Living creatively is something we all aspire to—creativity leads to personal satisfaction and a stronger feeling of fulfillment. But finding the inspiration to do so can be incredibly difficult.
Here are five books that will tickle that creative side of your brain and encourage you to indulge that creative piece of you.
Big Magic
by Elizabeth Gilbert
Written in a similar inspirational style to her NY Times bestseller Eat, Pray, Love, Elizabeth Gilbert’s newest book is her field guide to living creatively. Broken into six sections (Courage, Enchantment, Permission, Persistence Trust, and Divinity), Big Magic aims to inspire readers to live a life that “is driven more strongly by curiosity than by fear.”
As you cruise through the small bites of each section, you’ll feel encouraged and inspired to live more freely, openly and imaginatively. This book is fantastic for those of us who need a little push to find more time to do things we love, simply because we love them.
Wired to Create
by Scott Barry Kaufman and Carolyn Gregoire
In Wired to Create, Kauffman and Gregoire have taken a more scientific approach to the creative process and mentality. The two authors dig into the research on creativity that has largely been done over the last 50 years to discover, in short, that creativity looks different for everyone.
Looking at the lives of some of our most famous creatives, they point out common characteristics that are worth nurturing in our own lives, and they offer tips and advice on how to set yourself up for creative success.
This book is a great read for those of us that tend to be more left-brained, and need a scientific study to validate our nonsensical-feeling creative process.
Grit
by Angela Duckworth
Psychologist Angela Duckworth’s main idea in Grit is that talent can be made. She freely acknowledges that some of us are at more of an advantage than others because of various biological and social factors, but firmly believes that if we put in the effort, we can move beyond our station in various areas of life, including creativity.
In short, if we want to live creatively, we need to practice living creatively. The more you do something, no matter how difficult, the easier it becomes. This book is great for those of us that need a little push to buckle down, and for those who need to put in the time and effort to build the type of life we want.
Originals: How Non-Conformists Change the World
by Adam Grant
In Originals professor Adam Grant looks at how wildly successful and wildly creative people see the world differently, and how they pass that success on to others.
One thing that he finds midway through the book is that people who invest time and talent in a creative process or hobby tend to have more success in other areas of life.
Another point he stresses is that it is essential to push out a big volume of work—whatever work may be in your creative field—to find success and fulfillment.
Originals is a more academic look at creativity and is great for those of us who would like to see real-life examples of these principles at work and in success.
Yes Please
by Amy Pohler
Comedian Amy Pohler’s first memoir-ish book takes a good look at her career thus far—how she began, how she found success, and how she continues to grow and improve.
One of the most accomplished comedians on TV today, Pohler knows a thing or two about being creative, dealing with rejection, and getting back up again.
This laugh-out-loud book is a great manual for finding your passion, pursuing it doggedly, and living creatively without ever feeling explicitly preachy or self-helpy.
Featured Image: iStock
Reflect & Refresh 