This past Saturday I performed in a Songwriters in the Round concert, which entailed myself and two other singer/songwriter/guitarists taking turns playing an original song over the course of a two-hour set. To share the stage with two others in this world and get to experience their unique takes on songwriting was deeply inspiring and a helpful reminder of something that I think all of us need to be reminded of from time to time:
If you are a creator of things, you must stay inspired!
Creativity does not exist in a vacuum. To stay inventive, creative, and fresh, you must surround yourself with inspiration in whatever ways make the most sense for you. Here are a few ways you can do that:
Attend an Event
In other words, go to a place where people are doing what you do really well. If you’re an artist? Go to an art museum. If you’re a musician? Attend a show. If you’re a writer? Attend a reading. If you’re a web designer? Attend a conference chock full of speakers. And so on.
Read a Book
If events aren’t your thing, you can also get inspired from the comfort of your own home with some good old-fashioned thought leadership! Read a book written by a leader in your field and get jazzed.
Collaborate with Others
Being a musician can sometimes feel lonely – particularly if your act is solo. This was the beauty of the performance I got to be a part of last weekend! Any time we collaborate with others, it’s inevitable that ideas will bounce around and new ones will get made. Whatever your field/industry, there are undoubtedly ways that you can collaborate with others to make something awesome.
So…
If you’re ever feeling like the person in the photo above (and not in an “oh glorious sleep!” kind of way but in a “don’t want to get out of bed” kind of way), what’s missing? It’s most likely inspiration. And the really GOOD news is that this world will never be out of that – you can find it anywhere and everywhere, if you just know where to look 😉
