Innovator Profile: Ole, Genius! A chat with Elizabeth Gilbert
Ole, Genius! A chat with Elizabeth Gilbert
Author and Tedster Elizabeth Gilbert discusses creative genius, the mega-success of her latest book Eat, Pray, Love, and the mounting external (and internal) pressure to top herself.
It’s an interesting take on the fear of failure.
Fear seems to persist throughout the creative process- from the conception (and prospective failure) of the dream to the daunting task of living up to your own success.
She asks of us: “aren’t you afraid of dying in a scrap heap of broken dreams with your mouth filled with bitter ash of failure?”
Well Elizabeth… Yes I am! And I’m sure most of you are too.
But she suggests that we shift our thinking and fast.
In her humorous examination of creativity or rather the “maddening capriciousness of the creative process,” she explains how it can all feel “downright paranormal.” If VH1’s Behind the Music has taught us anything, it’s that artists, and bright minds in general, all too often drown in their own ego (and other substances) and burden themselves with the identity of “genius.”
Instead we should think about the possibility of accessing our genius. It’s liberating.
For example, in Jamie Cullum’s performance, I witnessed the sheer brilliance of his performance through his physical presence. In Elizabeth’s words, he was “lit up on fire with divinity”.
Ole!
Tedsters big and small bought Jamie’s inspired albums en masse after the conference. (I downloaded 7.)
At the ripe old age of 30, Jaime is a prolific and award winning musician with all the trappings of… well… a genius, but he appears to be handling things pretty well. A popular Chinese adage says that success at a young age is a curse not a blessing. But I think that only success at young age, without maturity and mental dexterity, is a curse.
In my own pursuit of genius I just have to remember to say… “Come on, you crazy little genius who is assigned to me, I’m showing up for my part. What are you doing on your end?”
I encourage you to do the same… you owe it to your sanity.
