009: The problem with inspiration
We all know the myths about inspiration, yet I think we all still get caught up in the notion of creating when we feel inspired. So what can we do about it?
Episode transcript:
Hello Daily Peppers and a very happy Monday to you. You're listening to the Daily pep, which is the only daily podcast for creative and multi passionate women. If you've woken up feeling uninspired or you're feeling less than excited that it's Monday morning, got you. So now we all know the artist tropes. You know, sitting by your typewriter with a vase of freshly cut flowers, working on your next novel, Moulin Rouge style, or taking your sketchbook to a cafe and just sitting in the sun. And we all know they're a myth. But I think we all still get caught up in the notion of creating when we feel inspired. We put off projects, we wait for another day, we decide we're just not in the mood and and our today plans turn into tomorrow plans, which turn into someday plans, which turn into maybe plans.
And I'm just going to come out and say it. They sometimes turn into never plans. Here's the thing, and before I share it, I know you already know this, but I just think it's worth the reminder. Creativity isn't about waiting for the stars to align and for the weather to be perfect. It is about showing up and doing the work anyway. Especially on the days where your inner dream shitter is trying to drown out every thought, or when you just don't feel inspired. It's about doing the work when you're in a bad mood, an ambivalent mood, and when you just plain we just really don't feel like it. I would say it's especially important when you don't feel like it.
Now I know for me, some of the best work I do is when something's pissed me off. And there's going to be an episode about that later this week, so I'm not going to go into too much about that today. But I mean, inspiration doesn't just have to look like motivational quotes on Pinterest. Creating when you feel like shit or when you don't feel inspired is more than just about doing the work or what Steven Pressfield terms turning pro. Creating when you're not inspired draws right into the heart of what creativity can be. And that's a gift for yourself, a gift to process things, to get clearer on what you're thinking and what you need to do and to heal. But sometimes it's not even about clarity. Sometimes it's about connecting with ourselves, with getting back to the literal bones of who we are, and connecting with what it means to be human.
Try not to get so caught up in the idea of being inspired that it stops you from being creative. Because that's quite literally what happens. If you only create when you feel inspired or you feel on fire or you're just really in the mood. Chances are you won't create very often, and when you do, it'll probably be weighed down with so much pressure that you feel stuck. When you do eventually sit down to write, paint whatever your medium is, you'll be so in your head about wanting it to turn out the way you envisioned it that you won't allow for imperfections. And you know one of the best things about creating when you don't feel like it? Well, the more you create, the more you'll want to create and the more, dare I say it, you'll be inspired to create. It really is quite a sneaky, self fulfilling prophecy. So try and get into the practice of creating when you don't feel like it.
Experiment with seeing being creative as a gift instead of searching for the tangible outcome. Because creativity is not a linear process. It is not about putting something in to get something out and knowing what it's going to look like before you even start taking that approach. It just doesn't work. And I'm pretty sure you know that by now. So no matter how inspired or uninspired you're feeling today, try and create something. And let's take the some days and turn them into these days. So that is it for today's daily pep.
Don't forget to subscribe to the show on itunes and leave a rating or review so more wonderful women like you can get some more rebel rousing too. See you tomorrow and I hope your week is off to a fabulous start.
Episode transcript automatically produced by Castmagic.io
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The Daily Pep! is the rebel-rousing, daily podcast for couragemakers, creative, multi-passionate and unconventional women. If you’re surrounded by people who don’t get who you are or what you do, if you want reminders you’re on the right path (no matter how scary it feels), or you’re sick of being your very own worst enemy, this is the podcast for you. Every weekday, your host - writer, coach and professional rebel-rouser - Meg Kissack helps you build a creative and wholehearted life, one day at a time. Through short and snappy insights, reminders and stories, The Daily Pep! is here to remind you you’re not alone, and that everything changes when you believe you matter. Each episode is short and snappy, designed to fit in with (or help you start) your habits and routines
