1 Way to Stay Inspired

There’s no such thing as a non-creative career. If you aspire to be the best at what you do – whether it’s accounting, bagging groceries, running a company, or making pretty pictures – it will only ever help you to think creatively. But so many people seem to think creativity is out of reach for them – in fact, when I tell people what I do, one of the first things they usually do is tell me how uncreative they are.

“Creativity is a skill, not a talent.”

Creativity is a skill, not a talent, and while it may come more naturally to some, it can be cultivated in anyone. So how do you learn? The first step is to get acquainted with inspiration. One of the great myths of creativity is that great ideas have to come from nowhere. We’ve all heard the story of JK Rowling thinking up Harry Potter on her commute home with no context. But there’s a reason that happened in the 20th century and not the stone age. It’s no coincidence that the Chronicles of Narnia, Lord of the Rings, and the works of more recent British authors like Dianna Wynne Jones and Eva Ibbotson already existed. It would be hard to argue that Harry Potter is not a fantastically original story. But intentional or not, an idea will always be inspired by something.

“Inspiration is scouring the world looking for sparks worthy to start your fire.”

Of course, on the flipside, it is important to remember that inspiration is not taking work that already exists and repackaging it as your own – best case scenario that’s a work “based on” another work. More likely, it’s copying. Inspiration is scouring the world looking for sparks worthy to start your fire. Inspiration at its best, is used to evoke something already in your mind you didn’t know you had. Not only does it unleash your best ideas, but it makes them better by giving them context. Ideas are at their best when they exist in harmony (or in contrast!) to the world around them.

So how do you go about finding it? Be open, always. When you need it, when you don’t, always be open to the idea that something you see, hear, (feel? smell? taste?) might inspire something. Keep a notebook or camera with you at all times to capture what you experience so you can draw on it later. Note that this is not the same as searching, though searching is a crucial component, and the best way to get started. Depending on what type of inspiration you need this may come from reading, music, podcasts, talking to coworkers, taking a walk, or (dare I say) browsing Facebook. As a visual creative, I love Pinterest and Instagram. 

But as you strengthen your muscles, you’ll begin to find that inspiration can come from anywhere, and often when you least expect. It might be a TV show you’re watching for fun. Lines on pavement. Some of my best ideas have come from completely mishearing things people said. Thinking creatively is a continual journey of growth, but – as with so many things in life – opening your mind to opportunity and getting excited about what you may find is the first and most important step to getting there.