What Is Elizabeth Gilbert’s Big Magic About?
Do you wish to live a more creative life, or be more fearless in your creative pursuits? If so, then Elizabeth Gilbert’s Big Magic is for you.
As a creative person, you may have encountered moments of self-doubt or fear that hold you back from pursuing your passions. Elizabeth Gilbert's book, Big Magic, is a powerful guide that inspires readers to overcome these obstacles and embrace their creativity. In this blog post, we'll explore three key takeaways from the book that can help you unlock your full potential as a creative.
The key takeaways of Big Magic are how we unlock our creative potential through embracing curiosity, fear and imperfection.
Embrace Curiosity
In Big Magic, Gilbert tells the story of Winifred, a retiree in New York City who followed her curiosity and started to study Ancient Mesopotamia, even learning cuneiform script and traveling to the Middle East. At 90, she was a renowned expert in the field.
This story highlights the importance of following your curiosity to live a more full and creative life.
Gilbert believes that curiosity is a crucial ingredient in the creative process. For her, curiosity is not just about being interested in something; it's about following your instincts and allowing yourself to be led down unexpected paths, even if we're not sure where they'll lead.
She encourages us to follow our curiosity wherever it takes us, whether that means trying a new hobby or pursuing a creative project that seems unconventional. By embracing your curiosity, you can discover new passions and unlock your full creative potential, just like Winifred.
Embrace Fear
Despite the importance of curiosity, Gilbert acknowledges that fear can be a powerful obstacle for creatives. Whether it's fear of failure, rejection, or the unknown, it's easy to let these emotions hold us back from pursuing our passions. However, Gilbert argues that fear doesn't have to be a negative force. Instead, she suggests that we embrace our fear and use it to propel us forward. By acknowledging our fears and pushing past them, we can discover new levels of creativity and personal growth.
Gilbert's approach to fear is rooted in the idea that creative work is inherently risky. Whenever we create something, we're putting ourselves and our ideas out into the world for others to judge. This can be incredibly scary, and it's easy to let our fears hold us back. However, Gilbert argues that fear is a normal part of the creative process, and that we should embrace it instead of trying to suppress it. By acknowledging our fears and pushing past them, we can create work that is more authentic, meaningful, and impactful.
Embrace Imperfection
Finally, Gilbert emphasizes the importance of embracing our imperfections as creatives. She argues that perfectionism can be a harmful force, as it can prevent us from ever starting or finishing a project. Instead, she encourages us to embrace the imperfect aspects of our work and see them as opportunities for growth and learning. By accepting our flaws and mistakes, we can create more freely and authentically, without the pressure of trying to be perfect.
She describes imperfection as a beautiful glass butterfly. In our minds our creative projects are pristine, perfect glass butterlies, irredescent with light. Then, when we try to bring these projects into the world, they resember more a butterfly taped together with spare parts and chewing gum. Accepting that our work is likely to be imperfect is essential to creativity (and sanity).
Gilbert's approach to imperfection is rooted in the idea that creative work is a process, not a product. Whenever we create something, we're engaging in a process of exploration and experimentation. This means that we're bound to make mistakes and encounter setbacks along the way. However, Gilbert argues that these imperfections are not signs of failure; they're opportunities for growth and learning. By embracing our imperfections, we can create work that is more authentic, meaningful, and impactful.
Overall, Big Magic is a must-read for anyone looking to unlock their full creative potential. By embracing curiosity, fear, and imperfection, we can unleash our inner creativity and pursue our passions with confidence. Whether you're a writer, artist, musician, or simply someone looking to explore your creative side, this book is sure to inspire and motivate you. So what are you waiting for? Dive into Big Magic today and start exploring your own creative magic!
Interested in more books on creativity? Check out this post on books for creatives.
