Summary

We each have an inner creative force – our Essence – and the hope is that this book helps bring awareness and conviction in the power of this force

Key Takeaways

A response is judged as creative to the extent that it is a) it is both a novel and appropriate, useful, correct, or valuable response to the task at hand and b) the task is heuristic rather than algorithmic

Art is basically the production of order out of chaos

If at first you don’t succeed, surrender

Drop mental striving

Apply yourself to a task – full presence and devotion to the task at hand puts us in harmony with our creative source. We dedicate ourselves to the work itself, not to a false personality

Maintain a spirit of inquiry

Acknowledge that you don’t know how it’s going to turn out

Ask yourself a clear question about a key issue before going to sleep

Destroy judgement, create curiosity

Less judgment leads to more curiosity and more creativity

Lower judgment by paying attention to your thoughts, attacking the judgment, making the judgment look ridiculous

Curiosity eliminates fear and creates confidence

Pay attention –> penetrating observation –> seeing clearly

Aim for thoughtfulness and mindfulness without thinking

Avoid habits as they are unconscious acts

Fine-tuned listening encourages healing

High achievers can tell you in 3D terms what they learn from their failures and how they applied that. They think of failures in terms of learning experiences to be applied

Ask dumb questions

Creativity always starts with a question – the quality of your creativity is determined by the quality of your questions

Questions are essential in finding joy in life

Don’t jump to answers, keep the questions open

By its very nature, a creative life must be a questioning one

Do only what is effortless, easy, enjoyable (EEE)

The test of a vocation is the love of the drudgery it involves. – Logan Pearsall Smith

Surprisingly, EEE turns into a discipline for achieving a higher goal: the discovery of your true purpose in life

Da Vinci’s response to his greatest accomplishment was “Da Vinci!”

There can be no drudgery in work that is a matter of growing self-expression, and no boredom in days that are permeated with the knowledge of your own boundless base, demonstrated in each personal task

When you live with EEE you find almost a spiritual purpose for your life. You know that you are practicing your true vocation when you love all the hard work, responsibility, and tedium that goes with it

A life centered around a clear purpose is totally integrated

When we love our work, then we don’t have to be managed by fear or force. We can build systems that facilitate creativity, rather than be preoccupied with checks and controls on people who are motivated to beat or exploit the system. I believe that everyone wants to find both quality and love in work.

Do nothing without enthusiasm

Rank tasks, break into small pieces, do 1 thing at a time

Don’t think about it! – Beginner’s Mind

Unstructured free time to wander, physical and mental relaxation

Don’t focus on success or failure, simply learning

What I got out of it

I felt calm and enthusiastic while reading this book. The parts about EEE (easy, effortless, enjoyable) resonated deeply and is the biggest thing I’ll remember from this book