Join the competition
Take part in a marathon or competition, make a bet with friends, or set your own time limit and rules.
This way passion will awaken in you, and with it inspiration. In addition, with limited time, you will simply have no time to be distracted by your inner critic, and it will become much easier to work, create, or come up with ideas. Social networks and blogs host many challenges and competitions that will help you become better, lose extra pounds, improve your creative or professional skills, and sometimes also win gifts. There are marathons for those who draw (like Inktober) and for those who write (like NaNoWriMo). And also for people who want to play sports, learn a foreign language, work on relationships, and so on.
This is a very popular format, just search a little and you will definitely find a challenge to your liking. And if not, invent it yourself.
MASS MEDIA.
Whatever one may say, in our time the media have become the main and constant sources of inspiration for almost all people. Television and the Internet are replete with electronic or audio books, music and films that are accessible to everyone. This material can give you a boost when you feel like you've run out of ideas and help you overcome writer's block.
There is no need to torture yourself by sitting in front of the computer and squeezing the last drops of creativity out of your head. If you don't have the inspiration to write or draw at the moment, you must take a break for the sake of your success.
It's better to spend the whole day listening to music and watching very expressive films that can leave a deep and lasting impression on you, and even change your outlook on life. If this does not work or it seems that you have already watched all the beautiful films, sit on the Internet for a few hours and be sure to cope with the situation.
Just look at various blogs, articles and websites to find topics that you are passionate about. But this does not mean that you are looking for information in order to copy or steal something interesting. As a professional, you should read everything thoughtfully to understand the true message and let new ideas mature in your mind.
Draw circles
Exactly. Just take a sketchbook, a few colorful pens or markers and draw. Move the marker along the paper in any direction, without thinking or worrying about whether the drawing will turn out beautiful. You can even close your eyes if you like. Whenever you want, take a marker of a different color. The result will be a rather chaotic and abstract picture, consisting of lines and geometric shapes.
Sometimes it will be something beautiful and unusual, and sometimes it will just be a childish daub. But the result is not very important here, what matters is the process itself.
This kind of meditation on paper is called neurographics Neurographics: all about the method, and it helps to organize thoughts, awaken inspiration, cope with fears and tune in to work.
Pretend to be someone else
This technique is proposed by Julia Cameron in her cult book “The Artist’s Way”. She advises writing down what you've always wanted to be (but never got around to) and literally live a little of your dream life. Of course, as much as possible.
Have you dreamed of becoming a model? Choose an outfit, go to a makeup artist and book yourself a photo shoot. Are you thinking about opening a bakery? Collect recipes, bake and photograph cakes. Did you want to write scripts? Go to a master class for screenwriters, read a textbook, or just sit thoughtfully in a cafe with a laptop, coming up with a story.
Even if your main activity is not related to cakes or modeling, games like these can inspire you and give you interesting ideas and discoveries. And if not, it will at least be pretty funny.
Self-development and travel
Learning something new, changing your place of residence, vacationing in exotic countries - all these are sources of inspiration for a person, helping not only to gain new emotions, but also to understand the world. Do you want to get inspiration from outside? The best way is self-development. Attend oriental dance courses, relax by the sea, or, as a last resort, go to the nearest body of water and simply enjoy the beauty around you.
Set clear goals
It would seem that where is inspiration - a mysterious and uncontrollable process - and where is boring and unspiritual planning. But in fact, these two areas are very compatible. To enter a state of flow, you must set a goal - this is what he writes in his book “Flow. Psychology of optimal experience" Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi.
The goal should be achievable and specific, but at the same time difficult enough so that you do not lose interest in the matter.
The main task needs to be divided into intermediate ones. For each stage, come up with evaluation criteria - how will you understand that the result has been achieved. In a word, do not forget to write down goals and objectives and draw up a detailed plan for achieving them. And then you will have visual evidence that the work is going on and you are progressing - a kind of feedback from yourself. This roadmap will keep you motivated and keep you inspired.
Culture, art
Where else can you find inspiration if not in the works of classics, their books, productions, and painting exhibitions? Works of art that the authors were once inspired to create are sources of inspiration. One look at someone's painting, reading a book, listening to classical music, visiting the theater or ballet is the easiest way to feel “wings behind your back”, the desire to do something new.
Learn from the experiences of ordinary people
We know a lot about the dizzying successes of billionaires and celebrities. And while their achievements are certainly impressive, they have little to do with real life. Yes, Brad Pitt once invited visitors to a cafe dressed as a chicken, Natalia Vodianova traded at the market, and JK Rowling lived on her single mother’s allowance. And all of them - like many businessmen, singers and presenters - were able to overcome a lot and climbed to the top.
But we are at a different point in time and space, we have different initial data. And then, a loud takeoff is often the result of a happy coincidence that we cannot predict in any way. In a word, it’s not very inspiring.
But you can get inspiration and new ideas by communicating with ordinary people.
Or reading their blogs. If you wander through social networks, you can find stories about how people learned foreign languages and moved abroad, how they wrote books, learned to draw and make money from their creativity, passed auditions for music competitions, and so on. Yes, none of them are crazy rich and famous, but that’s the beauty of it.
Looking at an imperfect person, your peer, who lives in the same country as you and was able to get a little closer to his dream, you will definitely feel a surge of inspiration: “If he can do it, so can I!” In addition, from such stories you can learn a lot about the behind the scenes of the activity that interests you, the pitfalls that await you, and the mistakes that beginners make.
Be inspired by your successes
In our culture, being proud of yourself, and even more so demonstrating your successes, is considered something shameful. Supposedly this is vanity and you need to be more modest. Nothing like that: few things energize you like your own achievements.
If you've lost your enthusiasm, look at your past work and compare it to what you're doing now. Surely you will see that you have grown a lot.
Re-read reviews from clients, employers or fans. Go through certificates, diplomas and awards. You can even collect all these achievements in a special “trophy folder” and review it regularly to feel how great you are and recharge yourself with energy for new achievements.
Create a catalog of ideas
Write down everything that comes to mind and always keep a notepad with ideas handy. This is what James Patterson does: 'I've got too many ideas to write all my books myself!' , for example, bestselling author James Patterson: he has a folder with files, and in each file there is a story idea. If he doesn’t know what to write about, he simply opens his “catalogue,” leafs through it and fishes out a suitable thought.
Surely this is what many authors, artists, screenwriters, advertisers and all those who constantly need to invent something new do. The main challenge is remembering to write down ideas, and then organize them and keep them in order.
Quotes about creativity and inspiration (100 quotes)
All creative people need inspiration. Inspiration is a feeling of elation, a surge of strength and a desire to work, thanks to which a person can create something greater than in his usual state. For example, write a brilliant poem, compose music, come up with an idea. Creative inspiration allows you to concentrate and show your full potential for generating and implementing new ideas. Quotes about creativity and inspiration are collected in this section.
All creativity is essentially prayer. All creativity is directed into the ear of the Almighty.
When you feel like you've exhausted all your options, remember that you haven't.
Inspiration has no schedule.
Without impressions, delight, inspiration, without life experience - there is no creativity.
Thoughts are either your faithful servants or tyrant masters, depending on who you allow them to be.
Life is too short and priceless. So be inspired by everything in which you feel even a drop of inspiration.
Not a single moment of creativity, even the initial moment of creativity, can occur without the work of imagination.
Most of those who complain about lack of talent haven't tried much in life.
We change ourselves mainly for one of two reasons - inspiration or desperation.
To be in tune with the times? But at least an octave higher!
Happy is the one who does what he loves. And doubly happy is the one who devoted himself to this not out of necessity, but because he himself decided so.
Ideas float in the collective consciousness, and a prepared mind is able to translate this information into the language of people.
- Become my muse! - Is this what they ask for? If you have decided everything, I have already become her and I have only one way out - to inspire you to continue to be creative.
In matters of taste there can be no proof.
With the legal right to create what you want, you are completely free as a creator.
If they try to tear off your wings, that’s a problem, but not the worst thing. The worst thing is when you tear them off for yourself, afraid of the ups and downs.
In the depths of man lies a creative force that is capable of creating what should be, which will not give us peace and rest until we express it outside of us in one way or another.
Never underestimate those insights that are simple enough to fit on a napkin.
A woman in love with you can help increase your creative abilities, can inspire you to heights that you never even dreamed of. And she doesn't ask for anything in return. She just needs your love, and this is her natural right.
In literature it’s like this: a beginner strives to master the literary language at any cost, and those who are more experienced strive to free themselves from these fetters.
You can make lemonade from any lemon, even the most sour one.
Sometimes when things get hard, I think of all of you and I get inspired again.
At the beginning, any original theory is recognized as absurd, then - true, then - self-evident and insignificant, and, finally, so important and original that former critics appropriate it for themselves.
Energy comes with an idea.
There is always a way out. Even when it seems like there is no way out, there is always one. To do the impossible, to experience the unsurvivable - there is always a way out. And you and I have one thing in common - we get inspired. Meeting the impossible inspires us. And if I can give you one piece of advice: instead of being afraid, be inspired.
Taste is nothing more than a subtlety of common sense.
A whole treasure lies under your fear.
Without inspiration there is no will, without will there is no struggle, and without struggle there is insignificance and arbitrariness.
Attention to detail gives rise to perfection, but perfection is no longer a trifle.
There is no person on this planet with the same talent or with the same expression of that talent.
Any effort will be in vain if you don't have inspiration.
Everything that causes the transition from non-existence to being is creativity.
There are no obstacles to the mind except those we create for ourselves.
Inspiration needs to be found in what scares you.
Nothing is impossible for diligence and art.
When you encounter something you don't understand, ask yourself, "What's wrong?" Take a closer look at the incomprehensible phenomenon. It can lead you to a great discovery.
I went looking for inspiration and found it in a man living for a dream.
There is hardly the highest of pleasures than the pleasure of creating.
Luck is a powerful deity that will not waste its time on those who are not ready to use it.
Inspiration doesn’t walk on its own; you have to work hard for it to come.
There is hardly a higher pleasure than the pleasure of creating.
Go out and buy yourself a five cent pencil with a ten cent pad and start jotting down million dollar ideas!!!
The subject's mind can always trace the origin of an idea. True inspiration cannot be faked.
If you take from one author, this is plagiarism, if from many, this is research.
Luck is nothing more than the result of preparedness and opportunity.
Never be afraid of anything. At the very least, let fear be your inspiration.
If you think clearly, you will write clearly; if your thought is valuable, your essay will be valuable.
Million dollar ideas come into my head every day, but I don't believe it.
My winding key is always with me.
If you hear your voice: “You don’t know how to draw.” Draw by all means, and then he will shut up.
If you were born without wings, don't stop them from growing.
If you no longer have inspiration, it is tantamount to death.
There are only two ways to live your life. The first is as if miracles do not happen. The second is as if everything in the world is a miracle.
You were born an original - don't die a copy.
Inspiration needs illness, injury, madness.
Ideas ignite each other like electric sparks.
You can't let narrow-minded people limit your way of thinking.
Inspiration comes only while working.
The grace of the tongue is akin to the grace of the body.
Ideas are capital that earn interest only in the hands of talent.
The main thing is to stay on track and don’t give up. Where you feel love and inspiration, I think you can't go wrong.
Art lies in finding the extraordinary in the ordinary and the ordinary in the extraordinary.
Our brain is a very powerful weapon, too powerful to be left unattended.
Inspiration is a quick calculation.
Each thing must be written as if it were the last in your life. Therefore, you need to invest everything in it, leaving nothing in reserve.
The most valuable quality in life is eternal curiosity, which does not fade over the years and is reborn every morning.
Over the past year and this year, several of my friends and colleagues, who were in their forties and fifties, have died. Death has no order. You really start to think that death is just over your shoulder. When I feel bad at heart, I begin to fear death. But when inspiration comes, it doesn't matter.
Every child is an artist. The difficulty is to remain an artist beyond childhood.
Don't let anyone create your world because your world will always be small.
There are days when nothing inspires you. Everything seems uninteresting, boring, and just annoying; you want to cancel all plans and meetings and just sit at home and mope for your own pleasure.
Brevity is the first condition of artistry.
Time polishes us. Either with pain or with a wound. The more often the hits, the better the cut. We won’t become a masterpiece of art right away. Every diamond was once a diamond.
You need to love - love as much as possible, for true strength lies in love, and whoever loves a lot does a lot and is capable of a lot, and what is done with love is done well.
There is no need to force anything out of yourself: beauty is born easily.
The artist is distinguished by the fact that there are moments in his life when he feels more than human.
Suffering inspires more than joy.
Nothing great, nothing powerful can come from a corrupt pen.
It is helpful to sometimes turn your mind upside down, like an hourglass, to allow its contents to flow in a different direction.
There are people in life who inspire you, and you elevate them to the rank of mythical creatures, endow them with magical properties, and they are, perhaps, just a step towards something bigger and better.
The first law in art is freedom of inspiration and creativity.
The best ideas come in the form of a joke. Force yourself to think as funny as possible.
Solitude is the natural refuge of all thoughts: it inspires all poets, it creates artists, it inspires geniuses.
The writer is both a researcher and an experimenter.
It's never too late. We just don't know what we're capable of.
Inspiration exists, but it comes while working.
Writing is not a craft or an occupation. Writing is a calling.
You can't stay in the shadows if you're shining the light.
They could create only by bringing themselves to fits of “inspiration” - an unknown form of epilepsy.
You should write either about what you know very well, or about what no one knows.
Everyone has an epiphany at least once in their life. But, as a rule, we take it for an obsession.
Inspiration is a dangerous thing, because it visits different people!
Remember, creativity is about having fun.
The more creative the idea, the more resistance it encounters.
You have no soul, gentlemen: and no literature comes out.
The secret of creativity is the ability to hide the sources of your inspiration.
Creativity comes when you are relaxed, happy and enjoying the present.
Inspiration visited the poet often, but never caught him.
Hidden harmony is better than obvious.
The ability to see the miraculous in the ordinary is an invariable sign of wisdom.
Looking for inspiration has always seemed to me a funny and absurd whim: you can’t find inspiration; it itself must find the poet.
Disconnect
We live in conditions of incessant information noise: news feeds, social networks, emails and instant messages. Our brain is forced to cope with this flow from early morning until late evening. Naturally, in such conditions he has no time to generate new ideas and immerse himself in work.
It is generally accepted that to get inspired you need to load yourself up to the fullest: read a lot, watch movies, listen to podcasts and lectures, look at beautiful art, make new playlists. Then the magic well from which ideas come will be filled, and creativity will be easier. This is partly true.
But sometimes, in order to invent something new, you need, on the contrary, to lock yourself in an information vacuum.
Set aside time - from several hours to several days - that you will spend without the Internet, magazines and TV. For a complete reboot, you can try to completely give up reading and not even let yourself near books - this is exactly what Julia Cameron suggests doing in the above-mentioned “The Artist’s Way”. The point is that during such an information detox you will initially feel very empty and bored, but this emptiness will gradually begin to be filled with new ideas and thoughts.
Don't look for inspiration
When thinking about a problem or coming up with ideas, what we most look forward to is insight - a bright insight, that very light bulb that flashes in our head and highlights the most suitable solution. But before this happens, you must familiarize yourself with the problem and wait until the “incubation period of Insight and incubation in thinking” has passed. That is, until all the information is included, the brain will process it and produce a solution.
And if you really want to wait for insight, then during this period you must completely disconnect from the task and do something else. Don't think, don't brainstorm, don't consult with friends and colleagues. Just forget. And a good idea will come on its own.
For example, in a dream Let me sleep on it: Creative problem solving enhanced by REM sleep or while falling asleep. During REM sleep, our brain experiences a burst of creativity, and the next morning we may find that we already have the perfect solution in our heads. The main thing is to write it down immediately.
Questionable sources of inspiration
There is an opinion that the use of alcohol and drugs promotes philosophical thinking and, as a result, obtaining insight and inspiration. But this is far from true. Undoubtedly, some of the greats of this world were not only addicted to alcohol and drugs, but even abused them, but for an ordinary person with mediocre thinking and weak will, hobbies of this kind can only bring negative consequences in the form of alcohol and drug addiction.
Remember! To find inspiration, you must at a minimum be open to something new, desire change, be able to communicate and improve.