Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Yumarie Morales. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Hi Yumarie , thank you so much for opening up with us about some important, but sometimes personal topics. One that really matters to us is overcoming Imposter Syndrome because we’ve seen how so many people are held back in life because of this and so we’d really appreciate hearing about how you overcame Imposter Syndrome.
Much like overcoming any type of adversity, dealing with imposter syndrome is an ongoing journey. One that will be met with highs and lows depending on your perspective and mood on any given day. The more you work on it, the better your chances of prevailing. The more experience you have doing the thing, the less intense those feelings of imposter become but when they do creep up, I remind myself that there were others involved in the decision for me to “be here.” I’m not simply taking up space, I was selected; because of my artistry, my personality, my value…me. I didn’t pretend to be anything before I got here, so me being here, was not a mistake.
Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?
As a working actor in Los Angeles, I recognize how incredibly privileged I am to earn a living doing what I’m most passionate about. This is one of the most competitive and sought after careers in this city, and as the recent Union strikes have shown, there aren’t very many actors who can earn a living wage, even when they have success. I’ve been able to continue working during the strikes because commercial work is under a separate contract than with the AMPTP. And even still, one can imagine how much more competitive the acting pool is for commercial work, considering it is one of the only avenues an actor can be employed in right now. I think it’s extremely important to bring awareness to what this string of strikes, not only in entertainment, but among a variety of labor unions, is hoping to achieve. In this country, many of us are used to a comfortable lifestyle, one that is becoming less and less affordable across careers and socio-economic statuses. I stand in solidarity with my union, SAG- AFTRA, and with all the labor unions seeking to improve our quality of life by insisting on terms we not only deserve but have earned!
I recently became a Mother, which has been both challenging and rewarding (as any parent can attest to). But this life event has also exposed many more disparities in my field. There are very few resources available to working mothers at all, let alone in the entertainment industry. I’ve had to advocate over and over for amenities during early Motherhood that I shouldn’t have to beg for. As I assimilate into my role more comfortably, I hope to aid other parents in this specific journey by providing aid through my own experience.
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
Pursuing a career in Acting takes a lot of tenacity, a lot of confidence, and a lot of creativity. Not only in your craft, but in the day to day management of your life, and emotional well being. I once came across a quote that went something like, “Do it without, celebration, validation, or praise,” and it really resonated with me. When I became solely reliant on what I thought of myself, how I felt about my worth, how I understood my value, I became less attached to what not getting a part meant or how it affected the way I felt about myself and my dreams. I have never been afraid to work hard and while I struggled to make a name for myself, I worked many odd jobs proudly in the pursuit of my dreams. With age and experience, I have grown more confident in what I contribute to the world, not just an acting project. I think this has helped me become a well rounded individual, friend, partner, and parent. Which is not done with the intention of becoming a better actor, but bleeds in to it no less.
As we end our chat, is there a book you can leave people with that’s been meaningful to you and your development?
I went through an intense period of healing and self discovery some time ago and discovered “The power of the Subconscious Mind” by Joseph Murphy. My biggest take away was how much each of us think our ways in to negativity or poor well being. We obviously don’t have control over every aspect of our lives and circumstances, but we do have power of our reactions. This was a game changer for me. Knowing that I had agency over how I felt and how my mindset really played a major role on how things played out in my life. I highly recommend to anyone seeking enlightenment.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.imdb.me/YumarieMorales
Image Credits
Casey James Knight Matt Kallish Stephanie Girard
