Elizabeth Gilbert, author of the best-selling book, "Eat, Pray, Love," gave a talk at the TED conference this year about adopting a new mindset on creativity, one that doesn't give full credit or blame to an individual, but to a greater force. Call it the Divine, God, Muse, whatever. The point is that creativity is borne from a partnership with something greater than oneself. Photo by creativedc
Here's the link to the TED video.
http://www.ted.com/index.php/talks/elizabeth_gilbert_on_genius.html
The first half of this 20-minute talk can come across as self-absorbed.
The second half is where Gilbert makes a compelling case for looking at
creativity in a new light. She's spot on and in sharing her truth on
creativity, it moved me to tears.
Why tears? Because I know that feeling when something is moving through me, that is utterly pure and wonderful. I have no idea where it has come from. I can't trace it to anything I've said or done before. It's just there. A phrase. An idea. A seed of a blog post. A knowing about the truth of someone's situation, without consciously putting all the pieces together. When I blurt out what's moving through me or quickly type on my laptop before I lose that feeling, I'm not so much the author or the speaker as I am the scribe. Yes, the scribe.
A favorite quote from Martha Graham says it all:
"There is a vitality, a life-force, an energy, a quickening that is
translated through you into action and because there is only one of you
in all of time, this expression is unique. And if you block it, it will
never exist through any other medium and be lost."
This is not a new idea, that the genius guy or gal is the vessel or
channel for something magical which humans can't fully comprehend. We may not be able to understand creativity, but we love it when we see it. Photo by alicepopkorn
Both Gilbert and Graham make another point that is often lost on individuals struggling through a creative endeavor. Your only job is to show up. That's it. If you are writer, make time to write. Even if you think what is coming out is no good, or that you don't have enough time, or you aren't in a good enough mood. Just write.
Photo by ms.Tea
Same goes for painters, dancers, computer engineers (yes, engineers can be creative as well!) Just show up. That's it.
My thanks to Deb Siverson, a friend, collaborator, and colleague, who emailed me the link to Gilbert's talk, with the subject line: "I watched this today and thought of you." Deb also is no stranger to working with the Divine.
How does creativity come through you?
Photo by Bohman
I also believe that the divine works though us, and when we find our purpose on earth and spend our time there, we will experience it.
Reading this post reminded me that the feeling of a higher power working through me is most prevalent when I am working with others; I find myself saying healing words or giving healing touch that is not coming from me.
The challenge for me to feel the divine is the discipline to continually take the action, and consciously doing what I am meant to do. That takes the human discipline of commitment to continue doing what you’re good at, no matter how you feel or how outside influences may discourage you.
Thanks, Ellen, for pointing out that it’s not always easy to trust the process of the divine coming through us. Commitment comes from trust, because we can’t fully understand or know the divine.
I’ve always thought that the trust in the divine force, or natures force, or whatever you want to call the flow of idea that comes from elsewhere was the most powerful element in setting your mind free to interpret the world in new and wonderful ways. What’s funny is that it still takes discipline and hard work to put yourself in a position to benefit.
I like the idea that in creativity you have to show up, day after day. Sometimes it’s hard but if you engage in your talent regularly the muses will favour you. I think the same goes for blogging. Regular posts forces you to keep those creative juices flowing. This is a wonderful post.
Thanks, Fred and Paul, for the reminder that there is a discipline to creativity that is often overlooked. One of my favorite books on creativity is The Creative Habit by Twyla Tharp, the famous choreographer. She talks about getting in a cab at 5am every morning to go to her dance studio.
Over the last few months, while working on a new business, I’ve neglected time with my muse to blog on a regular basis. So even after a routine has been established over years, it can be easy to fall off the wagon. I’m looking forward to getting back into a regular routine.