I’m glad I came across this video of Goldie Hawn, talking to aspiring actors.  She made a lot of sense and I found her approach to the idea of creativity captivating. The expressions on the faces of the audience are confirmation of her inspiring message, which she delivered with confidence, as she mesmerised in the role of mentor. It was clear that she has had practice at giving advice, whether that’s to her family and friends or professionally, she seems to be someone that speaks from experience, which makes the content all the more valuable.

Her thoughts upon the act of writing and holding your nerve, even when it sometimes feels like it would be easier to give up, strikes a chord and it can be applied to all challenges we face.  She talked about writing and all other creative processes as an isolating act. People such as Wordsworth and Lautrec are just a couple of people that spring to mind, individuals so immersed in their art that they became almost outcasts, conjuring ideas upon hillsides and a voyeur that sat on the sidelines and recorded the lives of others. Yet to be inspired means we have to observe other people and other things, taking a step back in order to capture the full measure or character of a person or scene. To create, whether we like it or not, often requires time and peace.

There’s no avoiding the fact that writing, like all creative pursuits, is by  its very nature a solo endeavour. You experience the highs and lows alone, you take on the blame when things don’t work out, yet you receive all the glory when they do! As a writer, you can’t particularly share the burden but that means that you can also revel in your accomplishments. Hawn also points out that success can be as tough as failure. Knock backs are part of life. Not everyone can love your work. But equally, if you suddenly get a break and become a success story, then the journey to sustain that success is just the beginning. You also have to deal with the added pressure of fame and as it’s often said, ‘It’s lonely at the top’, but, is it just as lonely when you’re sat in a room with only a laptop and the radio for company, or is it just a different kind of solitude?

As with anything, perseverance and optimism can power you on. Nothing seems wasted when you spend your time devoted to something you enjoy and believe in.

Watch Goldie Hawn offer some golden nuggets of advice. Whatever line of work you’re in, whether that’s a writer, an actor, an artist, or a postman; her philosophy on life definitely provides that extra motivation that we all need from time to time: