DeepSummary
In this episode, Chris Duffy interviews Wendy MacNaughton and Laurel Braitman, both artists and authors who have collaborated on a project called Attention Club. They discuss the importance of being present and focusing on creativity through practices like drawing and writing. They share exercises they use to help people tap into their creativity and embrace imperfection.
MacNaughton and Braitman describe how they met through a live storytelling event called Pop Up Magazine and bonded over their shared love of exploring meaningful moments through their art. They explain how Attention Club was born out of a desire to combine their approaches of using drawing and writing to cultivate mindfulness.
The guests emphasize the need to let go of perfectionism and the fear of making mistakes in order to fully engage in the creative process. They offer specific prompts and activities listeners can try, such as blind contour drawing and describing sensory memories, to reconnect with their innate creativity.
Key Episodes Takeaways
- Engaging in creative practices like drawing and writing can help cultivate presence and mindfulness.
- Embracing imperfection and mistakes is crucial for tapping into the true creative process.
- Letting go of the need to meet others' standards of perfection allows you to find your own unique creative voice.
- Taking action and simply starting the creative work is more important than overanalyzing or having a perfect plan.
- Finding purpose through connecting with even one person impacted by your creative work can be deeply meaningful.
- Authentic vulnerability and openness are at the heart of developing meaningful creative connections.
- Drawing and writing exercises focused on sensory details can be powerful tools for unlocking presence and creativity.
- Maintaining a community that nurtures creativity without judgment is a supportive way to tap into your innate abilities.
Top Episodes Quotes
- “Like, the mistakes are where the art is. The mistakes are where the humanity is. The mistakes are where the opportunities for falling in love with the thing is right. And that is what happens when we can really pay attention. That's what we call the flow state.“ by Wendy McNaughton
- “Stop your whining, your thinking, your sniveling, your big ideas, your big ambition, and just do.“ by Wendy McNaughton
- “If one person finds this book who is a grieving 17 year old, and it saves them a little bit of pain in their twenties and thirties, if they could learn a little bit from me and the sort of left turns I took so that they might avoid some of the pitfalls I fell into, that would be enough.“ by Laurel Braitman
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Episode Information
How to Be a Better Human
TED and PRX
6/10/24
If you found yourself doodling or writing a lot as a child but then lost the hobby as you grew up, Wendy MacNaughton and Laurel Braitman want to help you recapture your spark. Wendy MacNaughton is an illustrator, the author of “How to Say Goodbye”, and the creator of Draw Together, an art and learning community. Laurel Braitman is a TED Fellow, the author of the memoir “What Looks Like Bravery”, and the founder of Writing Medicine, a community of writing healthcare professionals. Together, Wendy and Laurel created Attention Club, a group of people pursuing creativity by practicing focus with one another. In this episode, Wendy and Laurel join Chris for an in-person chat at the 2024 TED Conference where they discuss the feelings that arise when sharing art with an audience and why embracing mistakes can lead to more meaningful work.
For the full text transcript, visit go.ted.com/BHTranscripts.