Ep. 255 – Elizabeth Gilbert

10 snips

Dec 31, 2024

Elizabeth Gilbert, the New York Times bestselling author of "Eat Pray Love" and "Big Magic", discusses her spiritual journey and the transformative power of creativity. She delves into her twelve-step work with Love and Sex Addiction, emphasizing the importance of vulnerability in artistic expression. Liz also shares her insights on navigating the complexities of love and resilience, as well as the significance of self-compassion through her project, Letters from Love. The conversation closes with a meaningful guided practice, encouraging listeners to embrace their authentic selves.

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ANECDOTE

Origin of Letters from Love

During a difficult divorce, Elizabeth Gilbert felt immense shame and lacked spiritual grounding.
She started writing letters to herself from unconditional love, a practice she's continued for 20 years.

INSIGHT

Letters from Love as a Teaching Practice

Elizabeth Gilbert's Letters from Love project started as a private practice and evolved into a Substack community.
It now helps 150,000 people combat self-hatred and negativity.

ANECDOTE

Sharon's Experience with Unconditional Love

Sharon Salzberg realized a voice had guided her through childhood trauma, telling her things would get better.
Through Gilbert's exercise, she recognized this voice as unconditional love.

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The signature of all things

Elizabeth Gilbert

The Signature of All Things is a historical fiction novel by Elizabeth Gilbert that follows the life of Alma Whittaker, a 19th-century botanist. The novel spans decades, exploring Alma's scientific pursuits, her family relationships, and her personal growth. Gilbert's writing beautifully weaves together scientific detail with a compelling narrative. The novel explores themes of ambition, love, loss, and the enduring power of nature. It's a richly detailed and moving story of a woman who defies expectations to pursue her passions.

City of Girls

Elizabeth Gilbert

In 'City of Girls', Elizabeth Gilbert tells the story of Vivian Morris, a nineteen-year-old who is sent to Manhattan in 1940 after being kicked out of Vassar College. Vivian lives with her Aunt Peg, the owner of the flamboyant Lily Playhouse theater, where she is introduced to a vibrant world of showgirls, actors, and other charismatic characters. The novel follows Vivian's journey as she navigates her new life, makes personal mistakes that lead to professional scandals, and ultimately discovers the kind of life she craves and the freedom to pursue it. The story is told from the perspective of an older Vivian looking back on her youth with both pleasure and regret, reflecting on themes of human desire, connection, and the idiosyncrasies of true love.

Eat, Pray, Love

Elizabeth Gilbert

In 'Eat, Pray, Love', Elizabeth Gilbert chronicles her journey as she leaves behind her outwardly successful but inwardly unfulfilling life in the United States. The book is divided into three parts, each set in a different country: Italy, where she seeks pleasure and indulges in the local culture; India, where she delves into spiritual practices and meditation; and Bali, Indonesia, where she aims to find a balance between worldly enjoyment and divine transcendence. The memoir is a personal and introspective account of Gilbert's struggles, growth, and self-discovery during her travels.

Big Magic

Elizabeth Gilbert

In 'Big Magic', Elizabeth Gilbert delves into the mysteries of creativity, encouraging readers to live more creative and fulfilling lives. The book is divided into six parts: Courage, Enchantment, Permission, Persistence, Trust, and Divinity. Gilbert argues that creativity is an essential part of human nature and that it requires courage to accept and overcome fears. She emphasizes the importance of persistence, trust in the creative process, and the need to separate creativity from the pressure of making a living. Through personal anecdotes and insights from other artists, Gilbert demystifies the creative process and inspires readers to pursue their passions with curiosity rather than fear[2][3][5].