Creative people Quote by Twyla Tharp
““A lot of habitually creative people have preparation rituals linked to the setting in which they choose to start their day. By putting themselves into that environment, they start their creative day. The composer Igor Stravinsky did the same thing every morning when he entered his studio to work: He sat at the piano and played a Bach fugue. Perhaps he needed the ritual to feel like a musician, or the playing somehow connected him to musical notes, his vocabulary. Perhaps he was honoring his hero, Bach, and seeking his blessing for the day. Perhaps it was nothing more than a simple method to get his fingers moving, his motor running, his mind thinking music. But repeating the routine each day in the studio induced some click that got him started. In the end, there is no ideal condition for creativity. What works for one person is useless for another. The only criterion is this: Make it easy on yourself. Find a working environment where the prospect of wrestling with your muse doesn't scare you, doesn't shut you down. It should make you want to be there, and once you find it, stick with it. To get the creative habit, you need a working environment that's habit-forming. All preferred working states, no matter how eccentric, have one thing in common: When you enter into them, they compel you to get started.””
About This Quote
Consistent, personal rituals create a mental cue that lowers resistance and initiates creative flow, though the optimal ritual varies per individual.
In simple terms: Rituals trigger creativity.
Habitual environment cues start work.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- morning studio sessions
- writing desks
- design studios
Key Concepts
Practical Applications
- designing a personal pre‑work routine
- optimizing workspace cues
Questions to Reflect On
- What simple action could become your creative cue?
- How can you test the effectiveness of a new ritual?