3 Lessons from Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert

Creativity is sacred, and it is not sacred

Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert teaches us how to live a creative life beyond fear, despite all our concerns. Gilbert explains where creativity comes from, and how you can take the stress out of the creative process. The following are three main lessons from Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert that’ll help you unleash your creativity amidst all fear.

3 Lessons from Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert

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Let Your Passion and Fear Coexist

Nowadays, many books and people tell you to overcome your fear as if there is some step-by-step procedure that you could follow and make it happen. But even for the most prominent artists, these fears always pop up even after they are successful.

The only way to deal with them is to know that they exist and get comfortable with it. Gilbert tells us that, the best thing we can do is to allow curiosity to drive our decisions, while we keep fear in the backseat. Fear doesn’t get a vote. Its only job is to remind you of the essential things. Nothing more or less.

So let your passion and fear coexist. Over time it will help you take your next step or paint your next painting.

Let Yourself Go On a Creative Journey Even If You Have to Start From Zero

“Whenever you think of doing something new,” explains Gilbert “and this new idea seems impressive in your head, sooner or later, the doubts will start to creep in.” You might also have conversations in your mind where you would keep asking yourself questions. But the author tells us that this is entirely normal, and we should allow this to happen.

Sure, when you start with something new, there will always be someone doing it better. But regardless, give yourself the freedom to do it anyway. Take that first step. Start from absolute zero if you have to. Tell yourself that you are here to do God’s work. Be authentic to yourself rather than original. Give yourself the space to try and fail.

Keep Your Day Job To Rekindle Your Creativity

We have seen many artists hustling right now but are still struggling to pay their daily bills and live every day. And this stress of paying your bills can sometimes kill your creativity. It will be challenging to do what you don’t want to do to pay your bills and then come home and go through that creative process again. You would not have that much energy. Having a day job that is not related to your art but paying your bills will give you that freedom. This also means after your workday, you could lock yourself in a room and go on a creative journey for yourself.

And as Elizabeth Gilbert reminds us, “Creativity is sacred, and it is not sacred. What we make matters enormously, and it doesn’t matter at all. We toil alone, and we are accompanied by spirits. We are terrified, and we are brave. Art is a crushing chore and a wonderful privilege. Only when we are at our most playful can divinity finally get serious with us. Make space for all these paradoxes to be equally true inside your soul, and I promise—you can make anything. So please calm down now and get back to work, okay? The treasures that are hidden inside you are hoping you will say yes.”― Elizabeth Gilbert, Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear

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Thank you for reading!

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