We live in a culture of expected instant gratification, of stories with overnight successes, and of articles and courses on how to hack your way to success and get rich quick. Yes, you might be writing the next Harry Potter series, who am I to question that, and even the first Harry Potter novel was first published and became a best seller and an overnight success after 7 years of hard work, determination and JK Rowling’s unquestionable belief in the books she wrote.
Let’s look at some of the most creative and successful souls in arts, music, literature and science. They are each known to the common person for a small number of their creations, and yet their work expands far beyond these few pieces. Beethoven produced over 650 compositions in his lifetime, Picasso painted over 1800 paintings and over 12000 drawings (leaving aside the thousands ceramics and sculptures), Shakespeare wrote 37 plays and 154 sonnets and Edison created no less than 1093 patents.
How is this relevant?
We quite often have an idea we get excited about, only to abandon it nearly as fast as it presented itself to us. If we were to record every idea we have, and count the ideas at the end of a year, we’d probably conclude we’re very creative people who don’t lack ideas but the conviction, determination and confidence to pick up the ones that really resonate with us and put them into practice.
The little voice in our heads can be supportive, just as supportive as it is for many creatives, business people and scientists we read about and admire. And it can be negative, undermining, self-sabotaging, as it is for many people who choose to dismiss their creativity, purpose and intuition and to instead pursue more realistic paths.
The world needs that special gift than only you have. – Marie Forleo
As Marie Forleo puts it, “the world needs that special gift than only you have“. What I’d add to this is that the gift that only you have will not only serve others, but will enable you to achieve your purpose and to live a happy life.
As for the sabotaging voice in our heads – it is up to you to listen to it when it feels right, and dismiss it altogether when your intuition tells you to.
