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#820: Elizabeth Gilbert — How to Find Your Inner Voice, Set Strong Boundaries, and Live a Life of Radical Ease (Repost)

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Jul 30, 2025

Guest

Elizabeth Gilbert

Elizabeth Gilbert, the #1 New York Times bestselling author of 'Eat, Pray, Love,' shares insights on creativity and personal growth. She discusses how embracing vulnerability can empower individuals, and the importance of self-friendliness and setting boundaries. Gilbert explores the revolutionary power of a 'relaxed woman' and how to navigate social media's pitfalls. She also emphasizes the significance of meaningful questions over 'why' inquiries, urging listeners to foster a compassionate relationship with themselves and embrace the mysteries of life.

01:56:02

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INSIGHT

Complexity of Self-Responsibility

Elizabeth Gilbert discusses the difficulty of distinguishing blame and responsibility for one's emotional state.
She emphasizes self-compassion and acknowledges complexity in human emotional and physical systems.

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ADVICE

Write Letters From Love

Try writing letters from unconditional love to yourself, a practice called two-way prayer.
Address your letters with affectionate endearments to foster self-kindness and combat self-criticism.

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ADVICE

Set Hard Personal Boundaries

Set hard boundaries to protect your mental and emotional well-being.
Honestly communicate your limits or reduce contact with toxic people to preserve your peace.

Get the Snipd Podcast app to discover more snips from this episode

Embracing Open-Hearted Interactions: The Wisdom of No Cherished Outcome

05:16 • 3min

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Navigating Relationships and Self-Discovery

07:52 • 23min

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The Power of Vulnerability in Personal Growth

30:55 • 3min

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Exploring Internal Family Systems and Self-Perception

34:02 • 2min

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Embracing Self-Friendliness

36:26 • 22min

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The Revolutionary Power of a Relaxed Woman

58:21 • 3min

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Embracing Mysticism and Boundaries

01:01:36 • 23min

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The Art of Meaningful Questions

01:24:51 • 16min

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Navigating Beyond Social Media

01:40:52 • 9min

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Closing Reflections and Sponsor Highlights

01:50:14 • 6min

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#264

• Mentioned in 58 episodes

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.

#2852

• Mentioned in 10 episodes

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.

#85

• Mentioned in 125 episodes

The artist's way

a spiritual path to higher creativity

Ada Arbós Bo

Julia Cameron

This book presents a comprehensive method for artists to recover their creativity from various blocks such as limiting beliefs, fear, self-sabotage, and other inhibiting forces. It is designed to help individuals discover and develop their artistic potential, whether as writers, painters, poets, or musicians. The book emphasizes the connection between creativity and spirituality, providing step-by-step exercises to nurture creative expression as a consistent part of daily life.

#205

• Mentioned in 68 episodes

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.

Elizabeth Gilbert is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Big Magic and Eat, Pray, Love as well as several other international bestsellers. Her latest novel, City of Girls, was named an instant New York Times bestseller. Go to ElizabethGilbert.Substack.com to subscribe to “Letters From Love with Elizabeth Gilbert,” her newsletter, which has more than 120,000 subscribers.

This episode was originally published in September 2024. Show notes and links: https://tim.blog/2024/09/26/elizabeth-gilbert-2/

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Timestamps:

[00:00:00] Who is Elizabeth Gilbert?

[00:05:42] No cherished outcomes.

[00:10:55] Self-compassionate ownership of responsibility.

[00:15:52] The daily practice of writing letters from love.

[00:22:22] Two-way prayer vs. one-way prayer.

[00:30:57] The male approach to this practice.

[00:34:27] How do you feel toward yourself vs. about yourself?

[00:36:53] Understanding self-hatred to foster self-friendliness.

[00:43:20] Setting boundaries and dealing with those who refuse to honor them.

[00:50:15] Why (and how) Elizabeth avoids big family holiday gatherings.

[00:52:15] Comfort in solitude.