This is a clip from a few years back but I’ve frequently sent the link to writers and other creatives and it came up again today. I thought it was time to share it here. I originally mentioned it back at the time, when it was not available on Youtube and thus for posting here.
In this TED talk, “”Eat, Pray, Love” Author Elizabeth Gilbert muses on the impossible things we expect from artists and geniuses – and shares the radical idea that, instead of the rare person “being” a genius, all of us “have” a genius. It’s a funny, personal and surprisingly moving talk.” She explores the origin of the word genius and of course, the muse.
Creativity and genius really aren’t personal traits. They’re more gifts, a reflection of a given openness that allows the innate intelligence and creativity of the universe to move through our specific form of it. This indirectly relates to our evolutionary progress I discussed back in What is Consciousness? Simply because openness is a key quality for post-personal development.
Davidya
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=86x-u-tz0MA
Last Updated on January 15, 2016 by
I just posted that a few days ago on my FB profile. She communicates a fantastic perspective on creativity and probably one that could save many a tortured artist from their self-abuse about the process.
Hi Jason
I agree fully. ‘The artist must suffer’ is a persistent idea that is false. Creativity does not come from suffering but from being open. It is found by transcending our suffering.
Thanks for the comment.