I remember a keynote speech I attended by the shuttle pilot Story Musgrave. Not only did the astronaut fly six shuttle missions, but Musgrave also trained as a medical doctor and earned three masters degrees in fields ranging from biophysics to literature. He also has worked as a landscape architect, a concept artist with Disney Imagineering, and a professor of design. Keep in mind that Musgrave’s family background is not one that would have predicted such remarkable achievement and fulfillment. His family of origin was rife with abuse and alcoholism, and several of his family members died by suicide. In spite of this, Story Musgrave clearly has lived an inspired life.

Several years ago a friend of mine drew my attention to some music a friend of his had published on Soundcloud. I felt inspired by what I heard. The electronic dance music (EDM) reminded me of music I used to listen to as a young man, albeit with a danceable rhythm. I had dabbled in writing music for years, so I downloaded some virtual instruments began to compose on the keyboard in earnest. I don’t think I ever excelled at writing EDM, but there were songs and passages that were deeply satisfying and seemed to resonate with others. (More recently my creative work has turned toward composing film music, a much more natural fit for me.)

As I write here about inspiration, I wonder what lessons I can pass along, drawing from my own experience and that of others. Are there strategies we can cultivate to bring more inspiration into our lives? Something that Story Musgrove said during his keynote jumps out at me. He said that the secret to a creative, fulfilled life is doing what one loves, swimming with the tide of one’s talents and interests, and forgetting the rest.

But what if you don’t know what your interests are? Or the things that you dream about doing seem beyond your reach?

One lesson that I picked up many years ago (from a book called Zen Mind, Beginner’s Mind) is to give yourself permission to be a beginner. A key idea here is to let yourself inhabit the mind of a child and see the world with fresh eyes. Another aspect is to give yourself permission to try new things and make mistakes. Too often we constrain ourselves by working hard to avoid being shamed or embarrassed. If this sounds like you, chances are you may be judging yourself more harshly than anyone around you is. In fact, there is no shame in doing something poorly when you are just starting out. If you aren’t making mistakes, then what are you learning really?

Another strategy is noticing those things in your environment that “flirt” with you? Where do you light up? What makes you curious and draws your interest? Does nature fire up your imagination? If so, how much time do you spend with it? Do you enjoy looking at art? Maybe it’s time to pick up a paint brush. Are you someone who gets excited about the latest Tarantino film? Why not take a film-making class? There is no better time to start than now. Baby steps lead to bigger steps, and who knows, a few years from now you may have launched a passionate new hobby or even a fulfilling career.

Also, pay attention to what makes you tick. Are you someone who gets inspiration when you are steeped in a whirlwind of activity? Or do you require quiet, uncluttered time to catch the sparks from the great fire? Does being around other people bring you energy — or does it run your batteries down? Figure out the conditions in which you thrive, and work toward bringing more of these into your life.

Routines are important and lend a sense of stability and meaning to our lives. However, too much habit and routine can lead to a lack of energy and joy. The following suggestion may help you clear out the dead weeds. Go somewhere you have never been before. Notice something there that attracts your attention. Feel your connection to whatever attracts you. Photograph it or draw it or write a poem about it. Why not all three?

Some inspirations are like lightning bolts flung down from the heavens. But many are more like sparks that we can catch if we just stop what we’re doing and pay attention. To paraphrase something I read in a book on ADD. All creativity begins with play. Play leads to practice, and practice, eventually to expertise and mastery.

Having a great goal can be a source of inspiration. A great goal can pull us into the future and fill our lives with passionate purpose. For you, in particular, would this be running a marathon? Creating a podcast? Setting up your own Youtube channel? Studying abroad for the summer? The main thing here is to choose something that will stretch you beyond your usual routines and engage your excitement for life.

Our identities can hold us back or add rocket fuel to our engines. If you are someone who tells yourself, “I can’t do that. I’m not courageous (creative, intelligent, athletic, etc.) enough,” then you may have installed a kill switch on the source of inspiration. Why not trying reversing this by asking yourself, What would an inspired person do? If I was filled with inspiration, what would I do today? This week? This month?

Why wait?

There is no better time to start than today.

Mark Evans, Ph.D.
Senior Staff Psychologist

Photo: Steel Wool Spinning  by nobull