The Genius of Yo-Yo Ma

American cellist Yo-Yo Ma is a national treasure.  Celebrated for his extraordinary musical genius, Ma was a child prodigy—he gave his first public recital at the age of five.  Just four years later he debuted at Carnegie Hall, an achievement most musicians dream of but never realize.

That was just the beginning.

Yo-Yo Ma has collaborated with numerous musicians from a wide variety of genres over the years, using media to expand his audience and bring classical music to the world.

His Silk Road Ensemble celebrates the sacred music styles from around the planet and features the world's top musicians.  Ma has also collaborated with Carlos Santana, Bobby McFerrin, Sergio Assad, and numerous others.

Besides winning 18 Grammy Awards, he has been awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom and Kennedy Center Honor.  In 2020, Time named him as one of the world's 100 most influential people. 

When asked what makes him such a celebrated prolific musician, he said, 

Passion is one great force that unleashes creativity, because if you're passionate about something, then you're more willing to take risks.

Passion Leads to Flow

Focusing on an activity you are passionate about makes it easier to enter a Flow State—a state of consciousness where nothing else matters and your sense of time seems to disappear.

All distractions fade away when your brain is fully engaged in the task in front of you.  As a spectator, you can sense this feeling of Flow when Yo-Yo Ma performs.

As Ma knows, this state leads to more creative thinking, new ideas, and a fresh perspective that lets you tackle problems that once seemed insurmountable. 

Finding Inspiration

What are you passionate about?  What motivates you to get out of bed every morning?  What unlocks your inner creative force?

Ask yourself these questions on a regular basis.  Then come up with ways to add more passion to your life, even if you believe your ideas are impossible.  A requirement of Flow is being challenged in ways that push your limits but don't overwhelm you. 

Your goal might be practicing an instrument for an hour day, volunteering for an important cause, or drawing up a plan for that business you've been wanting to start.

Whatever you choose, ask yourself this one simple question:

How will I live a more passionate life?