Elizabeth Gilbert on Creating Big Magic with Lewis Howes

Attention Focus

Elizabeth Gilbert and Lewis Howes explore the profound impact of directing attention thoughtfully. Gilbert shares an anecdote about Oprah Winfrey, highlighting her ability to make people feel seen by giving them attention, rather than seeking it for herself. This approach, Gilbert notes, is what sets Oprah apart, as she consistently chooses to focus on those who are often overlooked.

That's why she's her and nobody else is. Because I think after a certain level, people stop giving attention and only try to hold on to the attention that they have or get more.

--- Elizabeth Gilbert

Howes and Gilbert agree that in a culture obsessed with gaining attention, the true value lies in what we choose to give our attention to, fostering a more meaningful exchange with others 1 2.

   

Serving Others

Focusing on serving others can transform personal and professional life, as Elizabeth Gilbert and Lewis Howes discuss. Howes shares his journey from seeking validation through achievements to finding fulfillment in service, which has shifted his motivation and transformed his life. Gilbert emphasizes the importance of gratitude, noting that recognizing and writing down three things you're grateful for daily can significantly enhance happiness.

Write it down because it makes you have to find it, see it and realize it.

--- Elizabeth Gilbert

This practice, Gilbert explains, is a concrete way to cultivate a happier life, as it requires actively acknowledging the good in one's life 3.