Doing creative work is important. Having said this, it can be a slog.
Having a daily practice helps. Anytime you can make your actions habitual, you’re going to see growth. BJ Fogg and others have made the compelling case that taking small actions daily can lead to big changes over time.
It’s also helpful to celebrate the little wins. Our minds crave rewards just for doing work. However, you have to be careful not to celebrate in ways that might negatively impact your other goals. (Having a delicious pint of ice cream to celebrate may not be the healthiest choice if done too often!)
Putting in the time is how we make progress. But our work doesn’t happen in a vacuum. We depend on others for feedback and creative inspiration.
That’s one of the reasons I read as much as I do. I rely on practical suggestions I find in books, especially when such ideas are backed by credible scientific studies. I also rely on people who give me their honest opinions and suggestions (whether I agree with what they say or not).
More importantly, I rely on being inspired. When I take a walk in the mountains, I am inspired by the beauty and magnificence of the natural world. When I see a good movie, I’m inspired by the actions taken by so many people to make it such a compelling experience. When I read a good book, I’m inspired by the author’s imagination.
Inspiration matters because we bring our individual experiences to our work. If we only pay attention to the bad things happening around us, we miss out on the opportunity to do our best work. When we seek experiences that make us feel fully alive, we bring that inspiration to our work.
And this occasionally makes it possible for us to inspire others.
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