August 11, 2008

Inspiration When You’re Not Inspiring

ME Liz Strauss wrote this at 7:08 am

Be Productive

Puppy

In a perfect world, I might find every day motivating. I might wake up inspired and inspiring, filled with energy and energizing those around me.

It’s hard to do some days, especially on Mondays.

But I’m learning. . . .

I don’t think I’ll ever hit the ground running when my uninspired self is in the building. I’m learning not to force things. When I push myself to be more than I’ve got with me, I somehow start pushing other people and pushing over things.

When I’m uninspired I walk slowly, make room for big thinking, and do something to improve while I wait for the idea machine. Accomplishing one thing — a clean space a new blog post — can be incredibly inspiring.

How do you get inspiration when you’re not feeling inspiring?

–ME “Liz” Strauss
Work with Liz!!
Image: GeekPhilospher - free photo

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36 Comments to “Inspiration When You’re Not Inspiring”

  1. August 11th, 2008 at 7:21 am
    Kris @ Fresh Focus said

    Wheeeeeee!!!!!!!

    There are often days when I am uninspired. But you know what gets me motivated? My friends list on Twitter - those people are always movin’ and shakin’, so I know, that unless I want to be left behind, I better get to movin’ and shakin’!

    Thanks for the link - and let’s get movin’ and shakin’!

  2. August 11th, 2008 at 7:25 am
    Vicky H said

    Oddly enough, I get inspired by reading other peoples blogs, people I really click with. It doesn’t have to be positive either to inspire me. A not so happy post, can really make me feel thankful and change my perception.
    ‘
    It’s all about the conversation as you say in your book, so true. I feel like I’m talking to a friend in the morning.

    I’m a lucky girl!

  3. August 11th, 2008 at 7:41 am
    Miranda said

    If I can just unwind for a while — relax, read, go for a walk — I find that things start to flow more naturally. It also helps when I’ve had enough sleep!

  4. August 11th, 2008 at 7:41 am
    Mike Wilson said

    I take a simple approach…just get up, walk away and tell myself that inspiration will hit soon.

    I just focus on keeping a positive mind state, read something totally unrelated to a topic I wanted to write about, then just wait for an idea to pop in my head.

    Great blog, by the way!

  5. August 11th, 2008 at 7:42 am
    Chris Hebert said

    Nothing like the rush of inspiration!

    I have found that having a notepad at all times to write down an idea on, just doesn’t seem to follow me around all day. So, as I occasionally become inspiried by an idea passing through my head, I then jot it down on my desktop in a text file. Later when the inspiration is on “low,” I pull out the prior “inspiration - but no time” text file and run with it.

    So far it works.
    Chris at WebDazzling
    http://webdazzling.com

  6. August 11th, 2008 at 7:42 am
    Karin H. said

    Hi Liz

    I get inspired by knowing that if I finish all the daily normal tasks in my little shop and after two or three cups of coffee I’ve got time, focus and drive to work on my other projects.
    (As in: normal daily tasks don’t need inspiration?!? Not here, because they need doing and the reward of doing them is… working on my projects. Of course it helps that I tend to turn everything into a project ;-))

    Karin H. (Keep It Simple Sweetheart, specially in business)

  7. August 11th, 2008 at 7:52 am
    Geoff Livingston said

    I explore my reader, perhaps take a bike ride, fulfill my work, and then try to get personal time. Just take a break to give my head a rest.

  8. August 11th, 2008 at 8:24 am
    Writer Dad said

    I look for quiet, and then I find something from a time when I was inspired and work on that. Usually, it will get me going again.

  9. August 11th, 2008 at 8:45 am
    Stephen said

    I get inspired by checking out for a bit. Went camping last night (in the yard!) and today I feel like a million bucks!

  10. August 11th, 2008 at 8:52 am
    Inspiration - Liz Strauss asks a question! | Fresh Focus...... said

    [...] you may want to subscribe to my RSS feed. Thanks for visiting! Over at Liz’s blog, she asks what gets you inspired, when you are feeling uninspired? As we all know, you have to be inspired to be productive. Some [...]

  11. August 11th, 2008 at 9:02 am
    ME Liz Strauss said

    Hi Kris!
    I can’t imagine a day that you’re not productive. You’re energy always comes through the screen. :)

  12. August 11th, 2008 at 9:03 am
    ME Liz Strauss said

    Hi Vicky,
    I hear you saying that inspiration is where you find it. So much of inspiration is being ready to be inspired. :)

  13. August 11th, 2008 at 9:05 am
    ME Liz Strauss said

    Hi Miranda!
    Not pushing myself or expecting great things leaves me room to play with ideas. Yeah. I agree that waiting for inspiration is better.

    Sleep inspires me too!
    Thanks for the stumble!

  14. August 11th, 2008 at 9:07 am
    ME Liz Strauss said

    Hi Mike,
    I do the same — get my mind over to something else, and let it do it’s thing in the background.

    Sometimes inspiration needs time to simmer. :)

  15. August 11th, 2008 at 9:08 am
    ME Liz Strauss said

    Lately, Chris, I’m finding that I need that notepad to capture ideas, because they’re fleeting faster than they used to.

    Being ready to catch those wisps of inspiration sure are energizing. I love the way you talk about that feeling. :)

  16. August 11th, 2008 at 9:10 am
    ME Liz Strauss said

    Hi Karin!
    Sometimes I start my day by thinking of what I’ll do when my tasks are done . . . like you I find that inspires me to get working AND it gives more fuel to what I’m looking forward to. :)

  17. August 11th, 2008 at 9:12 am
    ME Liz Strauss said

    Geoff!
    Love the way that you mixup so many things — a variety of input followed by lots of space. I can see how that would make a recipe for inspiration.

  18. August 11th, 2008 at 9:13 am
    ME Liz Strauss said

    Hi Writer Dad,
    I can’t tell you how many times I’ve done that — gone back to my archives to let something from the past bring back my inspiration. That’s such a valuable reminder you brought. Thanks!

  19. August 11th, 2008 at 9:14 am
    ME Liz Strauss said

    Hey Stephen,
    That sounds like a great way to fit a vacation into a busy life. I think I’ll invent one for myself this week. :)

  20. August 11th, 2008 at 9:53 am
    SpaceAgeSage said

    “Do or do not… there is no try.” Yoda

    I think the “no try” part is Yoda’s way of saying don’t force it.

    I have to let go of the blockage and re-open the connection to creativity, balance, and the well-spring of life. Reading or listening to Natalie Goldberg helps: “I always tell my students … Turn off your logical brain that says 1 + 1 = 2. Open up your mind to the possibility that 1 + 1 can equal 48, a Mercedez-Benz, and apple pie, a blue horse.”

  21. August 11th, 2008 at 10:19 am
    ME Liz Strauss said

    Hi Sage,
    . . . and inspiration can be a series of comments on a post about inspiring myself. :)

  22. August 11th, 2008 at 11:16 am
    LaurenMarie - Creative Curio said

    There are always little things that need to be done that don’t require much brain power; cleaning off my desk, filing papers, washing dishes, going to the gym. Sometimes doing those things and letting ideas tumble around in my head brings the needed spark of a good idea. I’m learning to be ok with not being on and 100% inspired 24/7; it would just wear me out!

    When you were talking about not forcing things, it reminded me of yoga: some days you are more flexible than others and some days less flexible than normal. You shouldn’t push yourself too hard on those “un-flexible” days because you can hurt yourself pretty badly! Just accept where your body is at, and know that you can try again tomorrow.

  23. August 11th, 2008 at 11:26 am
    Mother Earth said

    I accept the holy cow it’s monday challenge by simply allowing the day to be a re-entry day, trying to be full force on a Monday just doesn’t work for me

  24. August 11th, 2008 at 1:02 pm
    Ulla said

    Communicating with other people inspires me. Often after having talked to someone I get an idea. And your blog is an inspiring source as well!

  25. August 11th, 2008 at 2:51 pm
    ME Liz Strauss said

    Hi LaurenMarie!
    I know what you mean! That sense of accomplishment from cleaning off my desk and putting things away seems to air out my thinking as well.

    Thanks for the yoga analogy. It’s a perfect fit to this idea. :)

  26. August 11th, 2008 at 2:54 pm
    ME Liz Strauss said

    Hi Mother Earth!
    What would you do if Monday were Tuesday? :)

  27. August 11th, 2008 at 2:55 pm
    ME Liz Strauss said

    Hi Ulla,
    Other people are inspiring for me too. Sometimes I hear them saying just what I wanted to learn . . . sometimes I hear myself telling them what I was trying to think up to write about. ;)

  28. August 11th, 2008 at 5:22 pm
    Mary@WritetoDone said

    My secret is to doodle.

    I take some nice feltpens and start to do a mindmap. I don’t focus on great ideas, though. I focus on creating fancy borders, curly letters, drop shadows, and little silly images.

    Little by little my creative popcorn heats up and some ideas start to hit the lid.

    Having said that, there are some days when I can’t afford the time to doodle, and just have to slap words onto the page, hoping they’ll coalesce into a coherent article.

  29. August 11th, 2008 at 6:32 pm
    Mother Earth said

    I actually need monday to prepare for tuesday which is always my out of the office day !!

    Just the way the plan is working right now!!

    Stephen, like the camping in the yard idea. Too bad the mosquito’s would not leave much of me behind !!

  30. August 12th, 2008 at 8:56 am
    ME Liz Strauss said

    Hi Mary,
    Shifting over into my doodling right brain helps me too. Working in a garden, drawing pictures, or just paging through a beautiful photo site does wonders!

  31. August 12th, 2008 at 9:07 am
    ME Liz Strauss said

    Hi Mother Earth!
    I had a feeling that you might answer my question that way. Yeah, Monday serves a purpose . . . makes it confusing when Monday holidays come around. :)

  32. August 12th, 2008 at 4:14 pm
    George for Seven Fund said

    Interaction with anyone else with fresh ideas can always service as inspiration, hence the beauty of the blogosphere!

  33. August 12th, 2008 at 7:13 pm
    ME Liz Strauss said

    Hi George,
    I find the blogosphere incredbly inspiring too! :)

  34. August 22nd, 2008 at 10:20 pm
    DaveOlson said

    Hey Liz,

    Looks like I’m late to this party. Couldn’t get motivated I guess. :-)

    I think I’ve simply stopped trying to get motivated. Lately I’ve been looking more for the rhythm of life. Most of the time, I’m not motivated on mondays, but tuesdays are good from 10am to about 2pm then from 7:30pm to 11pm. Different days are different.

    I agree with other comments about interacting with others but sometimes even that requires motivation.

    So… I pace myself, make sure I’m healthy, rested and fed… then move with the natural (at least for me) cycles of motivation and I get lots done.

  35. August 25th, 2008 at 12:57 pm
    ME Liz Strauss said

    Hi Dave,
    The natural cycle of motivation is such a lovely thought. I’m going to be considering it all day. It sounds so like the rhythm of life.

  36. October 14th, 2008 at 9:27 am
    farouk said

    when i am inspired, i become excited, i move faster and i feel like ideas are following inside my mind

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