What do you do when you’ve reached that magical place of glory with one of your creations? Expectations are always so ridiculously unhinged that you will keep creating magnificence from that point on. But what if it doesn’t? Are you doomed to be considered a failure? And that is what we humans put ourselves up against. Unrealistic expectations.
Elizabeth Gilbert, the author of Eat, Pray, Love, know all about pressure. After all, her book was made into a movie starring one of the biggest names of Hollywood, which most people consider to be the epitome of success. And she was expected to follow up strong. No pressure. Riiiiiight. So, she went on a search to find a way to split her anguished creative side with the working creative side, so that she could continue to do what she does best: write. And her search gave her the wisdom that maybe the pressure wasn’t only necessary, but also wasn’t fair. Just because we’re enlightened doesn’t mean that creativity would suddenly embrace responsibility.
How about if we just looked at creativity anew? Creativity is still that unknown spark within us that comes up with the most stupendous things at the most unexpected times. Was it a touch of divinity? Was it a touch of genius? Instead of wrapping ourselves in the expectation, how about we just let the creative do what they do best: create. As they say, beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Some days, you will get an Olé for your creation. And some days, you will deserve an Olé for the work. Just remember to receive it, because it’s deserved, no matter what, if the effort was honest.
How did these authors affect your thoughts and motivations? I know that I will cherish and add their words to my education in becoming a stronger and better person.
