You Should Be Your Own Muse

 

Muse
1: any of the nine sister goddesses in Greek mythology presiding over song and poetry and the arts and sciences Clio is the Greek Muse of history.
2 : a source of inspiration especially : a guiding genius The writer’s beloved wife was his muse.
3 : poet

My grandmother used to stock a drawer on the end of her bright, pink kitchen with crisp, white paper. When I visited her as a young child it always felt that it was waiting for me. Whether she placed that paper to indulge my early penchant for sketching, I’ll never know. But, I’m grateful that she provided the materials which acknowledged and in a sense, normalized creativity.

Being able to create something, whether great or small — helps us build a stronger core; one that extends to both life & work.

Yet, as we all know, inspiration can be difficult to come by, even in the best of circumstances.

On some level, it may seem frivolous to indulge the notion of an “inspirational state” (more about that here). But, I have come to think it wildly essential to our lives. Something that underscores the best of being human. Of finding & expressing our own individuality.

Yet, I also know, that if we continually rely on other people to help the creative process ignite, this puts us at a distinct disadvantage.

While you are likely grateful for what you do have in this moment, your life & work may suffer from a lack of inspiration. The usual “triggers” may be absent or limited (life has changed over the last few years). But, I’m a stubborn sort and feel that there are ways to build the potential for creativity within our daily lives. I’ve relied on this vantage point for some time now. On some days I am successful. On others days, not as much. But, I am resolute and committed to the process.

To combat this internal gridlock, we must find what we might need from within ourselves. More specifically, to find our own energy sources. My own journey has led to a number of observations — including this:

We must learn to function as our own muse.

Here are a few of my tips & techniques:

Pay attention. You must become more sensitive to your own distant drummer & indulge the pangs of interest. What are you drawn toward? A development in an adjacent field? A new writer? Design thinking? Attempt to not dismiss a seemingly random element that attracts you, however unrelated it may appear to your life or work. Read more on that topic. Talk more about it. Ultimately, if your brain engages with something — the benefits are likely to spill into other areas.

Get a hold of morning rituals. What are you consuming along with your coffee, first thing in the morning? What fills the first moments each day? How might this affect you? How can you better control negativity, tension & stress (which likely fight inspiration and creativity)? Know this: cultivating inspiration & creativity is an art form — and not the result of divine intervention. We need to address the roadblocks that we might create for ourselves.

Stop the energy drain. There are people & situations that truly drain us — drowning our abilities to serve as our own muse. If someone or something consistently leaves you in a funk, stop the exposure or contain the effects as soon as possible. Process why the interactions affect you in that way. Resolve to change your perspective and attempt to move beyond it.

Edit your physical surroundings. Our immediate surroundings have become more and more important. Pay attention to where you work & where you relax. Pull out items or mementos that help you feel safe & settled. Organize your office in a way that feel more intentional. Insert a healthy dose of art or music. Do what you can to trigger positivity.

Utilize a dreamy state. Writer’s block, a well-known ailment, known to be quite difficult to tackle — has been discussed for centuries. This article offers a glimpse regarding how mental imagery can open the door to recovery. In a sense, writer’s block is simply a creativity deficit. A frozen state, in which the sufferer is caught without a worthy muse.

Indulge, not stifle. Try not to shrug off an idea or collection of observations. Grab a notebook and record the source idea. Then use that page as a nexus for related branches & refinements. Return regularly and build. Be loose with your thoughts. Try not to edit your creative meanderings too heavily.

Get visual. Creativity breeds creativity. So being a bit closer to the visual arts, may help you feel more productive. I challenge you to discover 5 inspiring photographs or photographers at Unsplash. Note the subject matter and why you are drawn to it.

Go ahead and create something, anything. Whether you have raw talent or not — dabble. Choose a vehicle that attracts you, whether it involves paint, pencil, ink, a hammer or a camera. Remember that creative acts, can be pursued solely for your consumption and no one else’s.

Please note that you do not have to work in a known “creative field” to benefit from the contributions of inspiration & creativity into your life. I would wager that both of these elements, fund both our well-being and problem-solving abilities.

Inspiration requires that we become acutely aware of our own creative triggers.

Let’s find them.

Then go ahead and pull that thread.

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Read more: Thoughts on Asimov’s The Eureka Phenomenon here.

Marla Gottschalk is an Industrial/Organizational Psychologist and charter member of the LinkedIn Influencer Program. Her thoughts on work life & have appeared at Harvard Business Review, Forbes, BBC Work Life, Quartz and The Huffington Post.

Live.Work.Think.Play shares observations concerning a wide array of topics from founding a company — to the perfect gift. It is designed to share lessons learned from a variety of perspectives.