5 Keys to Staying Inspired
There is so much pressure on creative types - and everyone, really - to be “productive,” to maintain a level of output that is consistent and reliable. Our culture tells us that this constant churn of content is what will bring us success. But your job is not who you are, and your productivity does not define your worth.
Let me say that again for the people in the back: your productivity does not define your worth.
As an artist, I can go months if not years between major inspirations that get under my skin and really take over my life. Those are really great times, when the urge to create is so great that it cannot be ignored. But there are also long spells where I just have to show up with curiosity and doodle. Or follow research rabbit trails until I wind up somewhere interesting. Or put it all down and go for a walk outside. Or say, “Not today and that’s ok.”
Because at the end of the day, my art is for ME. I’m thrilled to be able to share it, and it makes my heart leap when people appreciate it. But I’m making it because I want to, not because I’m supposed to.
That being said, the creative flow is an amazing and powerful place to dwell, and I seek ways to get into it and stay there as long as possible. When I want to get back to it, there are some simple shortcuts I use.
Here are my 5 keys to staying inspired and creative:
Come in curious - instead of saying, “I must create X works of art or write X pages today,” try coming to the table with open hands and a sense of wonder. Show up and say, “I wonder what I am going to make today?”
Follow your interests - any time a non-sequitur thought or question comes across your mind, chase it down! It’s so easy to let those little wonders float off into the ether, but if you follow them like a butterfly through a field, you may discover a world you never knew existed. My current rabbit trails: the old European tradition of “telling the bees,” how jousting matches were organized, and the properties of water (i.e. capillary action and surface-tension).
Name your gratitudes - in turbulent times, it can be easy to get burned out and emotionally exhausted. When you feel yourself starting to get overwhelmed, say (out loud!) three things you’re grateful for. Today, I’m grateful for the fur between my cat’s eyes, all the plants in my house, and the feeling of bare feet on warm concrete.
Dress for the occasion - they say the clothes make the person, so whenever I want to get into my creative groove, I play dress up. I think of my idealized artist self - the one who is super cool and successful and constantly creative - and I pick out an outfit that I think she would like to wear. Maybe it’s a shirt that doesn’t get much wear, or shoes you’re saving for a special occasion, or a piece of jewelry that holds precious memories.
Move on - if I’m feeling like a robo-vacuum stuck in a corner, sometimes the best thing to do is to just move on. Physically. Walk away from the project, the desk, the computer and shake it off with a walk around the neighborhood or a park.
For more tips on staying inspired and cultivating creative resilience, learn more about my course, UNBRIDLED.
