DON’T SQUEEZE YOUR HAMSTER TO DEATH. LETTING GO OF YOUR IDEAS.

Imagine a little kid who loved his hamster SO much that when he held it, the hamster’s eyes bulged out because the kid was holding it way too tightly.

It’s that same way when you come up with an idea. Especially one you love. You and your ego can hold on too tightly. So tightly that you may kill it.

If you identify too closely with your work, if you can’t separate yourself from it, you take offense personally. The harder you squeeze, the greater chance you’ll kill what’s so precious to you.

Having ideas comes down to two words: “let” and “go.”

Let go.

It’s vital to remember: you are not your ideas. Let go of your ideas and you give them room to grow. You give others the chance to nurture them, improve on them, make them better and stronger.

Detach yourself. Emotionally. Ideas can change the world, but most of the time, they’re just brain farts. If you can let it the fuck go, you can see an idea for what it really is.

Genius? Or total crap?

It is no longer a personal thing.

Andrew Stanton, Pixar director of WALL-E and Finding Nemo, likes to think of a movie as a patient, and that the director and producer, are doctors who join with other Pixar directors, also doctors, to assess the patient. Here, you are a doctor. Your idea is the patient. You examine the patient along with a group of consulting doctors, to determine the best treatment.

Detachment is not life threatening, but life giving.

When you can achieve this, you’ll be amazed at how you’ll be able to see clearly. And see your way to real genius.

“Creativity can be described as letting go of certainties.” — Gail Sheehy (Author)