Your elusive creative genius | Elizabeth Gilbert

翻译人员: Sophielihui . 校对人员: Shivani Sun

I am a writer.

我是个作家，写作不仅仅是我的职业，更是我一辈子的挚爱与迷恋

Writing books is my profession but it's more than that, of course.

我是个作家，写作不仅仅是我的职业，更是我一辈子的挚爱与迷恋

It is also my great lifelong love and fascination.

我是个作家，写作不仅仅是我的职业，更是我一辈子的挚爱与迷恋

And I don't expect that that's ever going to change.

我认为这是永远不会改变的事情

But, that said, something kind of peculiar has happened recently

尽管如此，最近在我的生活工作中，发生了一个特殊事件

in my life and in my career,

尽管如此，最近在我的生活工作中，发生了一个特殊事件

which has caused me to have to recalibrate my whole relationship with this work.

使我不得不重新思考我与我的工作之间的关系

And the peculiar thing is that I recently wrote this book,

这个特殊事件就是：我最新出版的那本回忆录《美食、祈祷、爱》

this memoir called "Eat, Pray, Love"

这个特殊事件就是：我最新出版的那本回忆录《美食、祈祷、爱》

which, decidedly unlike any of my previous books,

与我以前那些普普通通的作品大不一样

went out in the world for some reason, and became this big,

不知怎么的，成了一本轰动一时、令人激动的国际畅销书

mega-sensation, international bestseller thing.

不知怎么的，成了一本轰动一时、令人激动的国际畅销书

The result of which is that everywhere I go now,

结果是，现在不论我到哪里，人们都觉得我这一辈子就这样了

people treat me like I'm doomed.

结果是，现在不论我到哪里，人们都觉得我这一辈子就这样了

Seriously -- doomed, doomed!

真的，就这样了，彻底地，没救了，玩完了！

Like, they come up to me now, all worried, and they say,

他们会非常忧虑地过来跟我说：

“你不怕吗? 不怕你这辈子都超越不了那本书了吗?”

"Aren't you afraid you're never going to be able to top that?

Aren't you afraid you're going to keep writing for your whole life

“你不怕你会这样写一辈子，却永远再也写不出世人热爱的作品了吗？”

and you're never again going to create a book

“你不怕你会这样写一辈子，却永远再也写不出世人热爱的作品了吗？”

that anybody in the world cares about at all,

“你不怕你会这样写一辈子，却永远再也写不出世人热爱的作品了吗？”

ever again?"

“你不怕你会这样写一辈子，却永远再也写不出世人热爱的作品了吗？”

So that's reassuring, you know.

他们可真是会安慰人呀

But it would be worse, except for that I happen to remember

我的日子本来会很难熬，幸运的是，我想起了20年前决定成为作家的事情

that over 20 years ago, when I was a teenager,

我的日子本来会很难熬，幸运的是，我想起了20年前决定成为作家的事情

when I first started telling people that I wanted to be a writer,

那时我才十几岁

我当时遭遇到了同样的质疑，人们说：你不怕永远都不会成功吗？

I was met with this same sort of fear-based reaction.

我当时遭遇到了同样的质疑，人们说：你不怕永远都不会成功吗？

And people would say, "Aren't you afraid you're never going to have any success?

Aren't you afraid the humiliation of rejection will kill you?

你不怕持续的拒绝会把你击垮吗？

Aren't you afraid that you're going to work your whole life at this craft

你不怕努力终身却一无所成吗？

你不怕努力终身却一无所成吗？

and nothing's ever going to come of it

你最后会在支离破碎的梦想中绝望死去，满含着失败的痛楚

and you're going to die on a scrap heap of broken dreams

你最后会在支离破碎的梦想中绝望死去，满含着失败的苦痛

with your mouth filled with bitter ash of failure?"

你最后会在支离破碎的梦想中绝望死去，满含着失败的苦痛

(Laughter)

Like that, you know.

我当时一直得到诸如此类的质疑

The answer -- the short answer to all those questions is, "Yes."

对于这些质疑，最简单的回答是：“怕”

Yes, I'm afraid of all those things.

是的，这种种一切都让人害怕，直到今天也一样

And I always have been.

是的，这种种一切都让人害怕，直到今天也一样

And I'm afraid of many, many more things besides

其实除了这些，我还害怕很多别人猜不到的东西

that people can't even guess at,

其实除了这些，我还害怕很多别人猜不到的东西

like seaweed and other things that are scary.

比方说海草，还有其他吓人的东西

But, when it comes to writing,

但是，说到害怕写作，我最近一直在想，我为什么要害怕写作呢？

the thing that I've been sort of thinking about lately, and wondering about lately,

但是，说到害怕写作，我最近一直在想，我为什么要害怕写作呢？

is why?

这难道是一种理性的想法吗？

You know, is it rational?

人们害怕从事自己命中注定的工作？这符合逻辑吗？

Is it logical that anybody should be expected

to be afraid of the work that they feel they were put on this Earth to do.

人们害怕从事自己命中注定的工作？这符合逻辑吗？

And what is it specifically about creative ventures

创造性工作究竟有着怎样的特殊性，以至于让我们为彼此的心智健康担心起来了呢？

that seems to make us really nervous about each other's mental health

创造性工作究竟有着怎样的特殊性，以至于让我们为彼此的心智健康担心起来了呢？

in a way that other careers kind of don't do, you know?

别的行业可不太会这样，不是吗？

Like my dad, for example, was a chemical engineer

比方说，我爸爸是个化学工程师

and I don't recall once in his 40 years of chemical engineering

在他40年的化学工程生涯中，我不曾记得有人问他是否害怕成为化学工程师

anybody asking him if he was afraid to be a chemical engineer, you know?

在他40年的化学工程生涯中，我不曾记得有人问他是否害怕成为化学工程师

"That chemical-engineering block, John, how's it going?"

没人说：“约翰，化学工作遇到瓶颈了吗？怎么样了？”

It just didn't come up like that, you know?

从来不曾发生过这种问话

But to be fair, chemical engineers as a group

当然，平心而论，化学工程师这一群体

haven't really earned a reputation over the centuries

并没有在过去几个世纪里，因酗酒吸毒、狂躁抑郁而享誉全球

for being alcoholic manic-depressives.

并没有在过去几个世纪里，因酗酒吸毒、狂躁抑郁而享誉全球

(Laughter)

并没有在过去几个世纪里，因酗酒吸毒、狂躁抑郁而享誉全球

We writers, we kind of do have that reputation,

而我们作家，倒确确实实有着那样的名声

and not just writers, but creative people across all genres,

不仅作家，各个领域的创作人才似乎都有着情绪极不稳定的恶名

it seems, have this reputation for being enormously mentally unstable.

不仅作家，各个领域的创作人才似乎都有着情绪极不稳定的恶名

And all you have to do is look at the very grim death count

只需看看上个世纪，各个领域伟大创作天才们英年早逝的案例

in the 20th century alone, of really magnificent creative minds

只需看看上个世纪，各个领域伟大创作天才们英年早逝的案例

who died young and often at their own hands, you know?

常常是年纪轻轻死于自杀

And even the ones who didn't literally commit suicide

即使那些没有自杀的，往往也没有完全展现出他们的才华

seem to be really undone by their gifts, you know.

即使那些没有自杀的，往往也没有完全展现出他们的才华

Norman Mailer, just before he died, last interview, he said,

诺曼梅勒，在去世前的最后一次采访中说：

"Every one of my books has killed me a little more."

“我的每一本书都蚕食了一部分的我”

An extraordinary statement to make about your life's work.

对于你毕生的作品，这是多么激进的说法啊

But we don't even blink when we hear somebody say this,

但我们对此类说法却视若无睹，因为我们早已见怪不怪了

because we've heard that kind of stuff for so long

但我们对此类说法却视若无睹，因为我们早已见怪不怪了

and somehow we've completely internalized and accepted collectively

且不知为何,人们都已经完全内化接受了这一观念

this notion that creativity and suffering are somehow inherently linked

这种观念就是：创造力和痛苦息息相关，艺术创造最终一定会导致极度苦闷

and that artistry, in the end, will always ultimately lead to anguish.

这种观念就是：创造力和痛苦息息相关，艺术创造最终一定会导致极度苦闷

And the question that I want to ask everybody here today

我今天想问在座各位的是：你们大家都对此毫无异议吗？

is are you guys all cool with that idea?

我今天想问在座各位的是：你们大家都对此毫无异议吗？

Are you comfortable with that?

你们都觉得这一观点毫无问题吗?

Because you look at it even from an inch away and, you know --

哪怕稍稍离远点看这个观点，我也不能同意这种臆断

I'm not at all comfortable with that assumption.

哪怕稍稍离远点看这个观点，我也不能同意这种臆断

I think it's odious.

这个观点不但可憎，而且可怕，我不希望这样的想法一直延续到下个世纪

And I also think it's dangerous,

这个观点不但可憎，而且可怕，我不希望这样的想法一直延续到下个世纪

and I don't want to see it perpetuated into the next century.

这个观点不但可憎，而且可怕，我不希望这样的想法一直延续到下个世纪

我觉得鼓励我们伟大的创作天才们继续活下去会更加好

I think it's better if we encourage our great creative minds to live.

And I definitely know that, in my case -- in my situation --

而且就我自己来说，持这一观点必然将我引入黑暗的绝境

it would be very dangerous for me to start sort of leaking down that dark path

而且就我自己来说，持这一观点必然将我引入黑暗的绝境

of assumption,

尤其是在我目前的事业阶段

particularly given the circumstance that I'm in right now in my career.

尤其是在我目前的事业阶段

Which is -- you know, like check it out,

你看，我还年轻，我才四十来岁

I'm pretty young, I'm only about 40 years old.

你看，我还年轻，我才四十来岁

我今后还有大约四十年的创作生涯

I still have maybe another four decades of work left in me.

And it's exceedingly likely that anything I write from this point forward

而且很有可能的是，从这一刻起，我所写的每一部作品

is going to be judged by the world as the work that came after

都会被用来和我上一本轰动一时的巨作进行比较，不是吗？

the freakish success of my last book, right?

都会被用来和我上一本轰动一时的巨作进行比较，不是吗？

I should just put it bluntly, because we're all sort of friends here now --

坦率地说吧，看在我们都聊了这么久，我就说句朋友间的掏心话吧

it's exceedingly likely that my greatest success is behind me.

极有可能的是，我这辈子最大成功已经过去了

So Jesus, what a thought!

天啊，这是何种的想法！

That's the kind of thought that could lead a person

就是这种想法，让人踏上了一大清早就喝琴酒的不归路啊

to start drinking gin at nine o'clock in the morning,

就是这种想法，让人踏上了一大清早就喝琴酒的不归路啊

and I don't want to go there.

我可不想变成那样

(Laughter)

我可不想变成那样

I would prefer to keep doing this work that I love.

我希望继续从事我所热爱的写作事业，所以问题就变成：我应该怎么办呢？

我希望继续从事我所热爱的写作事业，所以问题就变成：我应该怎么办呢？

And so, the question becomes, how?

And so, it seems to me, upon a lot of reflection,

经过一番深入思考，在我看来

that the way that I have to work now, in order to continue writing,

要想继续写作，我必须要创造出某种心理保护机制

is that I have to create some sort of protective psychological construct, right?

要想继续写作，我必须要创造出某种心理保护机制

I have to sort of find some way to have a safe distance

我必须以某种方式，建立起一个安全距离

between me, as I am writing, and my very natural anxiety

区别开写作本身，以及我对于作品反响的极度焦虑

about what the reaction to that writing is going to be, from now on.

区别开写作本身，以及我对于作品反响的极度焦虑

And, as I've been looking, over the last year,

前一年，我到处找寻可以参考的模式，在历史中找，也在不同文化中找

for models for how to do that,

I've been sort of looking across time,

前一年，我到处找寻可以参考的模式，在历史中找，也在不同文化中找

and I've been trying to find other societies

前一年，我到处找寻可以参考的模式，在历史中找，也在不同文化中找

to see if they might have had better and saner ideas than we have

看他们是否有比我们更好、更理智的观点

about how to help creative people

来帮助艺术工作者处理艺术创作所固有的内在情感风险

sort of manage the inherent emotional risks of creativity.

来帮助艺术工作者处理艺术创作所固有的内在情感风险

And that search has led me to ancient Greece and ancient Rome.

这一寻找最后把我带到了古希腊和古罗马

So stay with me, because it does circle around and back.

所以请耐心听我讲，因为最后会绕回到我们的问题

But, ancient Greece and ancient Rome --

在古希腊和古罗马，人们并不认为创造力来自于人类本身

people did not happen to believe that creativity

在古希腊和古罗马，人们并不认为创造力来自于人类本身

came from human beings back then, OK?

在古希腊和古罗马，人们并不认为创造力来自于人类本身

People believed that creativity was this divine attendant spirit

人们相信，创造力是一种神圣的守护精灵

that came to human beings from some distant and unknowable source,

从遥远而不可知的地方来到艺术家身边，带着某种遥远而不可知的目的

for distant and unknowable reasons.

从遥远而不可知的地方来到艺术家身边，带着某种遥远而不可知的目的

The Greeks famously called these divine attendant spirits of creativity "daemons."

希腊人普遍地称这种伴随着创造力的守护精灵为“守护神”

Socrates, famously, believed that he had a daemon

当时人们普遍地认为苏格拉底就有这样一个守护神，从远处赋予他智慧

who spoke wisdom to him from afar.

当时人们普遍地认为苏格拉底就有这样一个守护神，从远处赋予他智慧

The Romans had the same idea,

古罗马人有着相似的观点，他们把这种无形的创造精灵称为“天才”

but they called that sort of disembodied creative spirit a genius.

古罗马人有着相似的观点，他们把这种无形的创造精灵称为“天才”

Which is great, because the Romans did not actually think

这种观点很妙，因为罗马人并没有认为“天才”是某个特别聪慧的个人

that a genius was a particularly clever individual.

这种观点很妙，因为罗马人并没有认为“天才”是某个特别聪慧的个人

They believed that a genius was this, sort of magical divine entity,

他们认为“天才”是某种奇妙的神圣存在

who was believed to literally live in the walls of an artist's studio,

他们甚至认为“天才”居住在艺术家工作室的墙壁中，就像小精灵多比一样

他们甚至认为“天才”居住在艺术家工作室的墙壁中，就像小精灵多比一样

kind of like Dobby the house elf,

and who would come out

它们会悄悄地钻出来，无形地帮助艺术家创作，并影响作品成败

and sort of invisibly assist the artist with their work

它们会悄悄地钻出来，无形地帮助艺术家创作，并影响作品成败

and would shape the outcome of that work.

So brilliant -- there it is, right there, that distance that I'm talking about --

这个观点简直绝了，这就是我在找寻的那个安全距离

that psychological construct to protect you from the results of your work.

这就是让人免受作品成败影响的心理保护机制

And everyone knew that this is how it functioned, right?

我们都可以理解它的运作模式，不是吗？

So the ancient artist was protected from certain things,

古代艺术家由这个观点而得到保护，避免了过度自恋

like, for example, too much narcissism, right?

古代艺术家由这个观点而得到保护，避免了过度自恋

If your work was brilliant, you couldn't take all the credit for it,

如果你的作品很伟大，那可不能完全归功于你

everybody knew that you had this disembodied genius who had helped you.

因为大家都知道你是在一个无形的“天才”帮助下完成作品的

If your work bombed, not entirely your fault, you know?

如果你的作品很烂，同样也不全是你的错

Everyone knew your genius was kind of lame.

人人都知道那是因为你的“天才”很差劲

(Laughter)

这就是西方人在过去很长一段时间里看待创作力的方式

And this is how people thought about creativity in the West

for a really long time.

接着文艺复兴来临，一切都变了，人们产生了一个伟大的想法：

And then the Renaissance came and everything changed,

and we had this big idea, and the big idea was,

接着文艺复兴来临，一切都变了，人们产生了一个伟大的想法：

let's put the individual human being at the center of the universe

“让我们把人类置于宇宙中心，超越众神和神秘未知”

“让我们把人类置于宇宙中心，超越众神和神秘未知”

above all gods and mysteries,

and there's no more room for mystical creatures

于是再也没有空间留给传递神圣意志的小精灵

who take dictation from the divine.

And it's the beginning of rational humanism,

这就是理性人文主义的开端，人们开始相信创造力完全来源于人类个体本身

and people started to believe that creativity

这就是理性人文主义的开端，人们开始相信创造力完全来源于人类个体本身

这就是理性人文主义的开端，人们开始相信创造力完全来源于人类个体本身

came completely from the self of the individual.

And for the first time in history,

有史以来，人们第一次将某个艺术家称为“天才”，而非拥有一个“天才”

you start to hear people referring to this or that artist as being a genius,

有史以来，人们第一次将某个艺术家称为“天才”，而非拥有一个“天才”

rather than having a genius.

有史以来，人们第一次将某个艺术家称为“天才”，而非拥有一个“天才”

And I got to tell you, I think that was a huge error.

而我要说的是，我认为那是一个巨大的错误

You know, I think that allowing somebody, one mere person

让一个人，区区一个个体

to believe that he or she is like, the vessel,

去相信他(她)是承载着神圣、创造、未知和永恒这些事物的源泉与圣器

you know, like the font and the essence and the source

去相信他(她)是承载着神圣、创造、未知和永恒这些事物的源泉与圣器

去相信他(她)是承载着神圣、创造、未知和永恒这些事物的源泉与圣器

of all divine, creative, unknowable, eternal mystery

is just a smidge too much responsibility to put on one fragile, human psyche.

无异于要求他(她)吞下太阳，这对于脆弱的个体而言，是太大的责任

It's like asking somebody to swallow the sun.

无异于要求他(她)吞下太阳，这对于脆弱的个体而言，是太大的责任

It just completely warps and distorts egos,

这彻底地扭曲了一个人的自我认知，并导致对于个人成就无比膨胀的预期

and it creates all these unmanageable expectations about performance.

这彻底地扭曲了一个人的自我认知，并导致对于个人成就无比膨胀的预期

And I think the pressure of that

我认为就是这种压力，在过去的500年间扼杀了无数艺术家

has been killing off our artists for the last 500 years.

我认为就是这种压力，在过去的500年间扼杀了无数艺术家

And, if this is true,

如果真是这样

and I think it is true,

至少我认为是这样的

the question becomes, what now?

那么我们的问题就是：现在该怎么办？我们能够改变这种状况吗？

Can we do this differently?

那么我们的问题就是：现在该怎么办？我们能够改变这种状况吗？

Maybe go back to some more ancient understanding

也许我们应回到更古老的过去，去参考他们对于人类与创造力的理解？

about the relationship between humans and the creative mystery.

也许我们应回到更古老的过去，去参考他们对于人类与创造力的理解？

Maybe not.

也许不行

Maybe we can't just erase 500 years of rational humanistic thought

我们无法用一个短短18分钟的演讲，抹杀掉发展了500多年的理性人文思想

in one 18 minute speech.

我们无法用一个短短18分钟的演讲，抹杀掉发展了500多年的理性人文思想

And there's probably people in this audience

况且或许今天的听众中，就有人能够提出有理有据的科学质疑

who would raise really legitimate scientific suspicions

况且或许今天的听众中，就有人能够提出有理有据的科学质疑

about the notion of, basically, fairies

批驳这种童话精灵跟着艺术家主人，给作品上点上神仙水的可笑想法

who follow people around rubbing fairy juice on their projects and stuff.

批驳这种童话精灵跟着艺术家主人，给作品上点上神仙水的可笑想法

I'm not, probably, going to bring you all along with me on this.

也许，我无法说服你们大家都同意我的看法

But the question that I kind of want to pose is --

但我想说的是：为何不呢？为什么不换个角度思考呢？

you know, why not?

但我想说的是：为何不呢？为什么不换个角度思考呢？

Why not think about it this way?

但我想说的是：为何不呢？为什么不换个角度思考呢？

Because it makes as much sense as anything else I have ever heard

就各种解释人类变化无常的创作过程的理论而言

in terms of explaining the utter maddening capriciousness

这个精灵理论和我听过的所有其他理论一样地合理（或者说一样地无理）

of the creative process.

这个精灵理论和我听过的所有其他理论一样地合理（或者说一样地无理）

A process which, as anybody who has ever tried to make something --

这个过程，对于任何一个曾试图创作的人来说

相信在坐各位都曾有这方面的经历

which is to say basically everyone here ---

knows does not always behave rationally.

都会知道创作过程并不总是理性的

And, in fact, can sometimes feel downright paranormal.

实际上，创作过程有时简直就是超乎常理

I had this encounter recently

比方说，我最近见到杰出的美国诗人露丝.斯通

where I met the extraordinary American poet Ruth Stone,

who's now in her 90s, but she's been a poet her entire life

露丝已经九十多岁，她一直是一位诗人

and she told me that when she was growing up in rural Virginia,

她对我说她少年时生活在弗吉尼亚乡间的事情

she would be out working in the fields,

她会在田间劳作着，然后突然听到并感觉到一首诗，从远处冲她而来

and she said she would feel and hear a poem

她会在田间劳作着，然后突然听到并感觉到一首诗，从远处冲她而来

coming at her from over the landscape.

她会在田间劳作着，然后突然听到并感觉到一首诗，从远处冲她而来

And she said it was like a thunderous train of air.

像一股雷鸣般的气息，朝她倾泻而下

And it would come barreling down at her over the landscape.

她可以感受到它的来临，因为这股力量会撼动她脚下的大地

她可以感受到它的来临，因为这股力量会撼动她脚下的大地

And she felt it coming, because it would shake the earth under her feet.

She knew that she had only one thing to do at that point,

每当此时，她唯一能做的只有一件事

and that was to, in her words, "run like hell."

用她的话说，就是“死命地狂奔”

And she would run like hell to the house

她会狂奔回家里，这首诗则会一路追逐着她

and she would be getting chased by this poem,

她会狂奔回家里，这首诗则会一路追逐着她

她需要飞快地找到纸笔，从而在这股力量穿过她时，捕捉住那首诗，把它记在纸上

and the whole deal was that she had to get to a piece of paper and a pencil

她需要飞快地找到纸笔，从而在这股力量穿过她时，捕捉住那首诗，把它记在纸上

fast enough so that when it thundered through her, she could collect it

她需要飞快地找到纸笔，从而在这股力量穿过她时，捕捉住那首诗，把它记在纸上

有些时候她则不够快

and grab it on the page.

And other times she wouldn't be fast enough,

她拼命地跑，还没到家，那首诗已经奔腾而过，于是她便错过了那首诗

so she'd be running and running, and she wouldn't get to the house

她拼命地跑，还没到家，那首诗已经奔腾而过，于是她便错过了那首诗

and the poem would barrel through her and she would miss it

她说那首诗会继续在田野间穿行，寻找“下一位诗人”

and she said it would continue on across the landscape,

她说那首诗会继续在田野间穿行，寻找“下一位诗人”

looking, as she put it "for another poet."

在另一些时候，这是最叫我难忘的部分：

And then there were these times --

this is the piece I never forgot --

在另一些时候，这是最叫我难忘的部分：

she said that there were moments where she would almost miss it, right?

她说有些时候她几乎就要错过一首诗了

So, she's running to the house and she's looking for the paper

她飞奔回家，寻找纸笔

而那首诗即将穿越她而去，她在它正要穿过之际抓住了笔

and the poem passes through her,

and she grabs a pencil just as it's going through her,

而那首诗即将穿越她而去，她在它正要穿过之际抓住了笔

and then she said, it was like she would reach out with her other hand

然后她会伸出另一只手，抓住那首诗的尾巴

然后她会伸出另一只手，抓住那首诗的尾巴

and she would catch it.

然后她会伸出另一只手，抓住那首诗的尾巴

She would catch the poem by its tail,

把它顺势拉回来，另一只手则一边将诗句誊写在纸上

and she would pull it backwards into her body

as she was transcribing on the page.

把它顺势拉回来，另一只手则一边将诗句誊写在纸上

And in these instances, the poem would come up on the page perfect and intact

每当这种时候，诗会完好无缺地呈现在纸上

but backwards, from the last word to the first.

只不过顺序是颠倒的，从最后那个词开始，由后往前，一直到第一个词

(Laughter)

只不过顺序是颠倒的，从最后那个词开始，由后往前，一直到第一个词

So when I heard that I was like -- that's uncanny,

我听了她的故事后，心想：太不可思议了，这和我的创作过程一模一样！

that's exactly what my creative process is like.

我听了她的故事后，心想：太不可思议了，这和我的创作过程一模一样！

(Laughter)

我听了她的故事后，心想：太不可思议了，这和我的创作过程一模一样！

That's not at all what my creative process is -- I'm not the pipeline!

当然这并非我创作过程的全部，我不是管道，我的工作方式更像是一头骡子

I'm a mule, and the way that I have to work

当然这并非我创作过程的全部，我不是管道，我的工作方式更像是一头骡子

is I have to get up at the same time every day,

我必须每天同一时间起床，然后笨拙地，勤恳地工作

我必须每天同一时间起床，然后笨拙地，勤恳地工作

and sweat and labor and barrel through it really awkwardly.

不过即使古板如我，偶尔也会意外地得到不可思议的灵感

But even I, in my mulishness,

even I have brushed up against that thing, at times.

不过即使古板如我，偶尔也会意外地得到不可思议的灵感

And I would imagine that a lot of you have too.

在坐很多人或许也有类似经历

You know, even I have had work or ideas come through me from a source

你想，即使像我这样墨守成规的人，也会遇到不知何处而来的灵感

that I honestly cannot identify.

你想，即使像我这样墨守成规的人，也会遇到不知何处而来的灵感

And what is that thing?

这到底是怎么回事呢？

And how are we to relate to it in a way that will not make us lose our minds,

我们要以怎样的方式看待它，才不会丧失理智呢？

but, in fact, might actually keep us sane?

我们要以怎样的方式看待它，才不会丧失理智呢？

And for me, the best contemporary example that I have of how to do that

就我所知的当代艺术家中，将这一问题处理得最好的是音乐家汤姆威兹

is the musician Tom Waits,

就我所知的当代艺术家中，将这一问题处理得最好的是音乐家汤姆威兹

who I got to interview several years ago on a magazine assignment.

几年前，我就一个杂志工作采访过他，当时我们谈及了这一问题

And we were talking about this,

几年前，我就一个杂志工作采访过他，当时我们谈及了这一问题

and you know, Tom, for most of his life, he was pretty much the embodiment

汤姆是备受创作压力折磨的现代艺术家的典型

of the tormented contemporary modern artist,

汤姆是备受创作压力折磨的现代艺术家的典型

大半生时间，他都在努力地控制,管理并主宰那不可控的内在创作灵感

trying to control and manage and dominate

these sort of uncontrollable creative impulses

大半生时间，他都在努力地控制,管理并主宰那不可控的内在创作灵感

that were totally internalized.

大半生时间，他都在努力地控制,管理并主宰那不可控的内在创作灵感

But then he got older, he got calmer,

但随着年纪渐长，他变得沉静内敛了

and one day he was driving down the freeway in Los Angeles,

他告诉我说：一天他在洛杉矶高速公路开车，这时发生了一件改变他一生的事情

and this is when it all changed for him.

他告诉我说：一天他在洛杉矶高速公路开车，这时发生了一件改变他一生的事情

And he's speeding along, and all of a sudden

他正在加速前行，突然，他隐约听到了一小段优美的旋律♪♪♫♪♫♪

he hears this little fragment of melody,

他正在加速前行，突然，他隐约听到了一小段优美的旋律♪♪♫♪♫♪

that comes into his head as inspiration often comes, elusive and tantalizing,

这旋律莫名地进入他的脑海，就像灵感来临时那样，捉摸不定而诱人心弦

and he wants it, it's gorgeous,

这旋律莫名地进入他的脑海，就像灵感来临时那样，捉摸不定而诱人心弦

and he longs for it, but he has no way to get it.

他急切地想要捕捉它，但是没有办法，他既没有纸笔，也没有录音机

He doesn't have a piece of paper, or a pencil, or a tape recorder.

他急切地想要捕捉它，但是没有办法，他既没有纸笔，也没有录音机

他急切地想要捕捉它，但是没有办法，他既没有纸笔，也没有录音机

So he starts to feel all of that old anxiety start to rise in him

他感觉到那种熟悉的创作焦虑又在他体内集聚

“我就要失去这个灵感了，然后这首曲子会永世阴魂不散地折磨我”

like, "I'm going to lose this thing,

and I'll be be haunted by this song forever.

“我就要失去这个灵感了，然后这首曲子会永世阴魂不散地折磨我”

I'm not good enough, and I can't do it."

“我根本不行，我做不到”

And instead of panicking, he just stopped.

突然，他奇异般地停止了继续抓狂和焦躁情绪，然后做了一件不寻常的事情

He just stopped that whole mental process and he did something completely novel.

突然，他奇异般地停止了继续抓狂和焦躁情绪，然后做了一件不寻常的事情

突然，他奇异般地停止了继续抓狂和焦躁情绪，然后做了一件不寻常的事情

He just looked up at the sky, and he said,

他抬头望向天空，对它说道：“不好意思，您没看到我正在开车吗？”

"Excuse me, can you not see that I'm driving?"

他抬头望向天空，对它说道：“不好意思，您没看到我正在开车吗？”

(Laughter)

他抬头望向天空，对它说道：“不好意思，您没看到我正在开车吗？”

"Do I look like I can write down a song right now?

我看上去像是能立马记下一首曲子的样子吗？

If you really want to exist, come back at a more opportune moment

如果你真想在世上流传，另挑个合适的时间再来吧，在我方便的时候

when I can take care of you.

如果你真想在世上流传，另挑个合适的时间再来吧，在我方便的时候

Otherwise, go bother somebody else today.

或者，你可以今天去骚扰别人，去找莱昂纳德·科恩去

Go bother Leonard Cohen."

或者，你可以今天去骚扰别人，去找莱昂纳德·科恩去

And his whole work process changed after that.

自从那件事以后，汤姆的整个创作过程改变了

Not the work, the work was still oftentimes as dark as ever.

不是作品变了，他的作品仍是一如既往的黑暗

But the process, and the heavy anxiety around it

但当他把创作天才从自身剥离开来时，伴随着创作过程的严重焦虑也被化解了

was released when he took the genie, the genius out of him

但当他把创作天才从自身剥离开来时，伴随着创作过程的严重焦虑也被化解了

where it was causing nothing but trouble, and released it back where it came from,

将创作灵感归于自我，只是带来痛苦与麻烦，将它解放出来，倒像是放归原处

同时他也意识到，他原本无需将创作灵感内化于自身，自我折磨

and realized that this didn't have to be this internalized, tormented thing.

创作灵感可以是他和这一外部未知存在之间奇异、奇妙又奇怪的合作关系

It could be this peculiar, wondrous, bizarre collaboration,

kind of conversation between Tom and the strange, external thing

创作灵感可以是他和这一外部未知存在之间奇异、奇妙又奇怪的合作关系

that was not quite Tom.

那是一个自身以外的存在

When I heard that story, it started to shift a little bit

这个故事潜移默化地改变了我的工作方式，这一转变已经拯救了我一次

the way that I worked too, and this idea already saved me once.

这个故事潜移默化地改变了我的工作方式，这一转变已经拯救了我一次

It saved me when I was in the middle of writing "Eat, Pray, Love,"

那是在写《美食、祈祷、爱》的时候，我陷入了一个焦虑绝望的无底洞

and I fell into one of those sort of pits of despair

那是在写《美食、祈祷、爱》的时候，我陷入了一个焦虑绝望的无底洞

that we all fall into when we're working on something and it's not coming

那种不断努力却毫无灵感的绝望低潮状态

and you start to think this is going to be a disaster, the worst book ever written.

然后你渐渐觉得这部作品将成为一个彻底的失败

成为有史以来最烂的一本书

Not just bad, but the worst book ever written.

不仅是烂，而且是彻底的糟糕透顶，我开始觉得我应该放弃写这本书

不仅是烂，而且是彻底的糟糕透顶，我开始觉得我应该放弃写这本书

And I started to think I should just dump this project.

But then I remembered Tom talking to the open air

这时我想起了汤姆对着天空喊话的事情，然后我试了试

and I tried it.

这时我想起了汤姆对着天空喊话的事情，然后我试了试

So I just lifted my face up from the manuscript

我从手稿中抬起头，转向房间中的一个空角落

and I directed my comments to an empty corner of the room.

我从手稿中抬起头，转向房间中的一个空角落

And I said aloud, "Listen you, thing,

然后大声宣布道：“你这个家伙，给我听着”

you and I both know that if this book isn't brilliant

“咱俩都知道，如果这本书不怎么样，那可不是我一个人的错，不是吗？”

that is not entirely my fault, right?

“咱俩都知道，如果这本书不怎么样，那可不是我一个人的错，不是吗？”

Because you can see that I am putting everything I have into this,

“因为你可以看到，我已经为之倾尽全力毫无保留了”

I don't have any more than this.

“因为你可以看到，我已经为之倾尽全力毫无保留了”

If you want it to be better, you've got to show up and do your part of the deal.

“你若是想要这本书更好一些，现在轮到你出面，做你那部分工作了”

“你要是不来帮忙，那就见你的鬼去吧”

But if you don't do that, you know what, the hell with it.

"我还是会继续写下去的，因为这是我的工作"

I'm going to keep writing anyway because that's my job.

And I would please like the record to reflect today

我希望今天的历史记录证明：我尽责地坚守了我的岗位€

我希望今天的历史记录证明：我尽责地坚守了我的岗位

that I showed up for my part of the job."

我希望今天的历史记录证明：我尽责地坚守了我的岗位

(Laughter)

Because --

因为

(Applause)

因为

Because in the end it's like this, OK --

最后就是这样的

centuries ago in the deserts of North Africa,

在几个世纪前的北非沙漠里，人们会在月色下举行神圣的歌舞聚会

people used to gather for these moonlight dances of sacred dance and music

在几个世纪前的北非沙漠里，人们会在月色下举行神圣的歌舞聚会

that would go on for hours and hours, until dawn.

聚会持续数个小时直至天亮

They were always magnificent, because the dancers were professionals

那些表演很精彩，因为他们都是很棒的专业舞者

and they were terrific, right?

那些表演很精彩，因为他们都是很棒的专业舞者

偶尔的时候，虽然很少见，但确确实实会发生

But every once in a while, very rarely, something would happen,

and one of these performers would actually become transcendent.

某一位舞者会超越当下，超然出世

And I know you know what I'm talking about,

你们应该都知道我说的这种情况

because I know you've all seen, at some point in your life,

因为大家都曾在某个时刻，见识过那样的表演

a performance like this.

It was like time would stop,

时间似乎停止了，舞者仿佛穿越了

and the dancer would sort of step through some kind of portal

时间似乎停止了，舞者仿佛穿越了

他所做的动作和之前的1000场表演并没有什么不同

and he wasn't doing anything different

than he had ever done, 1,000 nights before,

but everything would align.

但所有的一切却奇迹般地统一起来了

And all of a sudden, he would no longer appear to be merely human.

刹那间，他不再是个普通的凡人，他的生命从内部点燃，从心底发光

刹那间，他不再是个普通的凡人，他的生命从内部点燃，从心底发光

He would be lit from within, and lit from below

and all lit up on fire with divinity.

他被神圣之火照耀

And when this happened, back then,

当时的人们，清楚地知道这是什么，他们能叫出它的名字

people knew it for what it was, you know, they called it by its name.

当时的人们，清楚地知道这是什么，他们能叫出它的名字

They would put their hands together and they would start to chant,

他们会拍起手来，开始吟唱：阿拉，阿拉，阿拉，神啊，神啊，神啊

"Allah, Allah, Allah, God, God, God."

他们会拍起手来，开始吟唱：阿拉，阿拉，阿拉，神啊，神啊，神啊

That's God, you know.

人人都知道：那是神迹显现

Curious historical footnote:

有趣的野史是，当摩尔帝国入侵南西班牙时，他们带去了这一习俗

when the Moors invaded southern Spain, they took this custom with them

有趣的野史是，当摩尔帝国入侵南西班牙时，他们带去了这一习俗

and the pronunciation changed over the centuries

于是几世纪来，颂词的发音渐渐改变，从“阿拉,阿拉”变成“欧嘞,欧嘞”

from "Allah, Allah, Allah," to "Olé, olé, olé,"

于是几世纪来，颂词的发音渐渐改变，从“阿拉,阿拉”变成“欧嘞,欧嘞”

which you still hear in bullfights and in flamenco dances.

如今你仍能在斗牛比赛和弗拉明戈舞中听到这一喝彩声

In Spain, when a performer has done something impossible and magic,

在西班牙，当一个表演者完成了某种不可思议的神奇之举时

"Allah, olé, olé, Allah, magnificent, bravo,"

人们就会喝彩：“阿拉，欧嘞，欧嘞，阿拉，真伟大，太棒了，不可思议”

incomprehensible, there it is -- a glimpse of God.

那就是神迹显现

Which is great, because we need that.

这种方式很好，因为这正是我们需要的

But, the tricky bit comes the next morning,

对艺术家来说，最棘手的是第二天早上，舞者悠悠转醒

for the dancer himself, when he wakes up and discovers

对艺术家来说，最棘手的是第二天早上，舞者悠悠转醒

that it's Tuesday at 11 a.m., and he's no longer a glimpse of God.

发现已经是周二上午11点了，他不再是神迹的显现

He's just an aging mortal with really bad knees,

而只是那个腰腿不好，终将老去的凡人

and maybe he's never going to ascend to that height again.

而且，他或许再也无法达到昨晚那样的高度了

And maybe nobody will ever chant God's name again as he spins,

也许再也不会有人在他跳舞时喝彩神迹显现

and what is he then to do with the rest of his life?

他该如何自处呢？

This is hard.

这是个很棘手的问题，也是创作生涯中最痛苦的自我认知之一

This is one of the most painful reconciliations to make

这是个很棘手的问题，也是创作生涯中最痛苦的自我认知之一

in a creative life.

这是个很棘手的问题，也是创作生涯中最痛苦的自我认知之一

But maybe it doesn't have to be quite so full of anguish

但也许,我们原本无需如此痛苦

if you never happened to believe, in the first place,

如果你本来就从不曾认为，那无与伦比的艺术作品完全来源于你

that the most extraordinary aspects of your being came from you.

如果你本来就从不曾认为，那无与伦比的艺术作品完全来源于你

But maybe if you just believed that they were on loan to you

如果你认为它们是某种神奇的存在，只是暂时借你一用，给你带来精美绝伦的作品

from some unimaginable source for some exquisite portion of your life

如果你认为它们是某种神奇的存在，只是暂时借你一用，给你带来精美绝伦的作品

to be passed along when you're finished,

在你完成作品后，继续传递给其他人

with somebody else.

And, you know, if we think about it this way, it starts to change everything.

如果我们这样看待这一问题，一切就都改变了

This is how I've started to think,

在过去的几个月中，我开始以这种方式看待这一问题

and this is certainly how I've been thinking in the last few months

在过去的几个月中，我开始以这种方式看待这一问题

as I've been working on the book that will soon be published,

同时从事着我下一本书的写作

as the dangerously, frighteningly over-anticipated follow up

那本危险的，骇人的，被过度预期的，继我的畅销大作之后的作品

to my freakish success.

那本危险的，骇人的，被过度预期的，继我的畅销大作之后的作品

And what I have to sort of keep telling myself

而我需要做的，就是不断告诉自己，尤其是在我忧郁焦躁的时候：

when I get really psyched out about that is don't be afraid.

而我需要做的，就是不断告诉自己，尤其是在我忧郁焦躁的时候：

“不要害怕，不要气馁，只需做好你的那部分工作”

Don't be daunted. Just do your job.

“不要害怕，不要气馁，只需做好你的那部分工作”

“不要害怕，不要气馁，只需做好你的那部分工作”

Continue to show up for your piece of it, whatever that might be.

坚守在你的岗位上，无论你的岗位是什么：如果你是舞者，那就跳舞

If your job is to dance, do your dance.

坚守在你的岗位上，无论你的岗位是什么：如果你是舞者，那就跳舞

If the divine, cockeyed genius assigned to your case

如果那个属于你的，神圣却又邪门的精灵决定通过你让神迹显现，哪怕只是短短一瞬

decides to let some sort of wonderment be glimpsed, for just one moment

如果那个属于你的，神圣却又邪门的精灵决定通过你让神迹显现，哪怕只是短短一瞬

through your efforts, then "Olé!"

那么，让我们喝彩：欧嘞！

如果没有，那就请继续跳舞，坚守你的岗位，我依然为你喝彩：欧嘞！

And if not, do your dance anyhow.

And "Olé!" to you, nonetheless.

如果没有，那就请继续跳舞，坚守你的岗位，我依然为你喝彩：欧嘞！

I believe this and I feel that we must teach it.

我坚信我们必须传授这一理念

只要你出于热爱与执着，坚守岗位，那你就值得喝彩：欧嘞！

"Olé!" to you, nonetheless,

just for having the sheer human love and stubbornness

只要你出于热爱与执着，坚守岗位，那你就值得喝彩：欧嘞！

to keep showing up.

只要你出于热爱与执着，坚守岗位，那你就值得喝彩：欧嘞！

Thank you.

谢谢

(Applause)

谢谢

Thank you.

谢谢

(Applause)

谢谢

June Cohen: Olé!

主持人：欧嘞！

(Applause)

谢谢观赏