Recent Read: Big Magic

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This week I finished reading Elizabeth Gilbert’s much awaited book, “Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear.” It was a great read for me. You probably have heard of Elizabeth Gilbert from that little book she wrote, “Eat, Pray, Love.” I absolutely love her fresh perspective on what it means to be creative.

While I did read and like “Eat, Pray, Love” several years back, it was THIS TED Talk that put her on my radar of interesting thought leaders. Then over the summer, Gilbert launched a podcast called “Magic Lessons” in which she would talk to a different person each week with a specific problem or block around their creativity. It was like a practical extension of the lessons from this book (except the book had not come out yet). The series was super unique, and I feel like it allowed me to get to know Gilbert’s outlook better through her voice and advice. So when “Big Magic” was finally released a few weeks ago, I could not wait to get my hands on it. Fortunately, it did live up to the hype for me.

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Now I know many of you do not consider yourself creative and probably think that for this reason, you will not get anything out of this book. I hear it often. And even I cringe a little in embarrassment if someone says I am. So I get it. You feel like if someone says you are creative, you immediately compare yourself to someone who has more artistic talent than you. And who are you to take on that label, right? In “Big Magic”, Gilbert really debunks the theory that only certain people have the gift of creativity. Her perspective is that we are all here on earth to create. Creativity can be found in the way you parent. In the way you make people feel welcome and appreciated. In the trips that you plan. If you are a teacher, the way you teach is a form of creativity. The options are limitless. She points out that it has only been in the past couple hundred years that official creative “professions” have made it so that the rest of us feel like we are not allowed to go there. To be creative. Her message was so encouraging in that way.

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I was also especially comforted and inspired by these messages in “Big Magic”:

• You do not need anyone’s permission to live a creative life.
• Curiosity is the truth and the way of creative living. Follow it!
• Don’t burden your creativity with having to make it your profession. Unless you want to.
• Whatever you do, try not to dwell too long on your failures.
• When you hit a creative roadblock, go on another creative endeavor until it clears up or it opens up something new for you.
  

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I especially loved her take on fear. Gilbert acknowledges that fear is an essential emotion and necessary for survival, yet one that you need to gently but firmly put in its place when it comes to creative living. She counters the typical cultural recommendation to squelch or kill  your fear. She is a lot more tolerant of fear, and recommends taking a gentler approach. She has a great fictional letter that she writes to Fear where she makes Fear know it is welcome to come along for the ride when it comes to creative projects, but makes it clear it will not be calling the shots. It’s brilliant! And pretty funny too.

There is a quote at the very end of the book that sums up her message beautifully:

Creativity is sacred, and it’s 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, and get back to work, okay?

The treasures that are hidden inside you are hoping you will say yes.

To me, Liz Gilbert’s voice is like a mix of fairy godmother, comforting  friend, and a practical tell-it-like-it-is teacher. Her writing style is whimsical and direct at the same time. In “Big Magic“, she manages to both mystify and de-mystify creativity. There were so many fascinating little stories about people (famous and not) that illustrated the lessons in her book perfectly. The chapters were short little snippets, about 3-4 pages each, so it would be a great book to keep in carline, or on your nightstand if you can only make it a few pages before falling asleep, like myself. If creative living isn’t on your radar much, but you have a creative child, I still recommend you read this when you can. It will help you in supporting them in a productive way. And if you are more of a listener than a reader, I highly recommend you listen to the Lively Show Podcast where Jess Lively interviews Liz Gilbert.

If you are looking for other book reviews and recommendations, find them HERE.

Posted by Ale & filed under Books, Creativity. This post has 4 comments.