Uninspired

I had too much to drink last night.

I woke up with a slight headache and tummy ache. I probably didn’t get enough sleep. I’m fine. I’m not upset. I’m not feeling overwhelmed. I’m just not all that inspired yet.

YET.

Sometimes just starting to work on something is enough to get the wheels turning. I don’t believe that artists should sit around waiting for their muses to arrive. It’s better to start working without inspiration. It’s even better to work on something adjacent to the actual work you want to do.

It’s easy enough to throw out the stuff we don’t end up liking. Even blog posts are easy enough to edit after the initial writing is done.

This reminds me of a quote by Natalie Goldberg.

Sit down with the least expectation of yourself; say, “I am free to write the worst junk in the world.”

This isn’t the exact quote I had in mind, but that’s OK. It still expresses the idea that we get stuck if we’re too worried about the quality of the thing. We can’t live up to the high expectations we place on ourselves. Keeping the pen moving on a page of paper is a technique she uses to combat what Steven Pressfield calls Resistance.

The process of writing is different from the process of editing. The more we can lose ourselves in the writing, the better.

I don’t always connect with people as much as I would like. I don’t always share enough of myself. I don’t always listen to the meaning behind the words I’m hearing.

Sometimes it helps to have music in the background. Sometimes it helps to be doing an activity other than just talking. Some of the best conversations I’ve had with friends happened while we were climbing mountains.

Hiking in nature is a way for me to get closer to myself, to connect more deeply with my thoughts, and to be more open to what I’m experiencing in the moment.

I mention hiking because I see it as an enabler. It’s a way for me to recharge my batteries. It puts me in a better place, where I’m more likely to be creative.

Pay attention to what helps you connect with your creative self.

Sometimes, just starting is all it takes to move from uninspired to inspired. Sometimes, it helps to change things up, to take a break from your normal routine.

Traveling is another enabler for me. When I go somewhere that I’ve never been before, I become open to experiencing whatever this part of the world has to offer. And when I travel to a city that I love, I rejoice in reliving some of my previous experiences. Eating a delicious croissant in France comes to mind!

Practice finding the keys to unlocking your creativity.

There is no need to stay uninspired for very long!