Be Inspired

Being creative is hard. When there are people and paperwork and piles to manage. When I look around my house and see the walls that need to be painted and the cupboards that should be organized. When my inbox is cluttered with notes I need to answer about work stuff and volunteer stuff. When output is more than input.

What can you do when you need an extra “spark” of inspiration? Here are a few things I do.

Call a fun/funny friend.

Sit outside. Breathe in fresh air. Listen to birdsongs. Watch busy ants.

Open a book of poetry. Absorb the symbolism and fresh word combinations.

Open a cookbook and find a recipe of something you’d like to make but never tried before. (Then go shopping.)

Go to YouTube.com and watch old dance numbers like this one.

Visit Etsy and take their taste test. Enjoy the fresh colors, textures, and ideas.

Play with Visuwords:  Follow word trails and see where they lead you.

Have a visual feast at iStock Photo.

Pray and thank God for His creativity. Thank Him for your favorite places, people, tastes, and the beauty of nature.

Read your favorite Bible verses in a Bible version you normally don’t read. Here is my favorite Bible verse in The Message (Zephaniah 3:17):

“Don’t be afraid.
Dear Zion,
   don’t despair.
Your God is present among you,
   a strong Warrior there to save you.
Happy to have you back, he’ll calm you with his love
   and delight you with his songs.”

Write a greeting card verse and e-mail it to a special person.

These are only a few of the things that spark my inspiration. What about you?