Inspiration and Motivation
- bigbenhillman
- Jul 1, 2020
- 6 min read
In my last post I wrote about overcoming the emotional blocks that keep us from being creative, finding ways to work through these blocks and creating something even when it seems like we have no good ideas. There are a lot of things that can become obstacles in our path toward creative fulfillment; it's one thing to seek and find the inspiration to be creative, but it's another thing entirely to find and maintain the motivation to begin and complete our creative endeavors.
We as creative people are seldom ever able to create in a bubble; we often cannot afford or are otherwise incapable of locking ourselves away from the world while we attempt to foster and cultivate our ideas. Life is messy and full of stress, and distractions loom around every corner. Bills need to get paid, household chores need to get done, friends and family need our attention. The catastrophic events of the last few months have made it especially tempting to get swept up in reading and watching news reports, ostensibly losing ourselves in the name of staying current with all of the minute-by-minute breaking developments.
In any crisis or major life event, it is important for us to remember that life goes on. No matter what is happening in our lives or what's going on around us, the world keeps turning, the sun continues to rise and set each day, and people go on about their business the best they can. Likewise, our creativity must go on in spite of whatever distractions or diversions life may throw at us.
I wrote previously about my struggles with ADD and how much it affects all aspects of my personal and professional life. This is of course a massive hurdle to overcome in order for me to be able to get anything in my life accomplished. Those who know me will understand that the descriptor "jack of all trades, master of none" applies to no one more than it does to me. Multi-instrumentalist musician and vocalist, music composer and arranger, songwriter and lyricist, audio engineer, music producer and DJ, occasional radio host, artist and illustrator, writer, poet and author - these are just some of the hats I've worn over the years. I've always found something to do in order to keep myself afloat and keep the lights on, but keeping all of these things compartmentalized and staying on task with it all - goddamn is it hard!
Many of us, myself included, also struggle with things like anxiety and depression. These can be unbearable weights dragging us down and holding us back in all of our lives, whether you are a creative type or not. There are of course solutions to these issues, both medicinal and practical. Regardless, the struggle is real and it's never easy.
So how can we overcome all of these obstacles in order to be our truest selves and get done what we need to? In my mind I like to draw a composite of all of these various obstacles and deterrents and make them into one thing: a villainous sort of character who is out to foil my plans. I picture a grim reaper sort of figure, shadowy and mysterious with no distinguishable facial features, just a very ominous and foreboding presence. His entire evil scheme is to get me to be unproductive and demotivated. He'll say things like, "Your efforts are futile, don't waste your time or your energy trying to accomplish these things. What you're trying to do is much too difficult, leave it for someone much smarter and more talented than you are. No one really cares what you have to say anyway - so forget about it. Just order another cheesesteak, hang out on the sofa and play Words With Friends. You'll be fine."
To vanquish this dastardly fiend requires not force or might (for after all, he is me) but mindful thought and confident actions. I can recognize and appreciate that at its core, this imaginary adversary thinks that it is helping me out by trying to spare me the strain of working hard and save me from the potential pain of failure, rejection or disappointment. My job then is to convince the character that in fact I am very capable of following through with my plans and completing the tasks at hand; that I have been able to accomplish great things in the past when I applied myself and gave it my best, and that I am capable of doing that now.
You may not be so melodramatic as I apparently am, arguing with phantom-laziness-enablers. Everyone has to find their own path and make their own way to reach their goals, and everyone has different methods and techniques that work best for them. Here are a few other things to think about that have helped me over the years, maybe they will help you too:
Be Grateful - No matter what is going on in your life, you can always find something to be grateful for, regardless of how bad things get or seem to be. Everyday that we wake up and we're still above ground is an opportunity to make change and make the best of things. Be thankful for what you have and don't waste that opportunity.
Take Care of Yourself - It's not uncommon for artists, writers and musicians to want to push themselves to the brink sometimes, staying up through the night toiling away at their craft, depriving themselves of good food, sleep, fresh air and sunlight. This is of course terrible for us, and is actually very counterproductive to our creativity. It's best if we try to stick to as much of a regular schedule as possible. Occasionally we all must burn that "midnight oil," but don't do it all the time. Do your best to get to sleep at a regular hour, and get a good solid 8 hours of sleep if you can, or as close to it as possible. Don't sleep in - get up, get yourself some coffee and maybe a light breakfast and get to work. Take breaks when you need to, go out for walks when you can, and stay connected to the people in your life - good family and friends will always be there to support and encourage us, even if we just need someone to talk to for a few minutes.
Stay Inspired - Get in touch with the feelings that first made you want to do what it is that you do. If you are a musician, remember the first time you heard a piece of music or watched a performance and said to yourself "I want to do that!" If you're a writer, go back and read an author that you love, or a few excerpts from a favorite book. For an artist or a painter, perhaps print out a few photos of some of your favorite works of art and post them up around your studio. Maybe you'll be more inspired by finding and discovering new works. We are blessed to live in a time when discovering new art, music or literature is as easy as picking up a smartphone and tapping the screen. So do it - whatever works for you and gets your batteries recharged. The power is in your hands.
Use A Calendar! - If you are reading this blog on a phone or a computer right now, you have a calendar. Use it! This point cannot be underscored enough. Every expert on efficiency and time management will tell you that "to do lists" are pointless. It may as well be called a "don't do list." The only way to really ensure that tasks are getting done is to schedule them on your calendar. Just making out a list or saying to yourself, "I've got to finish doing XYZ," is leaving you open to failure by allowing yourself to easily get distracted and procrastinate. Scheduling tasks in your calendar is saying, "I am doing this on Thursday July 2, 2020 at 9am." You're taking ownership of it by taking responsibility and holding yourself accountable. Sometimes things will get shifted around, and your self-imposed deadlines may need to get pushed back here and there, but at least you've given yourself a solid foundation to stand upon while working your way toward your goals. Honestly, I still struggle with this one myself. A lot! But I recognize the importance of it, and I am working toward getting better at it.
One last point: in regards to creating in a bubble. It might seem sometimes like blocking out the world would make everything easier. If only we could deliver ourselves from all temptation and remove all manner of distractions from our lives then there would no limit to what we could do. Honestly though, I feel that quite the opposite is true. As much as the stressors of life can bring us down and hold us back, they can also provide us with inspiration if we look at them in the right light. Too much silence and solitude will drive a man mad, and loudness and insanity are the stuff of life. So fear not! Live, laugh, love - and create.
A note about the illustration: I created this piece quickly today to accompany this posting, and it is based upon a pencil sketch that I made several weeks ago. I've been experimenting a bit lately with doing monochromatic pieces, and I am pretty happy with the way this one came out. It is made using Clip Studio Paint with my Huion drawing tablet.
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