Inspiration, like creativity, is something unique to each of us and yet we are similar enough to share ideas. It used to be when people were baking at home and they ran short of sugar, they would run next door to borrow a cup. Anyone else remember being sent to the neighbor’s house with a cup in your hand?
Today, in our digital world of connection, we are sharing concepts, details of our lives and photos.
Per dictionary.com, inspiration is the stimulation of ideas to special or unusual activities or creativity. Sign me up for that!
“Good communication is as stimulating as black coffee and just as hard to sleep after.” Anne Morrow Lindbergh, Gift from the Sea
To me, people are the most inspiring sources. Talking with family and friends stimulates ideas and gets the wheels spinning for me. Nothing makes me happier than when someone says to me that I inspired them to do something or write something.
Power tip: Take a second to write down your brain sparks so you can fully form the concept later. There is nothing worse than remembering that you had a fabulous idea and not remembering anything else about it.
“The soul should always stand ajar. Ready to welcome the ecstatic experience.” - Emily Dickinson
A few other sources of inspiration to me:
1. Reading
2. Music
3. Pinterest
4. My own notes from previous ideas
5. Movies or television shows
6. Nature
I am still a big fan of a sharpie and a legal pad to write down my ideas but I also have several digital formats, like Evernote, Google documents and the notes app on my iPhone and iPad to keep things for when I need them. I also use my phone to take pictures of points of inspiration to use for future reference. How do you capture your ideas?
Genevieve Gorder, of HGTV, uses favorite pieces of jewelry or unique items she finds when she travels for color inspiration for room design.
Power tip: Don’t forget to borrow inspiration from other unrelated things that you like.
Where will you get your next cup of inspiration?
Featured image found here via Creative Commons.Article by Peg Fitzpatrick
