Rupi Kaur on Love and Pain, Suffering and Joy with Lewis Howes

Creative Pressure

Rupi Kaur opens up about the immense pressure she feels to surpass her previous successes. She describes how her poetry often writes itself in her mind before it reaches paper, driven by emotional responses to life events 1. Despite selling millions of copies of her books, she battles with self-doubt and the fear of not meeting expectations 2. This pressure sometimes leaves her feeling creatively paralyzed, making it difficult to produce new work.

   

Emotional Writing

Rupi's writing is deeply influenced by her personal experiences and emotions. She initially wrote about domestic violence and the struggles of women, drawing from both her own life and the lives of those around her 3. Over time, she learned to write from a place of love rather than suffering, realizing that creativity doesn't always have to stem from pain 4. This shift required reprogramming her mindset to embrace positive emotions as a source of inspiration.

   

Art and Business

Balancing the creative and business aspects of her career is a constant challenge for Rupi. She integrates her love for visual art with poetry, creating a unique blend that resonates with her audience 5. Managing the business side, including building a team and handling logistics, often competes with her creative time, making it difficult to maintain a routine 6. Despite these challenges, she remains committed to authenticity in her work.