Postcards from the Funny Farm

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Well, it’s the first of June, 2008 and possibly due to the fact that my 39th birthday is in 8 days, I am thinking about how I can get more “inspiration.” If you’ve ever known someone who was incredibly inspirational or if you’ve had a hero like that, you might consider entering the writing contest I am hosting. (Deadline is June 16th, 2008) I would love to read your story. I hope you’ll enter. Now, back to inspiration …

What is inspiration? I can’t tell you exactly, it is an abstract noun. I can however tell you that it isn’t simple. Many people in their quest to keep life simple, reduce inspiration to a fickle slot machine. They couldn’t be more wrong. Not only is inspiration in your control, but you can do amazing things with it. That’s what this blog is all about exploring. Inspiration isn’t a slot machine. You can take hold of it and draw more into your life. I got the idea for this post on the treadmill

Inspiration is not simple but you can take control of it and experience a lot more of it than most people.

Here’s some suggestions I’ve found useful to keep inspiration alive.

1. Mellow out. As a general rule, avoid being uppity and reactive. Try to take it easy as much as possible.
2. Make a space for your work. Protect the times you are are working and creating from interruptions and distractions. Sometimes this means doing a LOT of extra prep work to get the kids fed (in my case as a parent) etc … you fill in the distractions from your life. Having what I call “sweet spots” of an hour or more where your mind won’t be interrupted are golden for inspiration.
3. Look to the masters. So what about those times you have no inspiration to do anything? Well, remember Walt Disney and all he did and then think about the reasons you are doing the work, for example to make money online. Incentive and motivation are crucial to inspiration.
4. Write a mission statement. Have you made a mission statement? If not I recommend you do so for your art and even your life if you really want to go deep. It doesn’t have to be long or complicated. In fact, less is more. My mission statement for this blog, for example, is as follows: To create and innovate quality content on psychology and inspiration for an ever growing audience.
5. Think positively with possibilities in mind. As you list many missions, you can eliminate the ones that just don’t feel right. Once you find the “golden” one for you, you will find you inspiration less fleeting and more under control. In other words, you won’t have to go search for it under a rock as much when you know where it belongs. Another important aspect of inspiration is networking. I used to host a forum called the “Online Diarists Forum.” It was a mammoth flop. There was one positive take-away though, I learned that most people in blog niches like mine are driven by traffic and money. When I moved away from what I thought was a “purist” niche, I realized there was a plethora of networking tools out there just waiting for me to join in the fun. Since then I have averaged 100-400 dollars a month income with my blog and guess what. It’s no longer an online diary but I have more readers.
6. Market your work I chose to change my direction in blogging and go where the people were.
7. Take time out of your day to be playful. I used to race grocery carts for some silly fun. This is one of a million hilarious ways to get out of your creative rut. (Make sure you leave some for the handicapped people) But anything like that will do. Get crazy once in a while to stir your inspiration.
8. Use social networks. For example, right now 9 Rules’ relaunch is an exciting thing. Chec.... The best blogs on every topic extant can be found there. If you’re an artist, find an art blog. If you create recipes, find a food one. Don’t dismiss the social media revolution as being just for mmol (make money online) bloggers. It is an information publishing revolution across the board. You might find your “way in” through the audience there.
9. Seek and collect favorite quotes. I hear crazy quotes in my head. What quotes do you love? Emblazon them on your desktop, your bathroom mirror, everywhere. If you are really generous, publish an ever growing page of favorite quotes for your readers, family, and friends.
10. Be a grownup and be responsible. Accept the consequences of your own actions.
11. Research your craft, whatever it is. Read blogs and books on it. I have some accrued tips in the form of some tenets of powerful writing.
12. Know your limits and become dedicated to keeping it real.

I hope some of these ideas resonated with you. They all work for me in getting creative ideas at work and at home. We’ll never be perfect as humans but we can have a stronger impact on our family, work, and friends if we take active steps to keep inspiration alive. That concept along with the psychology that drives inspiration is what my work on this blog is all about. Care to subscribe?

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Thanks for reading.