Thankless? yes... depending on your point of view.
If you are able to pursue your art without the need for attention, praise or recognition, then you're half way there. Otherwise, if you are seeking those things with your art-you might be faced with some difficulty. Maintaining your health is paramount: Emotional, Spiritual, Financial as well as Creative health.
Emotional:
Find yourself a support system. No one can do it alone. Whether it be family, or close friends, it is important to surround yourself with a small, trusted selection of people whom you trust to not only be there for you, but also be a source of trusted feedback and advice. There will be times when doubt rears its head. It is during those times that your support system will be the most necessary; to be a sounding board to vent your frustrations, to laud your disappointments, etc. BUT, don't be hard on them when/if they call you on your own bullshit. That's why they're there. That's why you trust them. Embrace the tough love when/if it comes. It's all part of the process.
You might consider joining a class, your some type of club for no other reason than to meet new people; to expand your social circle - or create a new one.
Of course, emotional health is very much connected to your physical health. As I am no certified medical practitioner, nor nutritionist, etc. I'll refrain from giving the health advice. All I'll offer is the one is connected to the other. Make whatever deductions you will from that.
Spiritual:
I'm not talking clutching bibles and quoting scripture, here (unless, that happens to be your thing). What I'm saying is, it is important to have some type of connection to whatever higher power that you believe in , so as to achieve a type of perspective in life. It's easy to lose focus on the things that are truly important, what really matters. A connection to some type of spiritual belief system helps maintain perspective in life, especially when things seemingly are not going your way. There may be something "else" at work.
If nothing else, if you believe in none of these things (and that is OK), one should at the very least, be grateful for what it is they have. Sometimes, the mere focus on what one has, rather than what one doesn't have can be enough.
Financial:
Gotta bring home the bacon! What I work to achieve is pursuing a 2nd career that can be fulfilling at the very least, if not somehow connected to my primary passion. That 2nd career, for me, is teaching. I have been very fortunate to be teaching for the past 5 years now. It brings me much joy and fulfillment. Find that other thing that can help you maintain your financial responsibilities.
Bottom line: you need a job to pay the bills. There's no escaping it. As with your artistic life, why not make it something you enjoy? Look for those jobs that may prick the creative spurs in other ways. Maybe there's something else that you are interested in learning? The are also resources out there to help artists work when things are slow on the creative front.
Check out: The Actor's Work Fund, Playbill.com, ArtSearch, and others. Google them.
Creative:
For the actors specifically-when things are slow - get a group of friends/actors and do a reading. Read plays. Shoot your own shit. My God, with Flip Cameras, iMovie, and all other sorts of digital tools out there, it is increasingly easier to make your own projects. Begin to write! Draw...whatever! I suspect you don't need me to tell you this stuff...it's just nice to get the friendly reminder.
In these tough times, it's easy to think you're the only one going through the self-doubt and pessimism.
All I'm saying is...
You ARE NOT alone.
Be kind to yourself, and take care of yourself by maintaining your health, in all ways.
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