When inspiration fails
|
Hello friends, What happens when we’re not inspired? Or worse, what happens when we’re downtrodden, or exhausted, or want to give up? Well… Rest is always a good option when we can make space for it. Refilling the well is another strategy: going for a walk, reading a novel, listening to music, sitting under a tree, watching a movie, meditating… Other times, we have to adult, don’t we? The thing I’ve learned though, is that adulting goes better if I don’t carry the attitude that this sucks and everything is a grind. We don’t always have to feel inspired, we can show up because we’ve committed to something. We commit to family, community, spiritual practice, creative practice, work, nature, or ourselves. That’s all important. I don’t feel inspired today—as a matter of fact, I feel a bit tired—but here I am, committed to communicating with you. I will also get at least a short writing session in on my current novel, plus edit some audio. Maybe I’ll do some other business tasks, too. That’s a big maybe, but I’m keeping my options open. I’ll likely go for a walk, because that’s one of my other commitments. But I’m also not going to push too hard. When I’m in the flow of inspiration, energy rises, and vice versa. When I have more energy, inspiration is easier to access. Today, my energy feels low, but I’m doing my best to stay curious. How about you? How are your current life conditions and energy reserves? What helps you recommit or feel inspired? When inspiration fails, we still have life. I’m going to remember that. Best wishes — Thorn
|
T. Thorn Coyle
Hello friends, There I was, on our tiny back mud porch—earbuds in, writing business podcast queued up—putting my boots on. A strange, metallic noise sounded from the back garden. I looked up. A crow was at the birdbath. Not the source. I shrugged, slung my bag with my writing paraphernalia over my shoulder, pressed play on the podcast, and stepped out. The strange sound cut through the podcast voices. Pulling an earbud out, I found the source: a squirrel on the fence, busily grabbing,...
Hello friends, While walking to meet some other writers in a café for our usual co-working date, I saw a piece of standard 8.5x11 inch paper stapled to a utility pole. It was one of those “rip off the tab at the bottom” fliers. I haven’t seen one of those in years, it seems. You may remember them. The “I walk dogs” or “yard work available” ads, with a fringe cut at the bottom, so a passerby could easily rip off the salient information, tuck it into a pocket, and then forget about it until...
Hello friends, I was recently interviewed by Jamie Ferguson of Blackbird Press about my new essay collection: Let Your Life Be Lighting - Creativity in Times of Strife. She posed several questions, asking whether I ever feel discouraged, what to say to people who feel like giving up, and how I create during difficult times. In my answer to that last question, I called up inspiration from human history, and I think this might help you, too: “Think of the poems written, songs sung, clothing...