 'We have to get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-cummings/i-ve-done-so-many-other-projects-where-you-re-in-a-room-with-a-reader/) [Jim Cummings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-cummings/) > [I do not believe in public shaming. I do believe that young adults go to college to learn things, and that this process will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-weingarten/i-do-not-believe-in-public-shaming-i-do-believe-that-young-adults-go/) [Gene Weingarten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-weingarten/) > [Poetry has, in a way, been my bridge to my acting career.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/omari-hardwick/poetry-has-in-a-way-been-my-bridge-to-my-acting-career/) [Omari Hardwick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/omari-hardwick/) [Browse all 12,062 Acting quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acting/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "If I could go back to my first year of acting school, I'd probably say: 'Relax. 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