#8 Musenküsse

ByLukas
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klimt-the-kiss-musenkuss
Gustav Klimt’s The Kiss (1907-1908).

der Musenkuss (German) The kiss of the Muse

Creativity becomes much easier if you see it as a game of finding new ways of describing what has always been there.

Observing, rather than inventing.

It’s liberating. Because now the game changes from pulling ideas out of thin air to a game of discovery. Observation. Paying attention. Building upon what’s already discovered, then connecting the dots in way nobody else has.

Most of all: listening, when the muse finally arrives and visits you for a kiss.

There’s this voice in my mind
Impossible to ignore
And yet I fill my head with noise
Drowning out
What deep down I know to be true
Do I even want to admit
That this song in my heart
Is not about me
But about you?

P.S.: I’ve observed the same principle in language learning (and wrote a book about the consequences of this mindset shift).

Which begs the question…

Where else would we do better if we observed a bit more, rather than trying to invent from scratch?

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    One hour of busy work and chores a day.

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  • #394 Remind yourself of the future

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    There is no way to predict the future.

    But thinking about where you would like to be in the future can help you make better decisions today.

    Want to be a writer in the future? Better write today.

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    Remind yourself of the future, not for the sake of precise predictions, but for the sake of the present.

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    #59 Entity Mindset vs Incremental Mindset

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    An entity mindset also leads to fear of failure and perfectionism. If you’re believed to have an innate, fixed talent that’s set in stone, you’ll constantly need to live up to an unreasonably high standard for that particular talent.

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    #242 The accomplishments that slipped away

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    Because today’s letter could be what finally makes it click for me.
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    #216 Outward Proof of Inner Victories

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    Sometimes I ask myself if you are asking yourself why I write you a short note every day, my friend.

    Maybe I’m giving myself too much credit, and you’ve never asked yourself that question.

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    What we think we can do or not.

    What we believe is possible for us or not.

    What we desire.

    Who we can be.

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