Creativity often feels like a wellspring that sometimes inexplicably dries up. When the muse is silent, every artist, writer, or creator will find themselves staring blankly at a canvas, screen, or notebook, waiting for inspiration to strike. Yet, inspiration need not be a passive waiting game. If you find your creative well a bit parched, here are five proactive steps you can take to reawaken your inspiration and jump-start your creative journey.
Below, the Satya Jewelry team shares some of their favorite moments and lessons of the past year—and the hope and positivity that 2020 holds for each of them.
1. Change Your Environment
Sometimes all you need to spark creativity is a change of scenery. It’s easy to feel stuck when you’re physically stuck in the same space day after day. If you typically work indoors, try moving your workspace outdoors for a day. If you’re home-bound, rearrange your working area, or simply change the decor around you. Fresh visuals can lead to fresh ideas, helping you see problems and solutions in a new light.
2. Immerse Yourself in Other Art Forms
Creativity is contagious. Expose yourself to other forms of art to stimulate your mind. Visit a museum, attend a live concert, or watch a dance performance. Read poetry or dive into a compelling novel. Different art forms can offer new perspectives and innovative ideas that you can translate into your own work. Sometimes, a single line in a song or a color scheme in a painting can ignite an unexpected creative spark.
Sometimes all you need to spark creativity is a change of scenery. It's easy to feel stuck when you're physically stuck in the same space day after day.
3. Set Creative Challenges and Limitations
It may sound counterintuitive, but limitations can often increase creativity because they force you to think dynamically and inventively. Set a challenge for yourself with strict constraints. For example, if you are a writer, try to craft a story using only dialogue. If you are a painter, limit your palette to just three colors. These limitations prevent the paralysis of infinite choices and encourage you to think more deeply and creatively.
4. Take Scheduled Breaks for Brainstorming
Creativity cannot be forced, but it can be scheduled. Integrate regular, short brainstorming sessions into your daily routine, even when you are not feeling particularly inspired. Use this time to jot down any and all ideas without judgment. These bursts of unfettered thought can often lead to viable solutions that can be refined and elaborated upon later.
5. Collaborate with Others
Collaboration can be a powerful tool for reawakening inspiration. Working with others brings different perspectives and ideas to the table that you might not consider on your own. Collaborative projects allow you to bounce ideas back and forth, deepen your creative thought processes, and even share the creative burden. Sometimes, just talking through your ideas with another creative mind can clarify your thoughts and lead you toward a breakthrough.
Conclusion
Remember, creativity is a journey, not a destination. It ebbs and flows, influenced by numerous external and internal factors. By actively seeking inspiration and pushing the boundaries of your comfort zone, you can maintain a steady flow of creativity through the highs and lows of your artistic endeavors. So, next time you find yourself stuck, consider these five steps not just as a means to an end, but as a part of a continuous, evolving creative process. Keep moving, keep creating, and let the journey itself inspire you.
