<p>Creativity might not make you happier, but it can make you less unhappy. We know this from research.</p><p>When people recall moments of creativity, their symptoms of anxiety and depression decrease, and well-being improves. Brain scans show that creative work activates the same regions of the brain as meditation, which helps to relieve the burdens of life. </p><p>Millions of people now use creative practices simply to feel steadier in a chaotic world.</p><p>So what does a life built around creativity actually look like?</p><p>In this episode of <em>Office Hours</em>, I sit down with <a href="https://www.jamespatterson.com/"><u>James Patterson</u></a>. With more than 200 books and a Guinness World Record for the most #1 <em>New York Times</em> bestsellers, James has spent decades living in a steady rhythm of ideas, attention, and returning to the page.</p><p>As he talks through rejection, revision, focus, and discipline, something interesting happens. The practices that make his writing work begin to reveal patterns that apply far beyond writing.</p><p>After the interview, stay with me as I break down the 8 principles drawn from his creative process and show you how to apply them to your own life.</p><p>—</p><p><strong>Brought to you by:</strong></p><p><strong>• </strong><a href="http://drinklmnt.com/Arthur"><strong>LMNT</strong></a>—A science-backed electrolyte drink mix that helps you feel and perform your best, without sugar, artificial ingredients, or gimmicks. Get a free sample pack at <a href="http://drinklmnt.com/Arthur"><u>DrinkLMNT.com/Arthur</u></a> </p><p>—</p><p><strong>Where to find James Patterson:</strong></p><p>• Website: <a href="https://www.jamespatterson.com/"><u>https://www.jamespatterson.com</u></a></p><p>• X: <a href="https://x.com/JP_Books"><u>https://x.com/JP_Books</u></a> </p><p>• Instagram: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/jamespattersonbooks"><u>https://www.instagram.com/jamespattersonbooks</u></a> </p><p>• Facebook: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/JamesPatterson"><u>https://www.facebook.com/JamesPatterson</u></a> </p><p>• YouTube: <a href="http://youtube.com/user/JamesPattersonAuthor"><u>youtube.com/user/JamesPattersonAuthor</u></a> </p><p>• LinkedIn: <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-patterson-author"><u>https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-patterson-author</u></a><br></p><p><strong>Where to find Arthur Brooks: </strong></p><p>• Website: <a href="https://arthurbrooks.com/" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://arthurbrooks.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠</a></p><p>• Newsletter: <a href="https://www.arthurbrooks.com/newsletter" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.arthurbrooks.com/newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠</a> </p><p>• X: <a href="https://x.com/arthurbrooks" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://x.com/arthurbrooks⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠</a></p><p>• Instagram: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/arthurcbrooks/" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/arthurcbrooks/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠</a></p><p>• Facebook: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/ArthurBrooks/" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/ArthurBrooks/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠</a></p><p>• YouTube: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCGuyFRjJQFGCKzfHTBvWM6A" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCGuyFRjJQFGCKzfHTBvWM6A⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠</a></p><p>• LinkedIn: <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/arthur-c-brooks/" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/arthur-c-brooks/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠</a></p><p>• Email: <a href="mailto:[email protected]" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠</a></p><p>—</p><p><strong>Timestamps:</strong></p><p>(00:00) Introduction</p><p>(03:32) The link between creativity and happiness</p><p>(09:17) How James got started as a writer</p><p>(11:19) Why rejection isn’t a signal of failure</p><p>(13:24) A glimpse into James’s day</p><p>(17:34) How his strengths and weaknesses have changed over time</p><p>(22:32) How James’s writing has improved with age</p><p>(24:15) Where James gets his ideas</p><p>(27:38) Why he doesn’t believe in regrets</p><p>(30:00) Why James wants to hear everyone’s story </p><p>(33:40) How Hemingway was different from James</p><p>(36:09) Why rewriting is where the magic happens</p><p>(37:29) Contrasting Orwell’s reasons for writing with James’s</p><p>(42:36) Principle #1: Pay attention to the writing</p><p>(43:46) Principle #2: Think for yourself</p><p>(44:24) Principle #3: Accept change</p><p>(45:21) Principle #4: The little things</p><p>(46:15) Principle #5: Be an observer </p><p>(47:05) Principle #6: Think more before you produce </p><p>(47:48) Principle #7: Excellence is the journey</p><p>(48:57) Principle #8: It’s biscuits </p><p>—</p><p><str