5 Tips: Creative Inspiration
A creative idea is similar to a baby bird in that it needs to be nurtured, fed and protected until it is finally able to take flight and soar into the world on its own.
Sometimes, however, an idea seems more like road kill. As in, it ain’t goin’ anywhere!
The following tips may help you catch your next gust of creative inspiration and soar with the sparrows.
1) Visit Your Favorite Place – I love San Francisco. I live five hours north of there, so I only visit every few months. But, every time I do, I practically explode with new ideas and inspiration. When I can’t head to the city, I head for the hills. Mt. Shasta has incredible natural surroundings. My favorite place is Castle Lake, a pristine oasis in the mountains. I visit there every couple weeks and am invigorated, recharged and inspired.
Where’s your favorite place? It might even be in your own home. All you need is a closet, a corner, or a nook where you can relax, unwind and…
2) Tune In – There exists a philosophy suggesting that every idea is already out there, floating in the ethers, and all you have to do is tune in to the proper frequency to become the vehicle through which these ideas manifest. For some people that means meditation. A regular practice of tuning out the chatter and static of everyday life brings you closer to the stillness where the spark of a new idea or the solution to a creative problem may reside.
For the less mystically inclined, it could mean brainstorming. When I’m creating, I like to play the “What if?” game: “What if the song changes keys during the chorus?” “What if this scene takes place in a hospital instead of a church?” “What if I paint the sky pink instead of blue?” You don’t need to force anything. Simply attune your frequency, pose the question, and allow the idea time to percolate. Then, when inspiration hits…
3) Be Prepared – I keep a notebook and pen by my bed at all times. Some of the best ideas and inspirations come in dreams or in the early-morning waking state, when your mind is lucid and rested. I’ve dreamed entire songs before. I’ve conceptualized new art pieces and solved creative problems upon awakening. By immediately jotting them down, you can capture the spark before the busy-ness of the day crams itself into your brain.
I always keep a few index cards and a pen on me when out on the town to ensure I don’t miss out on the next flash of inspiration. You may prefer a hi-tech tool like a digital camera or a PDA, but the key is to keep it quick and simple so it becomes a habit. Once the idea is formed, you must…
4) Take Action! – Without action, a great idea is useless. I know several people who have great ideas but never take the steps to manifest them. As a man of action, I tend to have little patience for people like that.
Bringing an idea to life takes time, effort, patience and usually money. With that in mind, you want to prioritize and scale your ideas so they are doable. I’m all for thinking big, but if you insist on drinking Cristal and can only afford Coors, you’re gonna go thirsty.
Research, plan, prioritize and execute. And once you start, don’t quit until it’s complete. Don’t judge yourself too harshly either. It’s not about creating a masterpiece every time; it’s simply about creating every time.
5) Share With The World – Seeing an idea through to completion is incredibly satisfying. For some people the act of creation is the reward. For many others, the final step is to share their work with the world.
This can be frightening because you are opening your work (and therefore yourself) up to judgment, opinions and criticism. When feeling vulnerable, negativity can be devastating.
Remember this: There is only one YOU. Nobody else has your purpose, walks your path or experiences your point-of-view. Therefore everything you create is singular, unique and valid. If you can release your attachment to outside opinions and validation, then sharing your work becomes a celebration of creation rather than a need for acceptance.
I’ll leave you with these wise words from Mark Twain: “Keep away from people who try to belittle your ambitions. Small people always do that, but the really great make you feel that you, too, can become great.”
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Your Turn: What are ways that you get inspired? How do you get out of a creative rut or dry spell? Has it ever been so bad that you wondered if you would ever create again? What happened?
Welcome to Nikolas Allen Art dot com. I am a Contemporary Pop Artist with a background in music, advertising and video production. 
Comments
Hey, Nikolas! greeat photos! Are they yours??? Ma
But, of course, Mamasan.
Hi Nikolas, This is just what I needed right now… the dog days of summer have melted my brains and I am feeling pretty drained of energy and ideas. I’d like to suggest you head north young man north to Portland. There’s some cool things happening there and it’s a change from SF. It’s a younger happening city who loves dogs! I was there early this month. I highly recommend you go check it out! See you at the opening Friday night, Lauri
Great minds think alike !
I have done a lot more tuning in lately, and have a greater appreciation for just about everything these days.
We do not use our minds to the fullest capacity. The whole ’secret of life’ to to experience it. Too much focus on details can have adverse effects.
Enjoy everything. Need nothing.
I love my life, and I am glad you are in it my friend.
Hey Nikolas! Great site, photos, inspiration, etc. I love it and have already shared it with others. Take care my friend.
yiaboi.
very encouraging words.
for me the creative process flows in and out through the seasons. when summer is here, it’s easy to get sidetracked and lose focus. however, you’re right–it’s a great idea to carry a device to record the original ideas that spark in your mind with you whenever possible for reference later when things calm down. i’ve also discovered that i cannot force ideas. so when i hit a wall i try to do other active things in life to make me happy. for you and me it’s going to another place that has its own beauties, maybe enjoy a sport or new hobby–i feel that i gotta live too. it can take the pressure off trying to always come up with something new creatively. i try and be open and let things come to me . on the flip side, you’ve got to discipline yourself and take action as you say. you also just can’t sit there and wait for inspiration to strike. or maybe you can. can you?
i guess, without going on and on, i’d just like to simply say that it’s really important just to be doing–no matter how you judge the outcome of the idea. using your mind and hands fills the desire to feel like you’re are being productive and letting the outcome be what it wants to be.
aiight mandude, you’ve inspired me to take action.
gary
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