“Sometimes disengaging is the best way to engage.” – Rick Rubin
On the face of it, this quote is obtuse and elliptical. However if you read Rick Rubin’s The Creative Act: A Way of Being, where this quote is taken from, it makes more sense. That being said, there is a good chance this book will likely either engage you or turn you off altogether. To be clear, it it not written only for creative types, i.e. artists. Rubin writes:
“Regardless of whether or not we’re formally making art, we are all living as artists. We perceive, filter, and collect data, then curate an experience, for ourselves and others based on the information set. Whether we do this consciously or unconsciously, by the mere fact of being alive, we are active participants in the ongoing process of creation.”
In Rubin’s worldview we are all artists. It manifests in our taste, our mistakes and even in our financial lives. Tuning into this reality can help you re-frame your relationship with the world, art and your work. We are all only here for a small amount of time so feel free to add your contribution to the world.
*Rubin has been on a book tour this year including stops on 60 Minutes, and with Tim Ferriss, Dan Carlin and many more.
