What does it really mean to be in the spotlight?
People often think glamour, confidence, attention.
But for those who’ve lived in it, there’s another side we rarely talk about.
I was given a solo dressing room recently.
When I first started out, that felt like the ultimate milestone. Like I have finally “made it.”
Now, I think how fragile these markers of “worth” can be.
What feels like privilege can also become a pressure… the sense that you need to keep deserving it.
A reminder that in this line of work, you’re always being measured… even when you don’t want to care.
Anyone in the limelight — celebrities, radio DJs, dancers, speakers, directors, choreographers, musicians, performers — knows this.
You’re evaluated for your craft, yes, but also for things that have nothing to do with it.
How you look.
How you smile.
Whether you “fit” an idea.
And over time, you trade small pieces of yourself without noticing.
I’m pondering as we head toward the end of 2025:
how easy our self-worth can get tangled up with things that are temporary, unpredictable, and often outside our control.
Maybe that’s the part we don’t say out loud enough.
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Warmly,
George Chan
This Is How We Heal
George Chan, MCOU, is a Counsellor, Grief Educator and Breathwork Coach who specialises in helping individuals navigate grief and loss through his private practice, This Is How We Heal. With a rich background in theatre and entertainment, George brings creativity and empathy to his work. When he's not in the therapy room, you might find him performing, choreographing, or working on a new production—or spending time with Luna, his Jack Russell Terrier, who doubles as his unofficial co-therapist and production critic.