What inspires you?

Pocs

Pocs

Legacy Member
We've all been there. Feeling the need or want to be creative, but just can't come up with a lead or idea to give us a jump start. When "blocked" what do you do to help motivate or inspire you?




I have 2 tricks that work for me. First I grab a large cup of java and then go sit out on the deck. Just sitting enjoying the view and soaking in my surroundings usually helps fuel my mind. Living out in the country with nature surrounding me is the best start for inspiration.

If that doesn't work, and this may sound corny or cliche, but I pull out the family albums and pictures and start flipping through them. Stirring up memories always gets me motivated and inspired if the java and nature let's me down.
 
This is an interesting question. I still don't know very well what inspires me. I think music is a major factor in my process of inspiration. Yes, as you read, I think it is a complex process, but simple at the same time. Music helps to empty my mind of unnecessary thoughts and stimulates my imagination. What follows next is a mystery ... They can be many factors that motivate my inspiration. The contact with nature, a moment with a loved one, a television image, a phrase heard in the distance. That's the beauty of inspiration, we don't know where it comes from nor where it goes.
 
I just let it go and move on to something else. I go have some fun and don't worry. Then, when I am quiet, thoughts and ideas come to me and it is so exciting. It is as if, your creativity doesn't want you to ponder on it too much, but allow it to flow to you. That is my experience thus far.
 
My tumblr dashboard is loaded with inspiring images and humor. Sometimes though, I like to drive to bookstores and check out their art magazines and books to get my mind going. Another helpful idea is to just take a break from what I'm doing and play a video game. Or maybe check out what's in the fridge, hehe. It's helps to come back to my work with a clear mind in order to allow new ideas to formulate.

Possibly the best way for me to be inspired is simply talking to other people about my work, and hear about what they're doing. I'm lucky to be attending an art school because I have a lot of talented friends with whom I can share ideas with. We're always there for each other.
 
My inspiration has to come when I least expect it in order for it to truly inspire me to action. If I look for inspiration, I find myself coming up empty handed...that's not to say that I lack motivation to do things...but to be truly inspired takes a bit more. I have no specific inspiration source...it comes from some very unique places sometimes...but I keep my mind open to finding it whenever it comes.
 
novasparker said:
My inspiration has to come when I least expect it in order for it to truly inspire me to action. If I look for inspiration, I find myself coming up empty handed...that's not to say that I lack motivation to do things...but to be truly inspired takes a bit more. I have no specific inspiration source...it comes from some very unique places sometimes...but I keep my mind open to finding it whenever it comes.
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We share the same idea on this one. When I search for inspiration it simply doesn't come, it only appear in several circumstances and I try to profit every time from it
 
novasparker said:
My inspiration has to come when I least expect it in order for it to truly inspire me to action. If I look for inspiration, I find myself coming up empty handed...that's not to say that I lack motivation to do things...but to be truly inspired takes a bit more. I have no specific inspiration source...it comes from some very unique places sometimes...but I keep my mind open to finding it whenever it comes.
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That is beautiful! :)
 
When I feel "blocked", I usually unwind. I entertain random thoughts, random activities any random thing that could occupy my mind aside from what I should think about until I find "the inspiration". Like novasparker, I also have no specific inspiration source, I just happen to interpret things as "inspiring" when it inspires me at that moment.
 
I do it the easy way. I find a picture of something which I want and I put it up as the wallpaper on my computer screen. Since I am on the computer most of the day, that's what I see most of the time. It reminds me of what I am working for.
 
Being a creative person I started this thread with my family and nature as my inspiration. Recently I watched as my first grandchild was brought into the world. Yes, you could still say that family was my inspiration. This gies deeper though. The night I returned home after his birth, my creative juices were bouncing off the walls. It was life, a new life that inspired me. Something I had never experienced before. 3 days later I am still drawing, painting and sewing as new ideas keep just popping into my mind.
 
That's beautiful. Sometimes such events get more creative juices going than expected and I have heard of mother-in-laws and daughter-in-laws getting pregnant at, more or less, the same time.
 
Soundtracks from science fiction movies inspire me. Generally sci fi soundtracks are futuristic sounding. This helps me focus on all the new possibilities without being distracted by lyrics. When I'm searching for inspiration, lyrics are distracting. I also like to listen to the dark ambient albums created by Brian Williams. Even though they are pretty creepy sounding, they always seem to get my creative juices flowing.
 
I get inspire when I look at my life to speak. I'm a go getter, and very ambitious. So whatever I put my mind to I should get there if I follow the step my mind made out for me.
 
I usually go to a peaceful and serene place filled with trees. I bring my MP3 player or iPod and play soothing music. This could help spring up those creative juices in me.
 
My inspiration is a tricky thing. It seems that the more I search for it, the more it elludes me altogether. But if I go about my day, resigning myself to enjoy things and patiently wait for it? Well it usually ends up smacking me in the face pretty quickly. It's generally something small, maybe not even worthwhile to anyone else. The connection between a parent and child and the way they balance each other out. Someone's quirks or tells. A brief exchange of words. Just the little things that make up the overall essence of life to me.
 
When I need inspiration, the best thing I can do is to leave what I'm working on and do something to relax. Taking a walk, reading a book, eating a snack, or taking a quick nap usually helps me out. I find these things help me a lot when I'm writing or brainstorming. When I'm in need of more visual inspiration, I like to go on websites like Tumblr or Pinterest. It's really helpful to see what other people have come up with.
 
Anything. From my feelings toward a person to something I see on the wall in a bathroom. I can use anything for inspiration.

But when I'm feeling dry, what I tend to do is just take a ride with no idea what my destination is going to be. Get out of the city, get lost a little bit. My mind starts to wander and before long, I have an idea.
 
Also, I forgot to add this, but for some reason when I am miserable, I seem to be more creative. Maybe it's just something to take my mind off my mood, but sometimes my happiness can be the cause of my laziness.
 
I hate it when writer's block happens to me. But when it does hit me, I go out and take a walk and sometimes meet up with my friends for some coffee. It helps me clear my mind and get back to focus again. I get inspired usually by real life events.
 
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