I am constantly amazed at how often I hear actors, from stars to newbies, complain about hating auditions.
Now, let's be clear... auditions are set up to be horrible. You're asked to act — which ideally involves a relaxed, safe, creative space in which to discover and play — in circumstances that are inherently high-pressure, high-stakes, and results-oriented. So when I say I'm amazed that actors hate auditioning, it's not because they don't have good reason.
It's because auditioning is a huge part of the job of being an actor. And in a field that is so competitive and unpredictable that the only reason to commit to it is because you love it and can't imagine doing anything else, it seems awfully punishing to walk around hating such a big part of it. (Also, complaining about auditions is a massive, whopping, wrecking-ball-sized form of career self-sabotage.)
I can personally attest that the life of a working actor is SO much more pleasant once you learn to love auditions. But... how?
The answer to that question is going be a little different for everyone, but the heart of it is very similar to an acting technique you may already be familiar with. What do you do when you have to play a character who is madly, passionately in love with someone you are not madly, passionately in love with? Find something about that person that you think is wonderful — their voice, their shoulders, their left ear — and fall in love with THAT. Spend time ruminating on that bit of them, what makes it so wonderful, let your affection for it expand, and let that feeling inform your relationship with the actor.
Similarly, the key to learning to love auditions is to find something about them that appeals to you and give it your focus. The easiest place to start is that an audition is an opportunity to act. Philip Seymour Hoffman put it this way (with apologies for the blurry video):
Interestingly, once you allow yourself to love acting in auditions, you may find there are actually other things about them that you love. I, for example, love the adrenaline rush of hearing my name called and walking into the room, because it reminds me of the moment I step on stage. I love prepping audition sides, because it's like being the director and star of my own tiny play. I love that, for the few minutes I'm in the room, the role is mine, and I can do anything I like with it.
(In addition to spending less time doing things you hate, there are other big benefits to learning to love auditions. For one, it is way more fun to watch an actor who loves auditioning than one who hates it. And when the decision-makers have fun watching you, they're far more inclined to give you the job. Actors who like to audition tend book more work.)
So if you're one of those people who partly (or wholly) hates auditions, think about what it might feel like to like them instead, and which part(s) of auditioning offer the best opportunity to start making that shift. It's one of the best gifts you can give yourself and your career.