Sometimes we are so caught up in the day to day humdrum that life seems to dish out, we get a bit blocked up in the ideas department. We might even start to feel a bit dispirited or demoralised by how samey-samey the days can be. Inspiring not. And yet, we may find ourselves SUPER comfortable in the dissatisfied feelings this routine can bring, not because we like the feelings, but because they are familiar and reliable like a comfy-yet-holey pair of shoes. We know what to expect. But if you are committed to ideas and growth, you actually need to actively pursue those things. Granted they will come to you even if you don’t, but they’ll be slower to show their faces, less compelling and you’ll probably find them easier to ignore too.
Make a commitment to your own happiness and cleverness by seeking inspiration. Make room for bright ideas. Invite the sparks in!
Here’s a few ways to do that…
1. Go for a walk! Take time to notice things you are normally too busy to ponder. Be open to inspiration and surprises.
2. Head to a gallery or other place of cultural significance. Take your time and see what moves you. Take notes about the things that spark your interest. Notice the stories lurking about.
3. Meet like-minded people in real life (not just online!) Have conversations about creativity and life in general. Go home and write notes on the bits that you loved the most.
4. Immerse yourself in someone (a creative type or historical figure!) you admire – research and find parallels with your own life.
5. Explore your creative memories – are there clues there about things you used to love doing, places you used to go, people that you were inspired or enamoured by?
6. Read. Read a lot. Plumb the depths of great books and look for sparks of inspiration. Take notes.
7. Do some expressive writing that’s NOT for your blog. Just write for fun and for your eyes only! See where the pen and paper take you.
8. Create a collage or mood board of colours, patterns, people and places that are interesting to you. Keep adding to it and look to it when you need a little spark.
9. Set up a creative shrine in your house. A little shelf or table that’s a simple ode to beauty. A space for ideas. Light a candle or add a flower each day as a creative offering. Set your intention to be open to good things and bright sparks.
10. Head to the museum or the state library in your area. Have a poke about and see what piques your interest. Make notes.
11. Go op-shopping. Look for nostalgic reminders of things that may tell a story. Make some notes about the thing/s, do some research, write… see where it takes you.
12. Listen to someone speaking about a subject they are passionate about. Look for threads that are meaningful to you. Dig deeper when you get home.
13. Download some podcasts. Again, remember to keep your ear out for a little ‘spark’ or message or idea that you can build on in your own way.
14. Go somewhere with a view. Take some time out to just sit and think about nothing much at all. Make space for your own ideas and thoughts. (Sometimes having a nice bath can achieve this end too!)
15. Spend time with a child – they have a unique and cute perspective on most things and they can help you adopt a similar fresh attitude.
16. Spend time with an older person – they too have a unique perspective, often sweeping away the things that matter less in favour of the important, essence of life’s goodness (and badness too!)
17. Change your patterns. Walk a different way to the bus stop. Go to a different cafe. Order a different thing for lunch. Mix it up, change your pattern and invite new ideas and experiences in. If you stay in your comfy, cosy, favourite zone you probably are inviting comfy, cosy, favourite ideas in. That’s all good and well, but we’re hoping for FRESH ideas too!
18. Watch some great documentaries. This is such a good way to get inspired and it’s also a nice way to tap into the genius of other people. It’s pretty inspiring to note that others have gone before you and that success comes in different guises, right?
Now it’s YOUR turn!
What would you add to this list? What are your inspiration suggestions? What works for you?