Incubating Inspiration

Sometimes, we all feel stuck. Sometimes we are out of ideas. Sometimes we just need a little bit of inspiration. Well, I’m going to share one way of finding it. This method has worked amazingly well for me in the past, and I believe that it will work for you, too! I call this incubating inspiration, an homage to the practice of incubating dreams as a way of seeking inspiration. When incubating a dream, someone would goes to sleep with the intention of dreaming about a particular topic. While this technique does not involve sleep, I think it is similar in spirit.

Step One:

Set aside a block of at least 2 hours. It probably won’t take that long, but I would hate for you to feel rushed on your way to inspiration! (Hey, I said it worked – I never said it was fast) If you are the kind of person who worries about the time (and who isn’t?), feel free to keep a clock or watch within view.

Step Two:

Find a comfortable spot to sit. This is imperative. The ideal location will be quiet, though some background noise is fine. I like to have a small table within reach.

Step Three:

Sit down. Bring a notebook, a pen, and any relevant materials relating to the subject upon which you seek inspiration. I like to have a drink of some kind, just in case I get thirsty, but your mileage may vary.

Step Four:

Let your mind wander. You shouldn’t obsess over the subject upon which you are seeking inspiration, but it’s ok if your mind wanders there sometimes. You don’t need to carefully observe your thoughts or pay close attention to anything. Just let your mind do whatever it wants to do.

Step Five:

Eventually, you will start to get an inkling of an idea. A tiny little scratching seedling of a thing will start trying to come out. Don’t force it, but don’t fight it either – let the inspiration take its own time.

Step Six:

Once your inspiration has taken form, write it down in your notebook. Don’t worry about making it pretty or what anyone else will think – just write down your ideas as they flow out. You may get a trickle or you may get a torrent, so keep writing until you are done.

If you try this out, please let me know how it goes!