Read to Thrive: ‘Big Magic’

This is part of a series offering top insights from interesting reads to help you up-level in work and life.

"Big Magic" by Elizabeth Gilbert is a guide for women looking to tap into their creative potential and overcome the fears that hold them back. Drawing on her own experiences as a writer, Gilbert shares insights and anecdotes about the creative process and the importance of pursuing one's passions.

The book encourages women to embrace their curiosity, embrace the unknown, and take risks in order to unlock their creative potential. It also explores common barriers to creativity, such as fear and self-doubt, and provides practical strategies for overcoming them.

Overall, "Big Magic" is an empowering and inspiring read that encourages women to embrace their creativity and take ownership of their lives, both personally and professionally.

TOP INSIGHTS

• Everyone has the potential to be creative.
• Creativity requires courage.
• Our ideas are alive and seeking collaborators to come to fruition.
• Don't wait for permission to create.
• Failure is a part of creating.
• Follow your curiosity, not just your passion.

QUOTES THAT INSPIRED

• “The work wants to be made, and it wants to be made through you.”
• "Perfection is the death of all good things, the birth of paralysis."
• "Your fear will always be triggered by your creativity because creativity asks you to enter into realms of uncertain outcome."
• "Most things have already been done—but they have not yet been done by you."

OVERALL

"Big Magic" is an empowering and inspiring read that encourages readers to embrace their creativity, take risks, and pursue their passions. Gilbert is a beautiful storyteller; in this book, she vulnerably shares her journey through her writing as a driving force in her life and how that manifested and challenged her creativity as a professional.

HOW TO APPLY TO LIFE, WORK & SELF

Instead of exclusively focusing on your passions or what you know, approach your work with curiosity and a willingness to explore new ideas and interests. This can help you uncover unique solutions to problems and inspire creative approaches to your work. Failure is an inherent part of the creative process. Recognizing that failure is not a personal failure but a necessary part of growth, you can develop resilience and perseverance in the face of setbacks.