Six Ways to Maintain Creative Inspiration
A phrase that I frequently say and live by is, “inspiration shows up when we show up.”
Many writers and creatives desire to create and feel inspired all of the time, but that just simply is not how it works.
Sometimes when we have an idea it bounces around inside of our head until we get it out on paper and once it's on paper we are just as excited about it.
Then there are other times where we have an idea and when we write it all out we decide it's not quite as awesome as we first thought.
And of course, there are times where we feel pressured to create for whatever reason and we find ourselves scrambling to come up with inspiration.
If you are a writer or creative and you have the belief that you can only write or create when you feel inspired, know that you are not alone but perhaps, we need to give careful thought to how we define inspiration.
So how do you define inspiration?
Would you say you are inspired by a piece of art or a walk-in nature or conversation with a dear friend?
Does inspiration always spark an action or is inspiration preceded in part by emotion?
These are the questions I often ask myself and my clients ask me about writing when you do not feel inspired. Showing up to stare at the blank page with nothing on your mind is a fear for many writers.
And what I am about to say might seem a little out of left field for some, but for others you are going to understand exactly where I'm coming from and perhaps have even seen the benefit of doing so firsthand.
In order to have inspiration we need to make sure that we are adhering to a set list of creative non-negotiables. (I know non-negotiables sounds very stiff, but go with me here)
Our non- negotiables as far as creativity is concerned, are essentially just a decision to enforce space, time or energy that we have. These can pertain to a certain mindset that we adhere to, the ways we carve out in our day for creativity, and a retraining of our brain to handle emotions or blocks.
Here are six creative non-negotiables that can help you stay productive and inspired:
Dedicated time for brainstorming and generating new ideas.
This can be done through brainstorming sessions, mind mapping, or simply free writing. Often this looks like using your voice-to-text app to record your ideas when you’re on the go, especially if you don’t pen and paper or means to type your ideas out at that moment!
Regular experimentation with new techniques and methods.
Creativity is not “once size fits all.” We are uniquely created so we often need to try several different approaches to further our creativity. (Plus playing around with different ways of doing things can be fun!)
Collaboration with other creatives.
Working with other creatives can supply a wealth of new ideas and perspectives. Collaborating with others can help you stay inspired and motivated. We really are better together!
Setting aside time for reflection and self-evaluation.
Regular self-reflection and evaluation can help you identify areas for improvement and set new goals for your creative work. But even more important that self-reflection is soul-reflection, how well is what you are doing feeding your soul? How are you shining the light of Jesus inside of you?
Protecting your creative time from distractions and interruptions.
Minimize distractions by setting aside specific times for creative work and avoiding distractions during those times. This to be pursued with a grain of salt. We all know how busy life is and how so many things can get in the way, but for your own sanity (and for the sanity of those around you) do what you can to fiercely protect this time.
Maintaining a physical space dedicated to creativity.
A dedicated creative space can provide a sense of inspiration and motivation. Make sure your creative space is well-lit, organized, and equipped with all the tools you need to be productive.
This looks like having a dedicated space in your house for writing or creating. Maybe it’s your office, maybe it’s your dining room table that faces a window where you can look outside, wherever it is, decorate it and make it a useful space that once you sit there you really have everything you need!
Creative non-negotiables, while on the surface might looks limiting, they actually provide us with freedom. As we show up, we honor ourselves, God and our creative practice. There is a sense of calm and peace knowing that you will pursue one (or all six) of these practices, but you have to fiercely guard your time to make it happen.
As creatives, we vacillate between what is ideal and what is real. Like those memes that circled around social media used to say, we set an expectation based on inspiration, but it hardly ever matches our reality. I think the term used to be something like #pinterestfail.
In our attempts to create and live permanently in our state of “flow”, protecting our time along with protecting our creative mindset are “non-negotiables”.
Below are additional quotes seeking to highlight the benefit of having these creative non-negotiables.
"Set boundaries for your creative time and guard them fiercely. Distractions will always be there, but your art is worth fighting for." - Austin Kleon
"Protecting your creative time is the key to unlocking your full potential. Make time for it and respect it." - Sarah Ban Breathnach
"Create sacred space and time for your creative work. It's a form of self-care and self-respect." - Elizabeth Gilbert
"Protect your creative time like it's the most valuable resource you have, because in many ways, it is." - Steven Pressfield
"It's important to have boundaries and to set aside dedicated time for creativity. Without them, life will constantly interrupt the flow." - Eric Kim
"Design your life in a way that supports your creative process, and make sure to set aside time each day for that sacred work." - Danielle LaPorte
So, what will you do to protect you time, space and energy for creativity today? How will you continuing to show up for your creative non-negotiables make a difference in other areas of your life? (Go ahead and pull out those wheel of life worksheets for this one!)
If you don’t have a wheel of life worksheet, grab yours here! What might be some ways that you could ask God to show you how to make some of these creative non-negotiable's part of your everyday life?
Remember there is one thing that should precede every aspect of our creative life as a Christian, and that is prayer. I’m working on something extra special about how to incorporate specific prayers into our creativity, so stay tuned for that!