How “Big Magic” Helped Me Stop Being Scared Of Being Creative
Hi Hive!
Today I’m sharing something a little personal. It’s about fear and creativity, and a book called Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert.
Growing up, I always loved to draw, write, dance, even just daydream. But once adulthood came crashing in, it felt like creativity had to take a back seat. Paying bills, dealing with work stress, everything made me feel like creativity was a childish luxury I couldn’t afford anymore. I would look at people who were still pursuing their passions with envy, wondering why I couldn’t be that brave.
For the longest time, I convinced myself that creativity wasn’t for someone like me anymore. I was an adult with responsibilities, and those childhood dreams were just that, dreams. Life became about doing what was practical, not what was fun or fulfilling. Even when I had ideas for new things, like painting, writing, or starting a new project, I pushed them aside. I was scared they wouldn’t be good enough, or worse, that I’d be judged for trying.
Until last month. I was having a chat with a friend who could tell something was off with me. I confessed that life felt dry and mechanical, and I missed the days when I could create just for the fun of it. She recommended Big Magic to me, telling me it would help me get out of my creative rut. At first, I was skeptical. After all, who has time to be creative in today’s world? But something told me to give it a try.
The day I opened the book, I swear it felt like Elizabeth Gilbert was sitting right beside me, saying, “Girl, you deserve to create for joy.” Her words felt like a permission slip to be free again.
The main idea that stuck with me is that fear and creativity are always going to ride in the same car. Fear doesn’t have to be the driver, and creativity doesn’t have to wait until you’re not scared anymore. You just do it with the fear.
That sentence hit me hard. I had always thought that I couldn’t create unless I had everything figured out. I thought I couldn’t start something unless I was 100% confident it would be perfect. But Elizabeth Gilbert made me realize that perfection was never the goal. Expression was. I don’t need to wait until I feel “perfect” to try something new or share my work with the world. I just need to show up and do it, even if I’m afraid.
After reading that part, I cried. (I know it sounds dramatic, but it’s true.) All the ideas I had abandoned because I was scared they wouldn’t be good enough, I realized they didn’t need to be “good enough” in the way I thought. The point was to do them because I wanted to. To express myself, to play, to explore.
Since reading Big Magic, I’ve started doing small creative things again. I write little poems when the mood strikes, I paint my nails funky colours just for fun, and I’ve even started experimenting with new product ideas for my online store, just because I want to. These things don’t have to be big or grand, but they bring me joy. They help me reconnect with that part of myself that I’d buried for too long.
It’s not about success or fame or money (though those are nice, of course). It’s about living fully, feeling alive. Creativity is something that belongs to all of us. It’s not a luxury for the few, it’s a birthright for everyone. And if we wait until we’re “ready” or until the fear goes away, we might never create anything at all.
If you’ve been feeling dry inside or like you’ve lost your creative spark, I highly recommend reading Big Magic. It will remind you that you’re not too serious, too old, too broke, or too busy to create something beautiful. All you need is the willingness to show up, even when you’re scared.
Sending creative energy to you all, and I hope this inspires you to create in whatever form feels right for you!