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Podcast Summary: The Daily Motivation - Episode with Rick Rubin
Episode Overview Title: Music Legend Rick Rubin: How To SILENCE Your Inner Critic & Unleash TRUE Creativity! Episode Number: 652 Host: Lewis Howes Guest: Rick Rubin Description: In this episode, legendary music producer Rick Rubin shares insights on creativity, authenticity, and the importance of silencing the inner critic. Rubin encourages listeners to reconnect with their intrinsic motivation and embrace their true artistic expression, separating art from commercial pressures.
Key Themes and Concepts
The Nature of Creativity
- Art vs. Commerce:
- Rubin emphasizes the need to separate artistic pursuits from commercial pressures.
- Artists should focus on creating work that resonates personally rather than seeking validation from external sources.
- Authenticity in Art:
- The importance of making art that feels "good" to the creator without worrying about how it will be received.
- Rubin encourages artists to trust their instincts and allow curiosity to guide their creative process.
Overcoming Self-Criticism
- Silencing the Inner Critic:
- Many artists struggle with self-doubt and external criticism, which can stifle creativity.
- Rubin suggests that successful artists find ways to turn off their inner critics and focus solely on creation.
- Personal Taste:
- He compares the artistic process to tasting food, where one should confidently express preferences without second-guessing.
Navigating Financial Pressures
- Support Systems:
- Rubin advocates for maintaining a job that supports the artist financially, allowing them to create art freely and without the pressure of making a living solely from their art.
- Working in related fields can provide insights and inspiration while alleviating financial burdens.
The Spark of Inspiration
- Moments of Magic:
- Rubin describes the creative process as filled with excitement, characterized by moments of unexpected inspiration.
- He notes that even after decades in the industry, he continues to experience moments of wonder that fuel his passion.
The Process of Discovery
- Curiosity and Excitement:
- The feeling of leaning forward into the creative process signifies genuine excitement and curiosity.
- Rubin highlights the importance of being open to new experiences and ideas within the creative space.
Practical Advice for Artists
- Focus on what you genuinely love and enjoy in your art.
- Separate the act of creation from external validation and financial pressures.
- Embrace curiosity and allow it to lead you to new discoveries.
- Trust your instincts and be unapologetic about what resonates with you.
Conclusion Rick Rubin's conversation with Lewis Howes reveals profound insights into the creative process, emphasizing the importance of authenticity, the need to silence inner critics, and the value of separating art from commerce. This episode serves as a motivational call for artists to reconnect with their passion and cultivate a lifelong love affair with creativity.
Additional Resources
- For more insights, listeners are encouraged to check out the full episode on *The School of Greatness*.
- To receive more inspiration, sign up for the Greatness newsletter at [greatness.com/newsletter](https://greatness.com/newsletter).
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Written by AI. May contain mistakes. Listen to the episode to check what was said.
Transcript
Automatic transcript. May contain errors.0:00Hi, my name is Lewis Howes and welcome to the Daily Motivation Show.
0:11Why do you think so many people struggle with the opinions of others when they're sharing their art to the world? I think it's a natural human thought. I don't know if it was always the case. Because you don't have that at all. I don't have that at all. I don't have that at all. But it seems like 99 % of people have that. It seems like it. Maybe I'm wrong. Yeah, I think the best artists tend not to have that or find a way to turn it off. And a big part of my job with artists is helping them turn it off. It's like we're not thinking about singles. We're not thinking about chart position. We're not thinking about anything but making the most beautiful, honest, true thing we can.
0:50And when I say honest and true, it could be fiction. Do you know what I'm saying? It's the thing that touches us and excites us and surprises us, which is also interesting. The fact that we can make something that surprises us happens every day. Yeah. You talk about magic a lot. You know, I've seen that in your book, but also in the documentary series about, you know, the work you've done. And how does someone tap into their own magic when they have such a critical mind, self criticism, but also family critics, managers, all that other stuff, criticizing what's good and what's not good. How do you coach someone to actually eliminate or diminish decades of conditioning within a week or two to make their art?
1:42It comes down to like a personal reaction to something. If I gave you two different foods and I asked you to taste them, you wouldn't have a hard time telling me which one you liked if you really liked one and didn't like the other. so if you had people around you saying no but this other one that you don't like that's the good one that no one could convince you that the thing that tastes bad to you tastes good to you so it's it's a very simple it's such a simple idea getting to what do i actually like no second guessing and it doesn't have to stand for anything it doesn't have to represent you it's just this is the thing that tastes good to me what do you think that's that's our whole job is this tastes good to me what do you think you mentioned commerce and you mentioned art when an artist is struggling financially and they're like I want to make things that I enjoy that taste really good for me but I've been doing that for five seven ten years and it doesn't taste good for anyone else how can I make a living around my art or should I not think about my art as making a living, but I should be thinking about commerce separate from the art.
2:56I think dividing them is a really healthy idea. And then having a job that supports you so that you can be free in your art is ultimately what's best for the art. Really? Yeah. Now you can get a job related. You know, you can get a job in the industry you're interested in. You can get a job if you're a painter, you can get a job in a gallery. You can be around it. and then also when you do something like that if you were to work in a recording studio you may decide this is not for me you know we don't really know we have ideas of what we want to try but then when you try them sometimes yes that works sometimes you don't so many people get on a track when they're young I have a cousin who went school to become a dentist and he was a dentist for years.
3:47And after 15 or 20 years, just like, I can't do this. I don't want to do this. It was a wrong choice. So many people live an unhappy life sticking to a program from when they were younger. And we have to find like, you are speaking to people now versus playing sports. It's a big change. but it seems like a really positive change for you but it wasn't what you set out to do originally you've been doing this for how long now? producing music, 40 years? about 40 years, close to 40 years have there ever been a time where you felt like it was stagnant for you or you weren't creatively inspired or you felt like it was dull, it wasn't this awe or magic that you were wanting it's always magic, it's always exciting I can't say that every moment of every project has been that but there are always these glimpses of wonder that come through the creative process that are staggering they're very addictive you know being in a room where something's not happening and all of a sudden it's happening and you don't know why and you don't know what changed it's a very exciting feeling How often do you experience that feeling?
5:11All the time. Really? All the time. Now, when I say all the time, we may start a project that maybe doesn't happen for a few days, but then it starts happening. What is that moment and what is the feeling that you have and what is it that you notice either in your mind or in the environment that is shifting for that feeling to occur? It's an inner excitement. It's like a leaning forward. it's a curiosity of like can we hear that again what was that I've not heard that before that's interesting to me absolutely so after four decades of doing this you still get surprised by hearing new things all the time all the time why does this work with this who knows
6:09Thank you so much for listening to today's episode of The Daily Motivation, and I hope you have an amazing rest of your day. If you enjoyed this episode, make sure to click the link in the description. That will take you to the full episode of our main podcast on The School of Greatness. And if you are loving The Daily Motivation, please follow us over on Apple Podcasts and Spotify and leave us a review over on Apple podcast right now. And if you want more exclusive content and ad free listening experience, make sure to subscribe to our greatness plus channel on Apple podcast right now. And if you want to get even more inspiration from our world-class guests and learn how to improve your life and take it to the next level, then make sure to sign up for the greatness newsletter and get it delivered right to your inbox over at greatness.com slash newsletter.
6:59Again, have an amazing day and I'll see you tomorrow with another episode of the Daily Motivation Show.
From the publisher
Have you listened to the FULL EPISODE yet?
"It's a very simple, it's such a simple idea getting to what do I actually like, no second-guessing, and it doesn't have to stand for anything. It doesn't have to represent you. It's just this is the thing that tastes good to me."
-Rick Rubin
In this captivating episode, legendary music producer Rick Rubin shares his profound insights on the creative process, the power of authenticity, and the key to unlocking your inner magic. With his trademark wisdom and zen-like presence, Rick takes us on a journey into the heart of what it means to be an artist, offering invaluable advice for anyone seeking to silence their inner critic and tap into their deepest wells of inspiration.
Through a series of illuminating anecdotes and thought-provoking questions, Rick reveals the transformative power of trusting your instincts, embracing curiosity, and letting go of external expectations. He emphasizes the importance of separating the pursuit of art from the demands of commerce, encouraging artists to find ways to support themselves that allow them to create freely and without compromise. Tune in now and discover how to reconnect with your inner sense of wonder, cultivate a lifelong love affair with the creative process, and bring forth the magic that lies within you!
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