Where Do We Find Our Sources of Inspiration?

I've previously written about inspiration can be a slippery and unpredictable "beast" that sometimes seems to bring us endless bounty... and sometimes leaves us feeling like there's not a single creative bone in our bodies.

But WHERE Do We Find Inspiration?

Personally, I have always found a lot of inspiration from nature.

When I am having one of those days where it feels like "I just can't do anything," the best thing I can do for myself is usually to grab my camera and head outside... even if what I need to find inspiration for is some decidedly indoors activity.

Just the process of going outside and allowing my brain to "go slack" tends to be a very effective way of shaking some ideas loose!

One of the funny things about creativity is that ideas often come when we are NOT focused on trying to creative something!

Sometimes cooking is a really effective way to jump start the creative flow. Of course, cooking is a somewhat creative process... but it doesn't typically have a lot to do with writing, which is usually where I need the most creative help.

I used to call that "pancake creativity," because it was typically while cooking breakfast that some of my best blog post ideas would suddenly make themselves known!

It's one of the reasons why I always keep paper and pen handy, when I am working in the kitchen... after all, I don't want to burn the pancakes!

Meditation...

I have also discovered that I find a fair amount of creative "flow" as a result of meditation.

No, not during meditation, because that's when I am trying to quieten my mind, but in the hours immediately afterwards when I feel somewhat refreshed and relaxed... and any pressures related to feelings of having to be creative have flowed away.

I've been a writer since my teenage years — that was over 40 years ago; UGH! — and one of the things I've learned is that actually the hardest time to find inspiration is when I sit down in front of a blank screen and watch the blinking cursor!

Which is why I almost always arrive at the computer with an idea in mind, rather than sit down at the computer with the hope of getting an idea!

Of course, we're all quite different, so I'm not promising that my approach will work for you!

However, I am suggesting that we each take some time to truly understand and get to know our individual sources of creativity... because it makes the whole creative process — writing, art, poetry, music, performing — and lot more enjoyable!

Thanks for stopping by, and have a great remainder of your week!

How about YOU? What is your best source of creativity? Do some of your best ideas come to you during moments when you are focused on something completely different? Or are you one of the rare people who can be "creative to order?" Do leave a comment if you feel so inclined — share your experiences — be part of the conversation!

(All text and images by the author, unless otherwise credited. This is ORIGINAL CONTENT, created expressly for this platform — NOT A CROSSPOST!!!)
Created at 2023.03.14 01:14 PST
x540