The Big Magic : On Living Creatively.

I used to feel like a fraud whenever I heard people refer to me as a “creative” because I didn’t feel like just being able to put together cool outfits made me one.
I felt like the real creatives were those in the arts – the artists, sculptors, designers and co. But over time, I’ve come to realize that I don’t necessarily have to be in the arts to be a creative and I owe some part of that realization to reading Elizabeth Gilbert’s book – the big magic.

I first heard of Elizabeth Gilbert from all the buzz her first book – Eat, Pray, Love received but I didn’t become a fan of hers till I read this book.
I’m not a big fan of motivational type and self help books because I find most of them a bore and often repetitive. My first thought of the big magic was that it was going to be yet another “self help/motivational” type of book but boy was I wrong!

The Big Magic is a well written book laced with personal experiences that talks about the creative process and encourages us to live a creative life. Every single time I read it, I get a fresh dose of inspiration and gingered to just do better and be better!

I honestly haven’t completed the whole book (almost done though!) because I wanted to take my time and soak in all the lessons, so this isn’t exactly a book review. I just loved the book so much and thought to share a few quotes and tips that I picked out on living creatively from it.
I’ve been meaning to do this post for so long now and finallyyy its up! Lol

1. Courage is an integral part of creative living.



We all have hidden treasures within us but it is one thing to have them and another to actually utilize them and bring them forth. Being a creative is having the courage to go on the hunt to uncover those hidden treasures and continually bring them forth. That’s one thing that separates an ordinary life from a creative one.
If there’s one thing I’ve seen a lot especially in the medical field is that a lot of “doctors” basically stick with medicine because they don’t know anything or think there’s anything else they can do or are good at. Whenever, I think of that I am so glad for my modelling and blogging journey, because it helped me dig within, figure out my passions and also find some courage to share them. I’m still discovering more aspects to myself but I’m definitely trying to utilize them.

2. Make space for fear but don’t let it take over.

Creativity often involves you taking risks and having fears is only natural/expected, but you have to be willing to tell your fear to take a sit at the corner.
Creative living is living a life driven more strongly by curiosity than fear.

3. Keep your eyes open. Listen, follow your curiousity. Ideas are constantly trying to get our attention. Let them know you’re available.

Liz likens ideas to energetic life forms that spend time searching for available and willing human partners. They pay us a visit and try to get our attention but most often, we are too consumed by own own dramas, laziness, anxieties, insecurities to be receptive to inspiration and we say no.

4.  You don’t need anybody’s permission to live a creative life.



You don’t need anyone’s permission to make stuff. Do whatever brings you to life. Follow your own fascinations, obsessions and compulsions. Create whatever causes a revolution in your heart.

5. Forget about perfect.

There’s no time for perfect. Perfect is the enemy of the realistic, the possible and the fun. Too many people still seem to believe that they are not allowed toput themselves forward at all, until both they and their work are perfect.
At some point, you really just have to finish your work and release it as is – if only so that you can go on to make other things.

6. Stay Curious.

Curiousity is what keeps you working steadily, while hotter emotions may come and go.  Following that scavenger hunt of curiousity can lead you to amazing, unexpected places. It may eventually even lead you to your passion.

7. You Might Fail.

Whatever you do, try not to dwell too long on your failures. You don’t need to conduct autopsies on your disasters. Own your disappointment, acknowledge it for what it is and move on.