Creative individuals often grapple with the pressure to be perceived as “serious” by friends, family, and partners, leading some to pursue academic qualifications. However, the truth is, you don’t need a degree to follow your passion. Real-life experiences provide the knowledge to pursue your craft. The author’s bestseller, Eat, Pray, Love, emerged from her personal journey after a challenging divorce, teaching her valuable lessons that can’t be learned in a classroom. This underscores the idea that creativity thrives in the real world, requiring an open mindset.

Rather than striving to prove yourself as a “serious” artist, the advice is to stay playful. Tom Waits likens his music to jewelry for the minds of his listeners. Your art can be strange, comforting, amusing, intimate, or angry – it’s okay if some people love it while others hate it.