Ever wondered how you can turn your creativity into a tool of self-expression, joy, and resilience, free from the constraints of societal norms and external validation? Want to discover how a shift in perspective can transform creativity from an uphill battle into a playful and joyous process? Are you ready to embrace the concept of creative entitlement, and use criticism and rejection as fuel to keep creating? Let's explore these ideas and more, challenging our perceptions about creativity and its role in our lives.

Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear

Jack Gilbert, a man born in Pittsburgh in 1925, was a poet whose talent and charisma could have made him famous. But he wasn't interested in fame. After his first collection of poems won the Yale Younger Poets prize and was nominated for the Pulitzer, he disappeared from the public eye. 

He spent two decades in Europe, living in Italy, Denmark, and mostly in a shepherd's hut on a mountaintop in Greece. There, he wrote his poems in solitude, content in his simplicity and isolation. The inspiring story of Jack Gilbert is one of courage and the pursuit of a creative life.

Next meet Susan, who rediscovered her love for figure skating at forty. She defied her self-consciousness and fear to embrace something that brought her joy and transcendence. Her story is a testament to a creative life - an amplified, happier, more interesting life. 

Susan’s journey underscores an important lesson: fear is a natural instinct, a survival mechanism. But when it comes to creative expression, fear is a hindrance. It's vital to make space for fear, but never let it take the driver's seat. As you embark on your creative journey, remember, fear is allowed a seat, but never a vote. It's a constant companion, but never the guide. 

Your life is short, rare, amazing and miraculous. You have extraordinary treasures within you. Bringing those treasures to light takes work, faith, focus, courage, and hours of devotion. It requires you to think big, to defy fear, and to live a creative life. 

Are You Brave Enough to Defy Fear and Unleash Your Creative Potential?

One day, the author, Elizabeth, had the most incredible thing happen. She was inspired to write a novel about a story her partner Felipe told her about the Brazilian government's failed attempt to build a highway across the Amazon jungle back in the 1960s. It was an ambitious project swallowed up by nature's fury and corruption. This story gave Elizabeth goosebumps and a dizzying rush of inspiration. It was like she was falling in love with an idea - a novel based around this story.

However, Elizabeth's creativity was derailed by a real-life drama when Felipe was suddenly denied entry into the US. She had to put her novel on hold and focus on resolving their immigration crisis. By the time things settled, Elizabeth picked up her novel again, but it felt empty. The idea had left her. It was as if it had given up on her and moved on to someone else.

Coincidentally, Elizabeth had been building a friendship with acclaimed novelist Ann Patchett over letters. In one of their exchanges, Ann mentioned she was writing a new novel about the Amazon jungle. Intrigued, Elizabeth asked her about it and was stunned to find out that her story was almost identical to hers. It was like the idea Elizabeth had abandoned found a new home with Ann.

This phenomenon - an idea leaving one person and appearing to another - is akin to the scientific concept of 'multiple discovery', where two or more scientists independently discover the same idea. It seems creativity, much like inspiration, has its own will. It can come and go, move from one person to another, seeking the most available and willing collaborator. It's a game of chance, a dance with the divine.

However, most of Elizabeth's writing life isn't always magical. It's disciplined labor, showing up at her desk every day, with or without inspiration. She believes in working hard, and if she's lucky, inspiration will come, like a moving sidewalk beneath her feet. And when it goes, she lets it go, and continues to work diligently, always grateful for the chance to create.

So, fellow creators, remember this: Inspiration is fleeting, and creativity can be fickle. But show up, work hard, and maybe, just maybe, you'll be blessed with that magical moment of 'big magic'. After all, isn't that what creativity is all about?

Embracing the Big Magic: The Unseen Force of Creativity and Ideas

Picture this, Elizabeth, the author, hails from a family of hard-working individuals - dairy farmers, furnace salesmen, engineers, and nurses. They weren't the artistic types, but they nurtured a spirit of resilience and independence in her. 

Elizabeth's father, a chemical engineer turned Christmas-tree farmer, taught her the importance of pursuing what you love, regardless of societal norms or expectations. Her mother, a nurse, showed her the importance of self-reliance and creativity in everyday life. 

So, how did she turn out? She learned to follow her own path and make her own choices. She decided not to seek validation from external sources, but to find joy, fulfillment, and a sense of legitimacy in her own creativity. 

She learned that the world is not obligated to like or understand her work. The world doesn't owe her anything. But she does owe something to herself – the freedom to express herself creatively, to explore her passions, and to live authentically. She owes it to herself to create, whether it's for her own pleasure or to help others. 

Consider the idea of "creative entitlement" - the belief that you have a right to be creative, to have a voice and a vision. This sense of entitlement is crucial for any creative endeavor. It gives you the courage to take risks, to step out of your comfort zone, and to engage more fully with life.

Now, let's talk about the other side of the coin – rejection and criticism. We all face fair share of both, but we should not let them define us. Instead, we should see them as inevitable parts of the creative process. Use them as fuel to keep going, and never let them stop you from creating.

So, the next time you're feeling down about a creative project, remember this: creativity is a gift, not a chore. It's a joyful exploration, not a stressful obligation. And most importantly, it's yours to enjoy, regardless of what anyone else thinks. 

Are You Seeking Validation for Your Creativity or Enjoying the Process of Creation?

You've likely heard the saying, "practice makes perfect." But to truly thrive in a creative space, you don't need perfection, you need persistence. In her early teenage years, Elizabeth Gilbert made a vow to become a writer, not a successful one, just a writer. She didn't know if she could be great, but she was determined to write regardless of the outcome. 

She carved out time each day to write, no matter how uninspired she felt. Despite the lack of success and the criticisms she faced, she persisted. Why? Because she loved it. Writing was her passion, her source of curiosity and contentment. And let's be real, the creative world is unpredictable and often doesn't make for a great career. Success isn't guaranteed. Talent, luck, and discipline all play a part, but only discipline is within our control. 

So, Gilbert continued to send out her work despite the countless rejections. And eventually, it paid off. Not because she became a famous author, but because she had spent years doing something she loved, something that brought her joy. 

So, what's your passion? What's the thing that you can't not do? Go do that. And remember, persistence is key. Don't worry about being perfect or the most successful. Just focus on being a "disciplined half-ass" and completing what you start, even if it's not perfect. Done is better than perfect. 

And lastly, remember this: most people aren't thinking about you. They're too busy worrying about themselves. So, go be whoever you want to be, do whatever you want to do. It doesn't have to perfect. It just needs to be you.

Done is Better than Perfect: The Power of Persistence in Elizabeth Gilbert's Writing Journey

Dr. Robin Wall Kimmerer, a botanist and author, frequently asks her students two questions: "Do you love nature?" and "Do you believe that nature loves you in return?" The first question usually elicits unanimous affirmative responses, but the second question often leaves the room silent. This, according to Dr. Kimmerer, is the problem. 

Many young environmentalists see themselves as destructive forces, believing that the earth is indifferent to their existence. However, our ancestors held a different view; they felt a reciprocal emotional relationship with their surroundings.

The modern world has lost that sense of reciprocity with nature. This view sees humans as passive consumers, which sadly fosters a pathological disconnect from nature. Dr. Kimmerer encourages her students to see themselves as co-creators of life, engaged in a mutual exchange of love with the earth. 

The same principle can be applied to creativity. Often, people believe that their creative endeavors are indifferent to them, or even hostile. The idea of writing or creating art can be tormenting for some, and others may even feel that their creativity seeks to destroy them. This perspective can be harmful and counterproductive. Instead, we should view our creativity as a loving and supportive force that seeks to work with us. 

This shift in perspective requires a certain level of trust. Rather than seeing creativity as a battle or a struggle, we should see it as a playful and joyous process. This playful approach to creativity can help us overcome failure and continue creating, even when things don't pan out as we had hoped. 

Sometimes, the key to reigniting our creativity is to step away and do something else. This can help us regain perspective and come back to our work with fresh eyes. Other times, we need to push through the discomfort and continue creating, trusting that our efforts will eventually bear fruit. 

Ultimately, the goal is not to achieve success or avoid failure, but to engage in the joy of creating. As long as we are creating, we are engaging with life, and that, in itself, is a success. 

Are You Ready to Consider Your Creativity as a Loving Force?

In the heart of Bali, a rich tradition of sacred dancing thrives, a tradition so vital it's believed to keep the universe intact. These mesmerizing performances, rich with history and spirituality, were traditionally held in temples, under the watchful eye of priests. But when tourism hit Bali in the 60s, these sacred dances became a hot ticket item.

The Balinese, proud of their art, welcomed tourists to their temples. But soon, the temples were crammed with spectators, creating chaos. The tourists found themselves uncomfortable, packed in damp, dark temples, sharing space with spiders. A brilliant idea emerged: Why not bring the dances to the tourists? They could enjoy the performances in the comfort of a resort, sipping cocktails by the pool.

Yet, this move sparked outrage among some Western tourists. They saw it as a desecration of the sacred, a sacrilege. Their concerns reached the Balinese priests who, puzzled by the concept of sacrilege and the perceived sacred-profanity divide, decided to create a solution that would keep everyone happy.

They devised new, non-sacred dances for the tourists at resorts, retaining the sacred dances for religious ceremonies only. These new "divinity-free" dances were like gibberish, but they served the purpose. Tourists were entertained, dancers got to dance, and the priests earned money for the temples. The sacred-profanity dichotomy was seemingly restored.

But as time passed, these gibberish dances evolved into something magnificent, even transcendent. The dancers, despite their best efforts to be unspiritual, seemed to channel divine energy right by the swimming pools. The performances became so mesmerizing that the priests decided to incorporate them into the religious ceremonies.

The tables turned: the meaningless dances became holy, and the sacred dances became stale. The lines blurred between sacred and profane, high and low, right and wrong, leaving the high-minded Westerners utterly befuddled. But isn't that what divinity is all about? Isn't it found in the blurring of lines, in the fusion of opposites? This is the real magic of creativity.

Dancing Divinity: The Evolution of Sacred Balinese Dances in the Tourism Era

Reflecting on the stories of Jack Gilbert, Susan, and the author, Elizabeth, the power of creativity and the courage to pursue it are evident. These examples demonstrate that creativity is not a constant but a fleeting force that requires dedication and commitment. 

The stories also illustrate the importance of fear in the creative process. While fear can be a hindrance, it can also be a motivator, pushing individuals to delve deeper into their creative pursuits.

On the other hand, the tales of Elizabeth's upbringing and her journey as a writer reveal the importance of self-reliance and persistence in creativity. Her family, though not artistically inclined, instilled in her a spirit of resilience and independence. This foundation helped her navigate through criticism and rejection, allowing her to continue creating without seeking external validation. 

Similarly, Elizabeth's determination to write, regardless of the outcome, emphasizes the significance of discipline and passion in the creative process. The concept of "creative entitlement" also comes to light, highlighting the belief that everyone has the right to express themselves creatively. This belief, coupled with persistence and resilience, can fuel creativity and help individuals navigate challenges and criticism. 

The ideas of Dr. Robin Wall Kimmerer and the Balinese sacred dance tradition further underscore the importance of a positive perspective and adaptability in the creative process. Dr. Kimmerer speaks of the reciprocal relationship between humans and nature, suggesting that viewing creativity as a supportive force can foster a more joyful and productive creative process. 

On the other hand, the Balinese dance tradition exemplifies the adaptability of creativity, illustrating how it can evolve and transcend boundaries. These insights remind us that creativity is not just about the end product, but also about the process and the joy derived from it.

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