With 40 studio albums over the course of more than 60 years, Bob Dylan stands as one of the most vital and creative artists of old age. His productivity has remained constant into the 80s. Just last year at the age of 82, he released a new album, “Shadow Kingdown.” He has serious stamina.

And while of course we’re not all destined to be Bob Dylan, there’s a lot we can learn about productive and creative endurance by taking a closer look at his approach to creating music. What follows are three takeaways from Dylan that will help you increase your productive and creative stamina.

Emotional intelligence is the common thread through each of these takeaways

Endurance and emotional intelligence (EQ) go hand in hand. How do you cope with difficult tasks, fallow periods in your creativity, and self-doubt? The answer lies in your ability to recognize and manage these difficult emotions.

The Three Takeaways from Dylan

1. Know your purpose (or “destiny” as Dylan calls it), and hold it close.

Dylan talks a lot about his destiny. He even goes so far as to say “he negotiated with the Commander-in-Chief”, trading his devotion to music for success. “(Destiny) is a feeling you have that you know something about yourself that no one else does,” Dylan explains. “It’s a fragile feeling. If you put it out there, someone will kill it. You have to keep it to yourself.”

Even if you don’t see your purpose as destiny, the thought still means: Know your purpose. Revisit it often. Revisiting your purpose generates lasting energy.

EQ strategy: Know your purpose and revisit it often. Treat your purpose as non-negotiable. This will give you clarity and confidence when you have to make difficult decisions, navigate difficult conversations, or analyze moral ambiguity.

2. Curiosity fuels decades of persistence.

Author Brad Listi is described Dylan’s creative persistence, saying, “You can point to a number of artists who fit this… They never stop being interested. They’re always bringing in new things.” You can see Dylan’s openness and interest in his work when he jumps from an album of thirty Sinatra-like covers to an album of newly written songs interests him, not what interests you.

EQ Strategy: Follow what really interests you, not what you think you “should” be doing. This form of curiosity is difficult to adopt. It could mean changing careers for a pay cut or taking a risk that makes you uncomfortable. But in the long run, it’s these kinds of decisions that will keep you nimble and creative late into your career.

3. Curiosity also fuels shorter-term persistence.

One study found that just by describing a day when you felt curious, you can increase your mental and physical energy by 20% more than when you describe a moment of deep happiness.

Author De-Shawn Charles Winslow experienced this first hand. He was stuck trying to finish his book. His deadline was around the corner. But he felt his book was boring. His characters were boring. Recently, he had been watching old Law and Order shows, and he had a great idea. What if he mixed his novel with a murder mystery?

He tried it, and the book poured out of him. His debut novel “In West Mills” went on to win the Center for Fiction First Novel Prize, an American Book Award and a Willie Morris Award for Southern Fiction. It was his curiosity that drove him through that dull period in his writing. Channeling curiosity fueled his creative and productive energy.

EQ strategy: Reframing negative emotions using curiosity. Feelings that come with being “stuck” include boredom, confusion, overwhelm, unfocused, helplessness, and nervousness (to name a few). When you recognize yourself when you feel these feelings, it’s time for a curiosity reframe (like the one employed by Charles Winslow). Ask yourself what’s interesting about the situation you’re in. You might be surprised how lucrative this single question can be.

Increase your stamina, cultivate your emotional intelligence

Not all success is instant. Developing the stamina to hold energy for months, years, and decades can help you stick it out. And as an added bonus, you’ll grow your emotional intelligence in the process.

Kevin Kruse is the founder + CEO of LEADxan emotional intelligence training company. Kevin is one too New York Times bestselling author. His latest book is Emotional Intelligence: 52 Strategies to Build Strong Relationships, Increase Resilience, and Achieve Your Goals.