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You prep, you prep, you prep. And on the day that you film, you let all of that go. I try to achieve emptiness as much as possible - the Zen thing - to let the deal come out of that nothing.
Jeff Bridges
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Interpretation

What this quote means

Preparation is crucial, but letting go is essential for creativity.

In this quote, Jeff Bridges emphasizes the importance of thorough preparation in one's work, particularly in the arts, while also highlighting the need to release control and embrace a state of openness or emptiness during the act of creation. This balance between preparation and spontaneity allows for genuine and authentic expressions to emerge.

Themes

PreparationCreativityZenLetting GoEmptiness

In practice

Example use cases

In a workshop setting, a facilitator might quote this to encourage participants to prepare thoroughly but then trust their instincts during the creative process.

More from Jeff Bridges

We're such a funky species. We're so violent, so greedy - this is how we roll. But what are we going to do about it? How do we move forward given who we are? Because situations don't come out of nothing. They come out of certain conditions.
Jeff BridgesRead
There are so many things that pop up. If you are paying attention, you can learn every second of the day. Life is my guru.
Jeff BridgesRead
When I'm working, on sets or stages, my contracts specify in the rider that no plastic bottles be used. When I'm playing with my band, we all use metal and non-plastic containers for drinking to be ecologically sensitive and show others that this is the way to go.
Jeff BridgesRead
My wife, whenever I'd go off to work and I'd be kind of anxious, she'll say, 'Remember, have fun.' Oh, I forgot, thanks for the reminder. Because sometimes we do forget. We take it all too seriously and there's a lot of joy to be had wherever you are.
Jeff BridgesRead
35 million people in the U.S. are hungry or don't know where their next meal is coming from, and 13 million of them are children. If another country were doing this to our children, we'd be at war.
Jeff BridgesRead
It's not enough just to treat women well. We have to work to make sure all men treat women well.
Jeff BridgesRead

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