Elizabeth Gilbert A New Way To Think About Creativity

Mmmm, it's important not to over-simplify the creative process. I know from experience that no amount of conducive outside circumstances can force inspiration or natural talent. Too much effort can lead to something contrived. Although it's important to look after one's physicality it doesn't guarantee inspired work. The best work is that from which you almost feel detached in the best possible way, namely that the work seemed to produce itself and the artiste is merely a conduit.

...Also there's a difference between being convinced of the supernatural and being obsessed with it. It's the obsession that can lead to the disengagement with reality of which you speak. However it's over-simplistic and rather presumptious to thing that is always the case. It's interesting how in the west the natural world and spiritual are often seen as separate entities when various cultures see them as holistic; the line between the two being fluid. Thank God for variety of thought...

@AcousticUplift

I need to see some evidence for your position of faith!!!

lol, j/k :-) I have no problem with spirituality, as long as it stays secular.

Okay, I haven't read EPL, but Elizabeth Gilbert comes across as modest, generous and encouraging here. As an artist who is often blocked by my own fears, I appreciate her speech. She is so encouraging and helps takes the pressure off. "Just show up," and maybe your daemon will too. Just show up because it's your job, it's who you are -- "olay to you just for having the sheer human love and stubbornness to keep showing up." Thank YOU, Ms. Gilbert.

i actually got teary eyed towards the end this when she began speaking about the dancer. i absorbed everything she said but for some reason that last bit got to me and It made me realize that just because other people don't believe in your dreams and they're sure you won't make it anywhere you can't give up and you shouldn't have to. Because of this video I know that i'll refuse to let go of all my dream logical or not. because givng up on any dream is like giving up on life.

I don't understand how anyone could not like this video? It's so inspiring & motivational.

As for frustration over having to 'explain over and over why he cannot be bothered to believe in the supernatural'..well for those of us who do believe in the Divine etc it's frustrating having your views dismissed out of hand and the kind of superciliousness implicit in your comment as well -meaning as I'm sure it is. We can share the beauty of a rational world and more besides. I don't see it as either/or. It's just a matter of not thinking we know all the answers and staying curious.

@AcousticUplift

I'm not sure if emphasis on rationality tends towards arrogance. Though I can imagine that it must be frustrating for someone with a rational worldview to have to explain over and over why he cannot be bothered to believe in the supernatural. Perhaps the arrogance is simply a byproduct of being unable to share the beauty of a rational worldview with others, who knows...

All I know is that I'm not persuaded by arguments from revelation. :-)

The problem for me is the idea that those with an exclusively rationalist worldview are sometimesm not always, closed-minded abt NEthing else.

I am a fan of Elizabeth Gilbert and watching this made me come to a realization...if you are chosen and given a gift of any kind of creativity, that is very special...that creativity is meant to be sent out into the world so that you can share that special something with the world to bring them joy and happiness for that moment. For something like that to come thru you to others is quite profound and that may be your purpose. I have to get over my fears...i'm my own worst enemy (sadly).