"If you're alive, you're a creative person." – Elizabeth Gilbert.
Almost 20 years ago, the memoir "Eat, Pray, Love" swept the world away on a geographical and emotional journey of self-discovery. In addition to food and matters of the heart, author Elizabeth Gilbert has always been passionate about writing, but she realized she couldn't – and shouldn't – compare everything she produced after that to that first global success. Instead, she found that knowledge freeing so she could continue creating in a way that Harper Lee never seemed able to after writing the singularly classic "To Kill a Mockingbird."
Indeed, Elizabeth Gilbert's healthy perspective on making art eventually inspired her 2015 book, "Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear."
While it's not a new release, I found it timeless—from the first time I read it soon after going freelance years ago to my most recent listen via audio. Gilbert explores all of the insecurity, curiosity, doubt, and excitement people feel about their creative endeavors and the lies we tell ourselves to avoid doing the work that matters to us most.
"Ideas are driven by a single impulse: to be made manifest."
Although she's a writer, Gilbert doesn't play favorites with the arts, and she is unbothered by readers who don't consider themselves creators. Each chapter reinforces the opening quote—if you're breathing, you're creative.
Instead, she explores the potential hurdles and hidden opportunities that one encounters when given an idea that must be made manifest. The chapters are:
- Courage
- Enchantment
- Permission
- Persistence
- Trust
- Divinity
Woven through each section are textured, real-life examples of the pursuit of a creative life and the reasons and benefits for doing so. Some are taken from her colorful experiences, and others are from family, friends, and peers, plus quite a few well-known artistic types throughout history. In addition to writing, Gilbert includes examples of interests and talents such as painting, playwriting, music, poetry, and even ice skating.
It's not so much the form of art as the process and core beliefs that drive us to make and do things that bring us joy. Rather than seeking professional success or obsessive devotion to the arts, Gilbert explains, "I'm talking about living a life driven more strongly by curiosity than fear."
"It might have been done before, but it hasn't been done by you!"
One of the things I love about this book is the way the author grants us permission to follow our curiosity, try new things, lower our expectations, and create without seeking external validation. As someone who teaches art, takes art and writing classes and hangs out with many creative people, I'm well aware of how quick we all are to criticize our own work and deflect with self-deprecating humor.
With a loving hand (and soothing voice, if you prefer audiobooks), Liz Gilbert guides the reader away from this joy-defeating behavior, perfectionism, and taking one's art too seriously.
"Never delude yourself into believing that you require someone else's blessing (or even their comprehension) to do your own creative work," she writes. And remember, every story or song or painting may have already been imagined, but not by you.
"Because the truth is, I believe that creativity is a force of enchantment – not entirely human in its origins."
Ultimately, the title and the heart of this book is magic. BIG magic.
Whether you consider yourself religious, spiritual, or agnostic, Gilbert reveals creativity as a sacred, collaborative process with the universe that cannot be denied. She shares the story of a novel being transferred from one writer to another through a kiss and a failed playwright recovering his muse while painting stars on a bicycle.
Ideas are seen as living entities just waiting for the right creator to come along and make magic. Which is kind of wonderful when you consider how much pressure that takes off of us if we're partners with a cosmic, creative force, right? Courage, commitment, and persistence are all our accountability tools, but joy, light, and play are the magic ingredients that make art worth pursuing.
If "Big Magic" is Liz Gilbert's invitation to live a more creative life, then I wholeheartedly RSVP yes.
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| Creativity comes in all forms – like the Big Magic cocktail I invented during lockdown. |
You can find this jewel online or at your local independent bookstore. I snatch up used copies whenever I come across them to give to friends for an inspirational boost. Here are some other books in a similar creative vein. Please share any that have sparked your joy. Happy reading!
"You Are A Badass" by Jen Sincero
"The Artist's Way" by Julia Cameron
"On Writing" by Stephen King
"Find Your Artistic Voice" by Lisa Congdon
"The Creative Act: A Way of Being" by Rick Rubin
Anything by SARK
