Conclusion

Creativity is pure delight. It revitalizes the soul. But it isn’t easy—at least not all the time. There are moments when the creative juices flow and the world seems beautiful, perfect, and serene. There are other moments of exasperation and defeat. All art, whether the art of living or the art of creating something new, is the echo of the delight and the struggle combined. Van Gogh once said, “Art demands dogged work.” And so does pursuing your dreams. Yet it’s in and through the difficult times that great art is born. And it’s in these times that we are forged into something stronger than before.

Difficulty is the crucible that refines and strengthens at the same time. And it’s in that place that we learn to appreciate life. For it’s in the darkness that we learn to see light and in the cold that we value the warmth. Without challenge, we know not the full joys of life or the potential we have inside. As Albert Camus reflected, on his own experience, “In the depth of winter, I finally learned that there was within me an invincible summer.” And my hope is that this book has helped you discover that there is an invincible summer within you as well.

Although sometimes hidden, the spark of this summer remains. It comes from the fact that you are unique and gifted in unparalleled ways. Yet this calling changes with the passage of time, and as a result, it’s partially present and at the same time constantly being revealed. The nature of this ever-evolving call asks us to be aware, to become more, and to remember that life isn’t as it first seems. There is more.

It’s my hope that this book has given you reason to contemplate what that “more” might be. Yet it hasn’t just been a book about ideas, but a book of action and of searching for that light that resides within. Finding this light is the key, and tending it might just be one of the most important activities you can pursue. Because when ignited, we create our best work and contribute in the most fascinating ways. And the path to igniting that spark isn’t just imagination and dreams. Those elements are essential, but the secret is to use them as fuel. Creativity beckons you to try. Sitting still doesn’t work. Neither does dreaming big dreams. Without action, creativity starts to fade and the power we once had is drained. The secret to the creative life is to do, to be, and to act—and to begin even though there is a gap between us and our ideal.

Crossing this gap takes hard work. As Michelangelo said, “If people knew how hard I had to work to gain my mastery, it wouldn’t seem wonderful at all.” In addition to hard work, it requires learning to see. As Van Gogh once wrote to his brother, “I see paintings or drawings in the poorest cottages, in the dirtiest corners.” With a creative outlook, the mundane becomes magnificent and the ordinary becomes alive. Those who adopt such an approach see life not as it is but as it should be, so that even drudgery and difficulty become profound.

Yet as we’ve seen throughout this book, creativity isn’t just for famous artists like Michelangelo and Van Gogh. We are all creative in our own unique ways. The most creative, whether artist, engineer, or chemist, have a common thread: they love what they do. Adopting a creative mind-set not only renews your mind but fills your heart and shapes who you will become. And my hope is that this book has brought this type of change.

After Michelangelo died, a note was found in his studio written in the handwriting of old age. It read, “Draw, Antonio; draw, Antonio; draw and don’t waste time.” It was written for his pupil but also for us. Now is the time to draw, dance, film, photograph, and write. Now is the time to live the life for which you were designed. Now is the time to pursue that dream and to fight. Fight like you have never fought before. A new life awaits for those who take up the charge.