Stocking the inspiration pond
Three ways to nourish your creative self that aren't 'consume more art'
It’s funny to me that we talk about inspiration coming out of nowhere. It’s funny because it literally always comes from somewhere.
True, the feeling of inspiration is mysterious and unpredictable. We cannot know when it will strike next. So, in that sense it feels like it is ’from nowhere’. In reality, though, it comes from somewhere, or something—from taking in the world. To be sure, it doesn’t always happen when we take in the world, but that is the channel.
In this wonderful interview with Democracy Now, Fiona Apple talks about how a throwaway line in the TV series The Fall became the title of her record Fetch The Bolt Cutters.
It’s one of millions of similar stories about resonant and moving art: some part of the world, often seemingly insignificant, sticks to someone’s brain and a new beautiful thing is born.
Here’s the rub though: when we most need to engage with the world in this way, it’s often hardest. When we’re feeling empty, it can be hard to know where to look to get full. Stocking the inspiration pond becomes a chore.
A common recommendation when this kind of staleness strikes is to consume other art: go see a show, watch a classic movie, listen to a brilliant record. And to be sure, that can totally work. (It worked for Fiona!) But it’s not the only way.
This week, I share three ways to stock the inspiration pond that aren’t consuming other art.
Big love and keep going,
Lucy
Thoughts on self-nourishment
MEMO - Curate feeds that feed your craft
I’ve done this by creating a separate YouTube account specifically for this purpose, but you do you. It works for any channel that uses a recommendation algorithm. Consider what thinkers and makers uplift, inspire and make you want to be more yourself. Be broad here. You don’t have to limit yourself to artists. Curate your feed tightly around interviews with whomever these folks are for you, and dip in when you’re feeling stale. Listening deep experts discuss their craft can help spark drive to create. Pro tip with this one is to use this feed sparingly, so it stays feeling fresh for you.
MEMO - Make a list of unfamiliar worlds to explore
And when you’re feeling stale, dive into one. These don’t have to be aligned with your interests, in fact it’s probably better if they’re not. And they can be anything. If making such a list seems difficult, you might ask your friends about their favorite rabbit holes and obsessions, or make a list of your current interests and try to find their “opposites”. Depending upon how your brain works, the exploration might be as involved as a personal research project, or as simple as reading a magazine.
MEMO - Put yourself in the way of fresh conversation
This one is a little more effortful, and possibly also daunting-depending on your mindset. One of my favorite ways is to walk into a speciality store or interesting small business and chat to the staff about their products. I often learn something I didn’t know I didn’t know. Some other ways to do this are reaching out to folks whose work interests you and seeing if they’re open to letting you pick their brain. You could also call a friends you don’t see often.
Let me know: How do you stock your inspiration pond?