Key Messages
Discover The Magic Of Creativity: How J.K. Rowling Stays Inspire
We all have the potential to be creative, but we just need to tap into the inspiring magic of creativity.
In his book, Big Magic, J.K.
Rowling talks about ways that we can connect to this energy and let our inspiration flow freely.
He encourages us to play music or try a pottery class and explore new avenues of creativity as well as embracing our existing passions and hobbies.
He also emphasizes the importance of not letting fear hamper our creative process – instead we should stay curious and open ourselves up to ideas that are waiting for us beyond the door of discovery.
Furthermore, he believes that keeping your day job gives you the freedom to still pursue an active creative life without worrying about the financial implications of risking it all on something new and undiscovered.
By connecting with our own unique potential and seeking out inspiration in every aspect of life, we can make big magic happen!
Embrace Your Fears For A Truly Creative Life
Living a creative life doesn’t mean you need to be famous or devote your life to your craft; it just means being open to letting curiosity drive you, rather than fear.
Whether painting, writing poetry, rock climbing or cooking ignites your fire, the real challenge is conquering the fears that might be stopping you.
Often when deciding on a creative pursuit the scariest choice is making it.
The head noise of ‘I’m not good enough’, ‘it’s too late’, and ‘no one will care’ can seem like an insurmountable block.
But instead of trying to push away these thoughts, acknowledging them and still allowing yourself to go after what you want can be much more powerful and result in success.
At the end of the day, we all have just one shot at life and there’s no point silly fears stopping you from living it as creatively as possible.
So let those passengers of fear come along for the ride but don’t let them grab the wheel – YOU’VE got this!
The Mystical Power Of Ideas: How Thoughts Can Flow And Attract The Right Person To Make Them Reality
In Big Magic, author Liz Gilbert emphasizes the importance of learning to recognize when an idea is knocking at your door.
These ideas exist around us all the time, eager to find someone who will give them life.
Gilbert experienced this with one of her friends and fellow authors – they both had toyed with the same idea of a novel set in the Amazon jungle, but only one of them was opened to making it reality.
It’s up to you to recognize when one of these ideas is ready to be realized and give it your full attention.
Don’t simply ignore it or let other obligations distract you from it, or else the idea will drift away and wait for someone else until they can make it reality.
With Big Magic, learn how to unlock the creative potential bubbling within – start by noticing those “magical” ideas that are calling for your attention!
Rebuttling Your Inner Critic: The Courage To Create Authentically In The Face Of Rejection
When it comes to being creative, there is nothing more daunting than the fear of failure.
It can be easy to listen to those inner voices that tell us we are not good enough or that our ideas may not be accepted.
However, it’s important to remember that everyone has the right to create and make mistakes.
In Big Magic, Liz Gilbert reminds readers of the power of giving ourselves permission to pursue our creative endeavors, no matter how afraid we might be.
She emphasizes the importance of standing up for yourself and declaring out loud “I’m a writer” or “I’m an actor,” which is sure to send your confidence level through the roof.
She also points out that rejection shouldn’t only be shied away from-it should also be embraced!
Rejection can provide valuable insight into what works in art and what doesn’t; it should also never stop you from creating or pursuing your dreams.
At the end of the day, it’s essential to realize that art shouldn’t only serve others-it should first and foremost serve you.
Liz Gilbert urges creatives to focus on authenticity over originality: write stories you care about; explore your own problems in order to better understand them; find catharsis in art if it brings you some form of peace or energy.
Creativity isn’t easy but by allowing yourself freedom from fear, failure and judgement and taking ownership of your creative potential, you’ll gain access to a world full of possibilities!
So go ahead, give yourself permission, because no one else can give it for you!
Creativity Is Born Out There In The Real World: Why You Don’T Need A Degree To Pursue Your Artistic Passion
When it comes to creating something out of nothing, you don’t need academic qualifications for that.
In fact, what you really need is life experience.
This is something that Elizabeth Gilbert discovered when she wrote her first bestseller Eat, Pray, Love.
After dealing with a difficult divorce, she realized that the only way to true joy was to make memories and be open to them.
This gave her the momentum and the power to become successful in her craft.
You can take the message from her story and apply it to your own creative journey: Real life experiences give you more power than any course or degree ever could!
Instead of tryinging to prove yourself as a “serious” artist by pursuing titles, stay creative instead.
Tom Waits imagines his music as jewelry for the minds of his listeners – so why don’t you try making art that’s strange, comforting, amusing or intimate? Not everyone will like it but it doesn’t matter – just keep on creating!
The Freedom To Create: Why Maintaining A Day Job Can Help Support An Artistic Career
If you’re an artist, you have probably heard the cliche of a carefree life full of artistic pursuits and no “real job”.
But the truth is, if you rely too heavily on your art to pay the bills, it will only limit your creativity.
That’s why authors like Toni Morrison and J.K Rowling pursued their writing as a side passion while they also held down a day job.
Contrary to popular belief, balancing your day job with art can inspire more passion – it’s like having an affair with art!
By stealing away a few hours each day to pursue creative endeavors, these authors gave themselves the time and space to write, discover ideas and explore storylines without feeling pressured or stressed about the outcome.
When it comes to making money from your art, don’t force it; give yourself the safety net that a day job provides and focus on creating freely without force or pressure for success.
High expectations can be counterproductive when it comes to creating something that should be fun— stressing yourself too much won’t help with anything either!
So don’t put all your eggs in one basket; maintain both your day job and creative pursuits in order to keep encouraging yourself.
Discover The Joy Of Being A Creative Trickster Instead Of A Martyr
Oscar Wilde once likened the life of an artist to “one long, lovely suicide.” too many people still internalize that “authentic” creativity is an exercise in self-sacrifice and suffering.
But there is another way to feed your creative spirit without going insane – by taking on a trickster mindset, rather than a martyr’s.
The main difference between the two lies in their attitude towards rules; the former finds its way out of tough situations with lightness while the latter adheres rigidly to principles no matter what.
A great example of this perspective is Bugs Bunny – he always stays cool with a joke or sarcastic quip regardless of circumstances.
Brené Brown incorporated the same kind of trust into her writing process for her novel when she found herself struggling with pain and exhaustion during production.
She figured out how to ask two colleagues to jot down her stories as she spoke them aloud and then translated these brief narrations into books almost instantly!
Wrap Up
Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert is a great book for those seeking to find their creativity, no matter the age.
The key message of Big Magic is that it’s never too late to start creating and making the art you’ve wanted to make, no matter how scared you are or what other people might think.
Gilbert encourages readers to live with curiosity and not take things too seriously as they embark on their creative journey.
The actionable advice from this book is to dress for the novel you want to write.
Putting on nice clothes, having a hot shower and even spritzing some cologne can help freshen up your body, mind, and creativity and get you back into creation mode.
Big Magic has many lessons about living courageously in pursuit of creative freedom – so don’t be afraid to give it a read!
