Your elusive creative genius

When artists are burdened with the label of “genius,” I think they lose the ability to take themselves lightly, or to create freely.

You can see the same in TED Talks by Elizabeth Gilbert (‘Your Elusive Creative Genius’), Brené Brown (‘The Power of Vulnerability’) and Susan Cain (‘The Power of Introverts’). These speakers are not trying to blow you away,

I have come to believe that my genius spends a lot of time waiting around for me—waiting to see if I’m truly serious about this line of work.

Far too many creative people have been taught to distrust pleasure and to put their faith in struggle alone.

Anyhow, what else are you going to do with your time here on earth—not make things? Not do interesting stuff? Not follow your love and your curiosity?

If my plan is to sit around waiting for another such unadulterated and impassioned creative visitation, I may be waiting for a very long time. So I don’t sit around waiting to write until my genius decides to pay me a visit. If anything, I have come to believe that my genius spends a lot of time waiting around for me—waiting to see if I’m truly ser

already know so much more than you think you know. You are not finished; you are merely ready. After a certain age, no matter how you’ve been spending your time, you have very likely earned a doctorate in living. If you’re still here—if you have survived this long—it is because you know things. We need you to reveal to us what you know, what you ha