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#430: Elizabeth Gilbert’s Creative Path: Saying No, Trusting Your Intuition, Index Cards, Integrity Checks, Grief, Awe, and Much More

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May 9, 2020

Guest

Elizabeth Gilbert

In this engaging chat, Elizabeth Gilbert, the bestselling author of 'Eat, Pray, Love' and 'Big Magic,' shares her journey through creativity, loss, and personal growth. She opens up about the importance of saying no and trusting your intuition amidst societal pressures. Gilbert also reflects on the transformative power of grief and the need for authenticity in one’s life. Her insights on creativity are rich, linking writing to spirituality and the necessity of maintaining curiosity. A fascinating dive into the heart of artistic resilience!

02:13:39

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ADVICE

Writing as Spiritual Practice

Writing provided Gilbert stillness and a vacation from her ego.
Hold onto creative pursuits, even when other distractions arise, for lasting happiness.

insights

INSIGHT

Awe in Writing

Great art is both surprising and inevitable, rearranging your DNA.
Gilbert applauds writers like T.S. Eliot, Walt Whitman, and Hilary Mantel.

question_answer

ANECDOTE

Mr. Kisco's Index Cards

Gilbert uses an index card system inspired by Mr. Kisco, her 9th-grade teacher.
She writes one fact or idea per card, organizing them into boxes for novels.

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Nourishing Health and Curated Insights

04:04 • 2min

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Exploring Creativity and Personal Growth with a Bestselling Author

06:13 • 3min

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Love, Loss, and Resilience

09:38 • 19min

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The Journey Through Creativity and Reflection

28:45 • 30min

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Wisdom from Marcus Aurelius

58:55 • 7min

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Trusting Your Inner Compass

01:05:54 • 28min

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Psychedelics and Personal Growth

01:33:38 • 36min

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Celebrating Creative Contributions and Connections

02:09:49 • 2min

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Building a Community of Recommendations and Wellness

02:11:22 • 5min

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#3550

• Mentioned in 13 episodes

City of Girls

Elizabeth Gilbert

In 'City of Girls', Elizabeth Gilbert tells the story of Vivian Morris, a nineteen-year-old who is sent to Manhattan in 1940 after being kicked out of Vassar College. Vivian lives with her Aunt Peg, the owner of the flamboyant Lily Playhouse theater, where she is introduced to a vibrant world of showgirls, actors, and other charismatic characters. The novel follows Vivian's journey as she navigates her new life, makes personal mistakes that lead to professional scandals, and ultimately discovers the kind of life she craves and the freedom to pursue it. The story is told from the perspective of an older Vivian looking back on her youth with both pleasure and regret, reflecting on themes of human desire, connection, and the idiosyncrasies of true love.

#2736

• Mentioned in 17 episodes

The Art of Memoir

Mary Karr

In 'The Art of Memoir', Mary Karr synthesizes her expertise as a professor, writer, and spiritual seeker to provide a comprehensive guide on the art and mechanics of memoir writing. The book is anchored by excerpts from her favorite memoirs and anecdotes from fellow writers, offering practical advice on truthfulness, voice, and the structure of memoirs. Karr emphasizes the importance of honesty, the democratic nature of memoir writing, and the cathartic power of reflecting on the past. She critiques several influential memoirs, including works by Richard Wright, Vladimir Nabokov, and Maya Angelou, and provides valuable tips for aspiring memoirists on how to stage their stories effectively.

#84

• Mentioned in 193 episodes

The artist's way

a spiritual path to higher creativity

Ada Arbós Bo

Julia Cameron

This book presents a comprehensive method for artists to recover their creativity from various blocks such as limiting beliefs, fear, self-sabotage, and other inhibiting forces. It is designed to help individuals discover and develop their artistic potential, whether as writers, painters, poets, or musicians. The book emphasizes the connection between creativity and spirituality, providing step-by-step exercises to nurture creative expression as a consistent part of daily life.

#241

• Mentioned in 100 episodes

Big Magic

Elizabeth Gilbert

In 'Big Magic', Elizabeth Gilbert delves into the mysteries of creativity, encouraging readers to live more creative and fulfilling lives. The book is divided into six parts: Courage, Enchantment, Permission, Persistence, Trust, and Divinity. Gilbert argues that creativity is an essential part of human nature and that it requires courage to accept and overcome fears. She emphasizes the importance of persistence, trust in the creative process, and the need to separate creativity from the pressure of making a living. Through personal anecdotes and insights from other artists, Gilbert demystifies the creative process and inspires readers to pursue their passions with curiosity rather than fear.

#115

• Mentioned in 160 episodes

The 4-Hour Body

An Uncommon Guide to Rapid Fat-Loss, Incredible Sex, and Becoming Superhuman

Tim Ferriss

In 'The 4-Hour Body,' Tim Ferriss shares the results of over a decade of self-experimentation and research, involving hundreds of elite athletes, dozens of MDs, and thousands of hours of personal testing. The book covers more than 50 topics, including how to lose weight quickly, gain muscle without steroids, sleep less and perform better, and improve sexual health. Ferriss emphasizes the importance of finding the smallest changes that produce the biggest results, making it accessible for readers to achieve significant improvements in their physical health and performance.

#10758

• Mentioned in 5 episodes

Song of Myself

Walt Whitman

In 'Song of Myself', Walt Whitman crafts a poetic masterpiece that celebrates the individual self while embracing the universal. The poem, part of his collection 'Leaves of Grass', is known for its free verse style and its exploration of themes such as identity, nature, and the human condition. It has been influential in American literature and continues to be studied for its innovative form and profound themes.

#63700

East Coker

T. S. Eliot

T. S. Eliot's "East Coker" is part of his Four Quartets, a series of poems reflecting on faith, time, and the human condition. This particular poem explores themes of aging, mortality, and the search for meaning in the face of life's uncertainties. Eliot's use of imagery and symbolism creates a powerful and evocative atmosphere, inviting readers to contemplate the passage of time and the complexities of human experience. The poem's exploration of faith and the acceptance of limitations resonates with readers seeking solace and understanding. "East Coker" is a testament to Eliot's mastery of language and his profound engagement with existential questions.

• Mentioned in 1,028 episodes

Meditations

Marcus Aurelius

Meditations is a series of private writings composed by Marcus Aurelius, one of Rome's greatest emperors, as he struggled to understand himself and make sense of the universe. Written between 170 and 180 CE while on military campaigns, this work combines Stoic philosophy with personal observations on leadership, duty, mortality, and human nature. Through twelve books of intimate thoughts never intended for publication, Marcus Aurelius explores themes of self-improvement, resilience in the face of adversity, and living virtuously while accepting what cannot be changed.

#194

• Mentioned in 116 episodes

Eat, Pray, Love

Elizabeth Gilbert

In 'Eat, Pray, Love', Elizabeth Gilbert chronicles her journey as she leaves behind her outwardly successful but inwardly unfulfilling life in the United States. The book is divided into three parts, each set in a different country: Italy, where she seeks pleasure and indulges in the local culture; India, where she delves into spiritual practices and meditation; and Bali, Indonesia, where she aims to find a balance between worldly enjoyment and divine transcendence. The memoir is a personal and introspective account of Gilbert's struggles, growth, and self-discovery during her travels.

Elizabeth Gilbert’s Amazing Creative Toolkit: Saying No, Trusting Intuition, Seeking Awe, Bathing in Grief, and Index Cards | Brought to you by Thrive Market and Athletic Greens. More on both below.

“We live in a culture that says you should be able to power through anything. Life will very generously remind you that you cannot, and it will very generously break you at times and very generously show you.” — Elizabeth Gilbert

Elizabeth Gilbert (@GilbertLiz) is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Big Magic and Eat, Pray, Love, as well as several other internationally bestselling books. She has been a finalist for the National Book Award, the National Book Critics Circle Award, and the PEN/Hemingway Award. Her latest novel, City of Girls, was named an instant New York Times Best Seller and is a rollicking, sexy tale of the New York City theater world during the 1940s.

Please enjoy!

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Past guests on The Tim Ferriss Show include Jerry Seinfeld, Hugh Jackman, Dr. Jane Goodall, LeBron James, Kevin Hart, Doris Kearns Goodwin, Jamie Foxx, Matthew McConaughey, Esther Perel, Elizabeth Gilbert, Terry Crews, Sia, Yuval Noah Harari, Malcolm Gladwell, Madeleine Albright, Cheryl Strayed, Jim Collins, Mary Karr, Maria Popova, Sam Harris, Michael Phelps, Bob Iger, Edward Norton, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Neil Strauss, Ken Burns, Maria Sharapova, Marc Andreessen, Neil Gaiman, Neil de Grasse Tyson, Jocko Willink, Daniel Ek, Kelly Slater, Dr. Peter Attia, Seth Godin, Howard Marks, Dr. Brené Brown, Eric Schmidt, Michael Lewis, Joe Gebbia, Michael Pollan, Dr. Jordan Peterson, Vince Vaughn, Brian Koppelman, Ramit Sethi, Dax Shepard, Tony Robbins, Jim Dethmer, Dan Harris, Ray Dalio, Naval Ravikant, Vitalik Buterin, Elizabeth Lesser, Amanda Palmer, Katie Haun, Sir Richard Branson, Chuck Palahniuk, Arianna Huffington, Reid Hoffman, Bill Burr, Whitney Cummings, Rick Rubin, Dr. Vivek Murthy, Darren Aronofsky, and many more.

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