Five ways to feel more inspired.
Inspiration is the fuel for creativity.
Whether you’re writing a book, decorating your living room, planning a class or even building a spreadsheet, it’s the essential force behind bringing new things of beauty to life.
Instead of constructing long lists of goals to accomplish, I try to orient toward pursuing a few specific feelings that I value: Inspired is one of them. I love feeling inspired.
If this sensation excites you, too, you may already appreciate how elusive it can be. So, here are a few tips that may help you get in the groove. 1
Go for a walk.
I often sit down at my computer to write, and nothing comes out. So, I check Facebook. After way too much time passes and I find myself viewing my friend’s brother’s girlfriend’s photos of her new house, I get back on task. Write a sentence … crickets again … remember what I need from Amazon … delete sentence … write a new one … get a snack. I infuriate myself.
But I’ve learned that a way around this nonsense is to walk away. Literally.
My head is usually jumbled for the first five-ish minutes, but then things start to smooth out. My head clears, and ideas start to come. I probably look like a fool; I walk through the potholed streets of Montrose with my nose in my phone, but I often end up writing a lot with my two thumbs while on the road. 2
Pick a positive concept for the day.
I recently bought Angel Cards from Amazon (definitely during a brain fart at my laptop), and I’m liking them so far. They’re great for a broader feeling of inspiration, essentially feeling inspired to live your best life.
These cards aren’t woowoo. They don’t have fortune-teller vibes. Instead, they just give you one word. Today I selected “power.”
Yesterday it was “celebrate.” I was changing my son’s diaper as both kids were screaming, when I remembered that I’d pulled the “celebrate” card. It helped me to mentally step back from the chaos and remember to appreciate this fantastically exhausting and terribly wonderful fleeting moment when both of my kids are young. I didn’t start cheering, but I did take a deep breath and smile. 3 Find good sources of inspiring material.
My incredibly creative BFF browses magazines and cuts and pastes stuff that lights her up into her journal.
I like to view my inspiration in video form. Ted Talks and YouTube are great for me (as long as I can steer clear of celebrity interviews, which nab my attention irritatingly often). 4 Connect with likeminded people.
This could even mean hiring someone. I’ve worked with some incredibly helpful coaches and teachers over the years (the websites of a few of my favorites: intrinsicaconsulting.com, livebigco.com and albinarippy.com). 5
Wait for it. This one is probably hardest of all. Do … nothing. You can’t force inspiration.
I find that once I’m inspired, engaging and working with my ideas — the creative part — helps me glean clarity and actually birth something. But before that, a little bit of patience goes a long way.
I hope this helps get your juices churning. Feeling inspired may not always yield sparkling works of art, but sparkling works of art always start with feeling inspired.
And regardless of what’s produced, it’s a fun way to feel.