I just wanted to drop a quick note to say I love a good Ted Talk, especially when it’s coming from a talented and sexy actor, like Ethan Hawke!

Ethan’s Ted Talk is an excellent fit for The Artist’s Way Challenge I’ve been working on over the past few weeks. It’s a wonderfully casual conversation about allowing ourselves permission to be creative. Pay close attention to about 7 minutes in when he discusses why children are so successful at embracing their creativity. It reminded me of The Artist’s Way and Julia Cameron’s discussions about our inner child. Please give it a watch!

If the video doesn’t work, you can view it directly on the Ted Talk website: Ethan Hawke. But don’t say I didn’t warn you if you end up going down a Ted Talk rabbit hole.

For further reading, here’s a great article from the NY Times about Mr. Hawke. The author discussed a time when Hawke saw Gene Rowland speak (widow of the indie filmmaker, John Cassavetes). She explains:

“Mr. Hawke found that so moving, the idea of ignoring what the world was telling you about yourself and instead living only by standards that you had, yourself, carefully defined for your life and work. He vowed right then that he would do whatever it took to make good art on his own terms, no matter what anyone said. He would take himself seriously, even if no one else did.”

Taffy Brodesser-Akner (NY Times, Aug 2018)

He mentions something similar to this in the Ted Talk, and I want to embrace this attitude so much. I am coming to realize it’s the only way to have creative success. You have to be your biggest fan first.

You are also welcome to start from the beginning of my Artist’s Way Challenge with Week One: Creative Blocks: Recovering a Sense of Safety.

I’d love to see you there 🙂