Elizabeth Gilbert: Where Does Creativity Come From?

Elizabeth Gilbert: Where Does Creativity Come From?

Where does creativity come from? And is there a way to invite it into your life? According to Elizabeth Gilbert, creativity comes from “Big Magic”—a mystical force where creative ideas reside. This force is bigger than us and cannot be explained scientifically or proven empirically. It is an eternal cosmic entity that creatives must have faith in. Keep reading to learn where creativity comes from, according to Elizabeth Gilbert.

Elizabeth Gilbert’s Tips for Living a Creative Life

Elizabeth Gilbert’s Tips for Living a Creative Life

What does it mean to live a creative life? What do you do when your creative juices run dry? According to Elizabeth Gilbert, the author of Big Magic, creativity is not a one-off project or pursuit only for the young. It is, rather, a lifestyle and mode of being you should maintain throughout your lifetime.  Here, we’ll discuss Gilbert’s suggestions for living a creative life.

Girls, Stop Apologizing and Stand Your Ground

Girls, Stop Apologizing and Stand Your Ground

Why does Rachel Hollis say that women need to stop apologizing so much? In what ways do women often allow others to convince them to quit? The people around you won’t always be supportive of your dreams—that’s a fact of life. But if you let their negativity bring you down or allow it to derail your goals, then you’re essentially apologizing to them by quitting. Rather than back down, Hollis says, you should stand your ground. Here is Hollis’s advice for unapologetically chasing your dreams.

Choose Your Words Wisely: The First Agreement

Choose Your Words Wisely: The First Agreement

What is the first agreement of Toltec enlightenment? What does it mean to choose your words wisely? In The Fifth Agreement, don Miguel Ruiz and don Jose Ruiz discuss the five agreements in Toltec enlightenment. The first agreement is to choose your words wisely—or, as they put it, to be impeccable with your words. They emphasize that you must be careful not to use words as weapons against yourself or others. Keep reading to learn how it’s important to choose your words wisely.

Big Magic: Quotes From Elizabeth Gilbert

Big Magic: Quotes From Elizabeth Gilbert

Are you looking for Big Magic quotes by Elizabeth Gilbert? What are some of the most noteworthy passages worth revisiting? In her book Big Magic, Elizabeth Gilbert offers both spiritual wisdom on how to work with the magical forces of creativity, as well as suggestions on how to create effectively and productively. Gilbert draws on her successful career as a writer, best known for her 2006 memoir Eat Pray Love, and her advice is aimed toward anyone who has a creative bent.  Below is a selection of Big Magic quotes with explanations.

Women and Self-Esteem: Fake It Till You Make It

Women and Self-Esteem: Fake It Till You Make It

Why do women have such a hard time building self-esteem? What steps can you take to build up your confidence? In her book Girl, Stop Apologizing, Rachel Hollis says that for women, self-esteem can be built by dressing to match how you feel on the inside, faking a confident attitude, and spending time with people who build you up. These acts may be difficult or feel fake in the beginning, but she says you just need to “fake it ’til you make it,” or in other words, act confident until you feel confident. Keep reading to learn how to build

Don’t Take Anything Personally: The Second Agreement

Don’t Take Anything Personally: The Second Agreement

What is the second agreement of Toltec enlightenment? What does “don’t take anything personally” actually mean? In The Fifth Agreement, don Miguel Ruiz and don Jose Ruiz describe five “agreements” to make with yourself that adjust the way you see the world and your place in it. The second agreement is this: Don’t take anything personally. In other words, understand that not everything is about you. Keep reading to learn more about the second agreement: Don’t take anything personally.

Is Suffering the Key to Creativity? Dispelling the Myth

Is Suffering the Key to Creativity? Dispelling the Myth

What is the connection between creativity and suffering? Does pain really facilitate creativity? Can you create great work without suffering for it?  There is a common tendency to see creativity as necessitating or being facilitated by suffering. This view has been promulgated by Christianity and 18th and 19th century German Romanticism, both of which put a premium on agony. The central idea of these philosophies is that you cannot create something great without suffering for it. In this article, we’ll explore why pain is commonly associated with creativity, and why this is, in fact, far from the truth. 

Benedict Anderson: Nationalism as a Personal Identity

Benedict Anderson: Nationalism as a Personal Identity

Why is nationalism such a powerful concept? Why would many people die for their country but not for their political party or hometown? In his book Imagined Communities, Benedict Anderson says nationalism is a form of personal identity that creates bonds of loyalty and love. The only other identity that is as strong as nationalism is religion. Here’s what Anderson has to say about nationalism.

The 3 Most Important Skills for Life to Acquire

The 3 Most Important Skills for Life to Acquire

What are the three most important skills to acquire if you aim to start your own business? How does Hollis’s advice match up to the advice from other experts in the field? In her book Girl, Stop Apologizing, Rachel Hollis says that some of the most important skills you should practice are persistence, positivity, and leadership. Those three skills will help you develop your goals, stick with them even when times get tough, and lead your team when it starts to grow. Continue reading to learn more about the three skills.