Think and Grow as an Artist (Part 3)
Discover the Secrets of Success Shared by Thomas Edison, Adele, David Lynch and Bob Dylan
In this third edition of our ongoing series exploring Napoleon Hill’s Think and Grow Rich, we’ll continue to build upon the foundations we’ve already established in the last two editions of The Intentional Artist.
In our series’ opening edition of Think and Grow as an Artist, we started exploring how Hill’s principles apply to the arts, beginning with the influential role of ‘Desire’ in forming our artistic goals.
We then examined ‘Faith,’ ‘Autosuggestion,’ and ‘Specialized Knowledge,’ assessing the impact of belief, self-guidance, and expertise on our creative journeys.
In last week’s edition, we explored ‘Imagination,’ ‘Organized Planning,’ ‘Decision,’ ‘Persistence,’ and the ‘Mastermind.’
This week, we continue our journey with two more of Hill’s insightful principles: ‘Sex Transmutation’ and ‘The Subconscious Mind.’
In ‘Sex Transmutation,’ we’ll discover the art of channeling our deepest passions and emotions. This approach resonates with the idea that creativity is more about surrender than control, a concept beautifully articulated by artist and author Julia Cameron:
“The creative process is a process of surrender, not control.”
By embracing this notion, we transform our raw emotional power into dynamic creative energy. Then, as we investigate ‘The Subconscious Mind,’ we’ll look into techniques to access this abundant source of intuition and inner creativity, crucial for innovative thinking and artistic depth.
By integrating Napoleon Hill’s teachings into our creative practice, our aim is not just for theoretical knowledge but for actionable strategies that can drive real progress and success in our creative pursuits. And, as we apply Hill’s insights to our artistic endeavors, we aim for growth, innovation, and success.
Join me as I continue to connect Hill’s timeless wisdom with the everyday realities of artistic work, striving for growth, innovation, and success in our creative journeys.
Let’s now explore how these next two concepts can enrich our creative work.
Sex Transmutation
Channeling Passion into Creativity
In Think and Grow Rich, Napoleon Hill explores the concept of Sex Transmutation as the process of redirecting one’s deepest passions and emotional energies into creative and productive pursuits. Hill observed that many successful individuals, like Thomas Edison, effectively harnessed their passionate energy, not solely for sexual expression, but as a driving force for their professional and creative achievements.
Thomas Edison, known for his remarkable scientific innovations, is a prime example of this principle. Edison channeled his intense focus and energy into his work, leading to significant breakthroughs in technology and science. Hill notes that this transmutation of energy is not about suppression but about constructive redirection of a powerful human drive.
This principle finds resonance in various contemporary creative fields. Artists and musicians who transform their life experiences and emotions into their art exemplify this concept.
For instance, the music of Adele often reflects her personal life experiences, transforming deep emotional states into soulful and resonant songs that touch millions. Her ability to convert personal struggles and emotions into powerful musical expressions is a form of Sex Transmutation.
In the world of visual art, Frida Kahlo’s work is a vivid portrayal of how personal pain and passion can be transformed into compelling artistic expression. Her self-portraits, imbued with elements of her physical and emotional struggles, demonstrate how artists can channel their most intense experiences into their art, creating deeply personal yet universally relatable works.
The key to harnessing this principle lies in recognizing and embracing our emotional energies, understanding their power, and then consciously directing them into our creative processes. This transmutation can lead to groundbreaking work, as it taps into a wellspring of raw, authentic creativity that resonates on a profound level with audiences.
Sex Transmutation is about more than just the transformation of sexual energy; it encompasses a broader range of intense emotions and desires, including love, passion, ambition, and even frustration. By learning to redirect these powerful forces, artists can unlock new levels of creativity and expression.
This concept encourages artists to explore and understand their deepest emotions, using them as a catalyst for creativity rather than allowing them to become overwhelming or destructive.
In this way, Sex Transmutation becomes a tool for personal growth and artistic development, helping artists to channel their most powerful energies into creating art that is vibrant, dynamic, and truly expressive.
Having seen how we can channel our deepest passions through Sex Transmutation, our journey now leads us to the mysterious and powerful realm of the Subconscious Mind.
In this next section, we dive into how this unseen yet influential part of our psyche can significantly enhance our creative process. Here, we’ll explore techniques to engage with our subconscious and understand the vital role of intuition and the ‘inner voice’ in artistic creation, drawing upon both Napoleon Hill’s wisdom and the practices of modern creatives.
The Subconscious Mind
Tapping into Inner Creativity
Napoleon Hill introduces the concept of the Subconscious Mind as a reservoir of creativity, ideas, and intuition. Hill believed that tapping into this part of the mind could unlock incredible creative potential, a principle that remains profoundly relevant for today’s artists, writers, and musicians.
Hill described the Subconscious Mind as a field where seeds of thought and creativity are planted. He emphasized the importance of feeding it with positive thoughts and clear intentions, allowing it to become a source of inspiration and innovation. This aligns with techniques like meditation, visualization, and affirmations, which many contemporary creatives use to engage with their subconscious and harness their inner creativity.
In the worlds of filmmaking and art, David Lynch stands out as a creative who deeply taps into his subconscious. Known for his distinctive and surreal cinematic style, Lynch attributes much of his creativity to his meditation practice.
Lynch has been a devoted practitioner of Transcendental Meditation since the 1970s and credits it with helping him dive deep into his subconscious mind. Lynch describes this process as “diving within,” a technique that allows him to access unique ideas and visions that inform his filmmaking and art. His works, often characterized by dream-like imagery and complex narratives, reflect the profound influence of his inner explorations.
Musicians, too, rely heavily on intuition and the subconscious. Songwriters Bob Dylan and Joni Mitchell have created some of their most iconic work by ‘tuning in’ to their inner voice, allowing their subconscious to guide the narrative and emotion of their music.
In the visual arts, artist Yayoi Kusama has harnessed her inner world to produce unique and immersive works. Kusama’s repetitive patterns and extensive use of polka dots are said to stem from her visual and auditory hallucinations, indicating a deep connection between her art and her subconscious experiences.
To tap into the Subconscious Mind, we as artists can practice mindfulness, keep a dream journal to capture the fleeting ideas that come in dreams, or engage in free writing/drawing to allow subconscious thoughts to surface. These practices enable us to access a wealth of inner resources, translating intuitive insights into tangible artistic expressions.
The role of the Subconscious Mind in creativity is profound. By learning to access and collaborate with this part of our psyche, we open ourselves to a world of untapped ideas and inspirations, enriching our art with layers of depth and meaning that resonate on a deeper, more instinctual level.
As we conclude this third edition of our series on Napoleon Hill’s Think and Grow Rich, we’ve now explored 11 principles, each offering unique insights into the creative process.
In this edition we covered ‘Sex Transmutation,’ highlighting its role in amplifying creativity, as well as ‘The Subconscious Mind,’ focusing on accessing our inner creativity and intuition.” As we head into our next and final edition in this series, we’ll examine the two remaining principles of Napoleon Hill’s timeless work and their impact on the artistic and creative fields.
We will explore the ‘Brain,’ discussing how maintaining mental health is vital for optimal creative output. We’ll also explore exercises and habits to keep the brain healthy and conducive to creativity.
Then, we’ll dive into the ‘Sixth Sense,’ examining the role of intuition and spontaneous inspiration in artistic creation, and how we can cultivate and listen to our inner creative guidance.
Join me next week as we conclude our journey through Think and Grow Rich.
That’s it for this issue of The Intentional Artist.
As always, if this resonated or was of help, I’d love to hear your thoughts.
Artfully yours,
Chris
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