Known for being a genius music producer, Rick Robin shares his creative process through his new-launched book, The Creative Act: A Way of Being. The book was published in January 2023.

The book covers advice from Rick Rubin on how individuals tap into their creativity and produce authentic and meaningful work. Rubin Rubin argues that creativity doesn’t occur from following rules but rather from experimenting and being brave to take risks.

If you don’t have the time to read through his book, keep scrolling to learn what the legend has said. You can also watch the following animated video from Lead Learn Leap about The Creative Act: A Way of Being by Rick Rubin.

#1. Practice Mindfulness

One of the core to cultivating creative minds is practicing mindfulness. Rubin refers to mindfulness as the practice of focusing on the current moment without judgment. Mindfulness enables us to be more open to new ideas and experiences.

Rubin mentions some practices to stimulate mindfulness, such as meditation and yoga. Another alternative is to focus on breathing for a few minutes each day and feel ourselves in the calmest nature.

Feeling our breath and maintaining calmness can help our brain to work more effectively. Rubin believes that practicing mindfulness helps us clear our heads and see things from a new perspective.

#2. Grow Your Curiosity

We need to be curious about many things to provoke critical thinking. Curiosity is the desire to learn and explore. It encourages us to experience new things and expand our creative minds.

Rubin suggests simple practices to grow our creativity. Activities like reading, traveling, and talking to people from different backgrounds can help us uncover new knowledge, stay open, and find a new perspective

#3. Don’t be Afraid to Take Risks

Many of us stay in the same state of life because we fear taking risks. Meanwhile, Rubin thinks that taking risks is essential for growing creativity. Even if we’re scared of new experiences, taking risks allows us to grow.

Rubin even mentions, “The best way to be creative is to be willing to fail.” His statements also imply that failure is a necessary part of the creative process to make an authentic work. 

We can learn to be braver by exploring ourselves, trying new hobbies, and fighting our fears. Not to mention it’s also important to reward ourselves for being brave enough to take risks. 

#4. Collaborate and Join Communities

As a well-thought music producer, Rubin has worked with top global artists like Metallica and Red Hot Chilli Peppers. His collaborations with other artists from different music genres are crucial to his creative process.

Collaboration allows artists or people in various industries to bring different perspectives and skills to the table. It becomes easier to come up with innovative ideas. We can learn from each other by sharing skills and ideas.

Rubin encourages readers to join communities of like-minded people to learn and grow. You can start by looking for communities from online platforms or contacting your desired person and asking for collaboration.

#5. Cultivate an Open Mind

Someone creative must be open-minded. Therefore, you should be able to accept others’ feedback and insights well. Even if you fail, consider it a valuable learning experience to grow and improve.

Don’t hesitate to ask for feedback from your friends or communities. Their insights are helpful resources that you must work on. Find trustable and experienced people to help you gain valuable insights into yourself and your work.

#6. Celebrate Your Successes

Cultivating a creative requires rewards. Rubin believes that celebrating your success is necessary to keep you motivated. You can reward yourself even for taking a slight movement in your life, such as trying a new experience.

Rubin explicitly encourages artists to take the time to appreciate their hard work. Looking back at your accomplishments and tracking your growth are valuable motivations to keep you going.

#7. Embrace Growth Mindset

A growth mindset means believing you can always learn and improve even when mistakes happen. This mindset helps you stay motivated and focused to achieve your goals. More importantly, it enables you to overcome challenges and setbacks.

Rubin mentions that no matter how talented and skillful you are, you can always learn and grow to hone your creativity. He suggests artists and people take on new challenges, collaborate, and never stop learning.

Takeaway

The Creative Act: A Way of Being by Rick Rubin is a must-read book for self-growth. This book is specifically helpful for people working in the creative industry. But Rubin’s written work is also a recommendation for people who want to grow their self-esteem.

Moreover, Rick Rubin’s book has been rewarded as the #1 New York Time Best Seller. It also receives good ratings on Amazon. Generated over 2,000 online reviews, The Creative Act by Rick Ruben gets 4,7 out of five rating stars.