Elizabeth Gilbert: A new way to think about CREATIVITY

Here's my prescription for ALL CREATIVE PEOPLE (and well, EVERYONE): See this TED Talk by Elizabeth Gilbert at least once a day for a week. After that, start seeing it once a week for a month. After that, take it to once a month . . . for as long as you need to.

I love this so much! I saw this video for the first time yesterday, as I was riding in to dayjobiness, and I wept, openly. Elizabeth's words really struck a deep chord with me. I felt sadness, joy, elation, understanding and a whole myriad of different emotions as I watched this video and listened to her words. I'm almost reluctant to write too much about this subject because I think she's done such a marvelous job in presenting the issues and coming up with a solution. I think I'll keep this entry quite brief and just encourage you all to watch, listen and take her final words to heart.

Do. Create.  Be.

These words speak volumes to me, every single day. It's been my practice for about two years now, to work on my art, even if it's just for an hour, every single day. Even if this means going into my studio space and putting down one single colorful line or swirl . . . it means that I've done something. I've shown up! I have been extremely blessed to have always been met with that Genius or Daemon in the room. The few times that things haven't felt right in my work, it has always been on my end that something was off. I was the one not fully present and ready to give what I had to give.  And that's been ok, because that Genius in the room, in the air, all around me, has never failed me and I have come to trust in it and be grateful for that presence, every single day.

I do feel that I have a few things to say about this Universally accepted mentality that surrounds artists and their quest to just DO WHAT THEY LOVE TO DO. I'll write more about that in an upcoming entry.  For now, I encourage you all to  be open to your creative spirit, and nurture any inkling of creativity you might feel.  That inkling is your passion, your life's work, doing its job . . . getting your attention.  Asking you to DO. CREATE. BE.  

Olé! 

Peace, love and light and KEEP DREAMING!

Gene-Manuel