Living a Creatively Fulfilling Life: 10 Lessons from Elizabeth Gilbert’s Big Magic

When I took the plunge into #entrepreneurship back in 2016, I was overwhelmed by a whirlwind of #emotions. Excitement, joy, eagerness — you name it. But if I’m being honest, one emotion seemed to dominate my mindspace more than all the others: #Fear. It showed up uninvited, lingering around for hours, sometimes days.

But here’s the thing: Fear wasn’t just a roadblock. It was a motivator too. It pushed me to take action, to pivot when necessary. Still, fear invited a darker guest: Self-doubt.

It's been 8+ years now on this adventure of #PassionPreneurship.

Did I overcome my fear ? NO !

Did I face it ? Hey, YES !

How did I face it ? Through a process of #acknowledgement and #acceptance ...

It still does drop by from time to time, checking in on me, but no longer taking the 'drivers seat'.

Along the way, one of the most powerful tool I’ve turned to is Elizabeth Gilbert’s book - Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear. Her wisdom has helped me navigate not only the challenges of creative entrepreneurship but also the #emotional ups and downs that come with it. Today, I want to share with you 10 invaluable lessons I’ve learned from Gilbert’s insights, which continue to help me manage fear, stay grounded in my purpose, and live a creatively fulfilling life.

1. 🦁 Carve COURAGE: Fear will visit, but it doesn't have to control you. I faced (and sometimes still face) many fears - Fear of not sustaining, fear of creativity block, fear of having to let go of my way of life, and many more. The key is to acknowledge the fear, understand it, and then make a conscious decision to keep going despite it.

2. 🔍 Cultivate CURIOSITY: Gilbert argues that curiosity , not passion, is the real secret to a lasting creative life. Indeed, embracing a learning mindset and asking deep questions led me to new career pathways, I never knew existed before !

3. 📅 Schedule Creativity: Inspiration is wonderful when it strikes, but creating scheduled spaces for your creative work is equally important. Often, it has been the case, that I sat down with an intent to write a poem, and then the words simply flowed from mind to paper !

4. 💔 Learn to Let Go of FAILURES:There will be failures — big ones, small ones, and embarrassing ones. My first venture, a wildlife travel and photography venture called jungLEADz did not take off. It was disheartening, because I had left my steady job to build this, and when it did not work out I did not know where to go next ! I slowly imbibed that the key isn’t to avoid failure, but to embrace it as part of the journey - learn, adjust, and move forward with what you have.

5. ✔️ Give Yourself PERMISSION:One of the most powerful takeaways from Big Magic is the importance of giving yourself permission to create. Often, we wait for permission from others, but that’s a trap. Your creative life belongs to you. Don't let fear or external validation stop you from expressing yourself. Thankfully, I learnt this early on, because for my sanity, there was no option to create !

6. ⚖️ Embrace the PARADOX of Creativity: Your creative work is both vital and insignificant. Yes, it can feel like your entire world depends on it, but Gilbert reminds us to hold our work with the proper balance. Creativity should be embraced with lightness as much as with passion. This has been a lifesaver for me, given that I tend to immerse myself headfirst into what I am passionate about ! I am still learning to take a step back, view my creativity from an uninvolved space, and let go ! When jungLEADz failed it created lot of turmoil and angst - I felt I had failed as a person, but now I approach my creative ventures with a little bit of detachment and calmness of 'letting it be and bloom'.

7. 🔄 PERSISTENCE is Key: In the face of setbacks, it’s easy to give up. When jungLEADz failed, I struggled with What Next ? The answer I got from Gilbert was - Keep showing up. Keep creating. And this opened up new avenues - from wildlifephotography to babyphotography, from writing for self, to HRspeak...

8. 💖 Create for YOURSELF: A common pitfall for entrepreneurs is the desire for external validation. But Gilbert reminds us that creating for yourself is the truest form of creative living. Clicking for others (LifeinClicks), somewhere I had forgotten to click for the joy and fulfillment photography brings to my soul. And so I try my best to venture out from time to time, and click for myself, to stay grounded in my own purpose.

9. 🌌 Embrace TRUST: Trust is at the core of creative living. Trust in yourself. Trust in the process. Trust that the Universe will deliver what you need when the time is right. Gilbert beautifully illustrates how ideas are like entities floating in the air, waiting to be “caught” by those who are ready. Trust that if you keep showing up, your ideas will manifest.This is an ongoing struggle for me, and I hope to become more 'in the flow' going ahead !

10. 🌱 Be TRUE to YOURSELF:At the end of the day, creative living is about authenticity. As I transitioned from corporate to #selfemployment - I understood the importance of being true to myself, retaining my spark and my energy that make me unique! Gilbert’s message is clear: your creative life should be an expression of who you truly are. Trust your vision, trust your voice, and create something that reflects your truth.

Fear will always be a companion on the journey of #entrepreneurship, but it doesn’t have to lead the way.

As I continue my path of #PassionPreneurship, I find myself returning to Big Magic whenever fear and #doubt creep in. 

Have YOU experienced FEAR in your journeys?

We would love to hear how you faced it !

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