Big News for Creative Failures

Elizabeth Gilbert is the author of Eat, Pray, Love. See her TED (Technology, Entertainment, Design Conference) talk below.

Gilbert’s thoughts on creativity are amazing. When she talks about the ‘muse,’ naming it as a ‘fairy’ or a ‘demon,’ I see that as the Holy Spirit.

The main point I love is that WE aren’t the ones who come up with creative greatness. It comes from somewhere outside of us and is given to us a gift. We do the hard work of showing up, doing our best, honing our crafts. Then we invite the Holy Spirit to breathe on what we do, and when He does, people see God through it.

Seeing creativity this way contrasts with society’s tendency to see genius and great work as OUR achievements.

Realizing that we can’t come up with that level of inspiration without outside, Divine help is great because when we see it as coming from us:

– It results in pressure on us to create great things and to despair when we can’t.

– It results in pride when we do come up with something great, and then our identity gets too wrapped up in it.

– We can only do our best; showing up every day, being disciplined and available, and developing our skills…the rest is up to God.

What do you think?

If you are a creative person, do you struggle with your identity getting caught up in your successes or failures?

Can we see the Holy Spirit as the ‘muse’ who gives us our good ideas without becoming undisciplined or not working at our craft?

Do you ever feel like your best work is behind you, like Elizabeth says?

How do you get out of ‘writer’s block’ if it strikes?