5 mindsets on creativity to motivate anyone

Maggie Smith is a poet and bestselling author who believes that creativity is a birthright and that making one's life is the ultimate creative act. She shares five key insights from her new book, Dear Writer: Pep Talks & Practical Advice for the Creative Life. According to Smith, creativity is not just about making art, but about problem-solving, conversing, parenting, and falling in love. She emphasizes that attention is a form of love and that what we turn our gaze to feels cherished, while what we ignore feels neglected. She also believes that art changes us, making us slightly rearranged, and that every "no" makes room for a "yes". Finally, Smith thinks that creating is inherently hopeful, and that art can do real, transformative work inside us, making it essential and necessary.