Name: Your elusive creative genius
Uploaded: 2009-02-09T01:00:00Z
Duration: 19 min 14 s
Description: Elizabeth Gilbert muses on the impossible things we expect from artists and geniuses -- and shares the radical idea that, instead of the rare person "being" a genius, all of us "have" a genius. It's a funny, personal and surprisingly moving talk.

Elizabeth Gilbert: Your elusive creative genius

Your elusive creative genius

Elizabeth Gilbert muses on the impossible things we expect from artists and geniuses -- and shares the radical idea that, instead of the rare person "being" a genius, all of us "have" a genius. It's a funny, personal and surprisingly moving talk.

Creative work often brings anxiety, as society links genius with suffering and expects artists to surpass even their greatest successes. Ancient Greeks and Romans believed creativity came from an external, divine source, not from within the individual. By reviving this idea, artists can protect themselves from the pressure of personal responsibility for creative outcomes. A poet once described chasing down poems racing across a field, reminding us that inspiration can feel wild and unpredictable.

Genius Is Not Who We Are, But What Inspires Us

*Eat, Pray, Love*

*Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear*

Fear is boring, and other tips for a creative life

creativity

culture

entertainment

poetry

work

writing

personality

TED Stage Talk