Best-selling author of Eat, Pray, Love gives a TED talk about distancing oneself from the pressure associated with the creativity of an artist--and removing oneself from the 'center of the universe' to allow something external (the universe, God/Allah, your "Genius") to change the way you view your own creativity.
And I couldn't agree more. I feel like my daemon (the Greek work for the classical mythological creature that is benevolent source for creativity, not to be confused with the Judeo-Christian definition of the evil demon), comes to me as I sleep, as I people-watch, even when the sky reaches a certain hue in the evening. I am inspired by creation from the voices of the Genius living outside and inside me, who speaks to me in whispers at times and in shouts as needed. I am no genius, this I know...but I pray that my Genius continues to follow/harass me with creative energy for the rest of my life.
Listen to Gilbert's inspiring, and burden-releasing, talk here.
