I’ve been re-reading “The Creative Act: A Way of Being” by Rick Rubin, and it’s one of the best books I’ve ever read.
Every single page holds so much wisdom, not just around the creative process, but around life and how we experience it.
If you haven’t read this book, check it out.
a few excerpts and reflections from the book.
“As children, we experience much less interference between receiving ideas and internalizing them.
We accept new information with delight instead of making comparisons to what we already believe;
we live in the moment rather than worrying about future consequences;
we are spontaneous more than analytical;
we are curious, not jaded.”
There's an inherent magic in the way children approach life - their unfiltered curiosity, the delight in their eyes with each discovery, the innocence of their pure reactions.
As children, we approached new experiences with an open mind, accepting and internalizing ideas freely, without the interference of bias or pre-existing beliefs.
The world, to a child, is a vibrant landscape of possibility.
Do you remember the first time you saw snow as a child?
The white, fluffy substance falling from the sky seemed like nothing short of a miracle.
We didn't analyze its scientific composition or worry about a potential snowstorm.
We rushed outside to catch a snowflake on our tongue, or build a snowman, or start a snowball fight.
We were completely immersed in the new experience.
This immersive way of experiencing life gets muted as we grow older.
Our minds start to form patterns, beliefs, and expectations, which act as filters, disrupting the direct internalization of new ideas and experiences.
"We seldom realize, that our most private thoughts and emotions are not actually our own. For we think in terms of languages and images which we did not invent, but which were given to us by our society."
- Alan Watts
Our adult minds, molded by norms and expectations, create a mental chatter that inhibits the pure reception and absorption of ideas.
It's essential to realize that sometimes, the key to unearthing the most profound insights and ideas lies in embracing the simplicity of a child’s perspective.
To be open to new experiences and ideas, to be completely immersed in the moment, and, ultimately, to reconnect to the the creativity that is so innate in childhood.
Every moment is a chance to discover something new when we approach life with the eyes of a child.
“Through detached noticing, awareness allows an observed flower to reveal more of itself without our intervention.
This is true of all things.”
This observation on "detached noticing" is a subtle yet profound concept.
It suggests a way of interacting with the world that is more about passive observation than active interference, allowing us to gain a deeper understanding and appreciation of our surroundings.
Let's consider his example of observing a flower.
When we simply notice a flower without trying to change or analyze it, we allow its true essence to shine through.
We appreciate its vibrant colors, its delicate petals, the way it sways gently in the wind, its fragrance wafting in the air, all without the need to intervene.
This is detached noticing: observing without the need to do anything about what we are observing.
In our everyday lives, we often forget this art of detached noticing.
We're so engrossed in our thoughts, our judgments and our desires that we rarely just stop and observe.
We see a flower and immediately categorize it - the type, the color, whether it's beautiful or not.
We seldom just notice it for what it truly is, if we even notice it at all.
This principle can be applied to all aspects of life.
“There is an art of seeing things as they are: without naming, without being caught in a network of words, without thinking interfering with perception.”
- Jiddu Krishnamurti
Consider our interactions with other people.
How often do we truly listen to someone without forming responses in our mind or making judgments about what they're saying?
Just as with the flower, if we practice detached noticing during our interactions, we might see the other person reveal more of themselves than they usually would.
We might better understand their perspectives, their emotions, and their inherent humanity.
Detached noticing acts as a gentle reminder to slow down, to observe, and to allow things to reveal themselves in their natural state.
It's a gateway to deeper understanding, authentic connections, and heightened creativity.
“The ability to look deeply is the root of creativity. To see past the ordinary and mundane and get to what might otherwise be invisible.”
This idea, while simple on the surface, holds deep implications about the way we approach life and creativity.
The world around us is brimming with unnoticed wonders, hidden patterns, and untold stories.
Our job as creative beings is not to create these wonders, but to uncover them.
To do that, we need to look past the surface and delve into the depths, to see what might otherwise remain invisible.
"The artist is a receptacle for emotions that come from all over the place: from the sky, from the earth, from a scrap of paper, from a passing shape, from a spider's web."
- Pablo Picasso
In my own life, I have found that every subject, no matter how mundane or simple it may seem at first, is it’s own universe of inspiration when looked at closely.
Every experience becomes a portal to creative insight when looked at deeply.
Creativity, then, is not just about coming up with novel ideas - it's about seeing the world with fresh eyes, unearthing inspiration in the ordinary, and bringing the invisible to light.
I’m going to write some more reflections on this book in the coming days.
I recommend reading it if you haven’t, and even re-reading it if you have.
It’s one of those books that will show you something new each time you read it.
Thanks for reading, hope you enjoyed!