How To Get Your Inspiration Back

Seems like I've heard people comment a lot that they are just in a funk, don't feel the urge to paint, write, or whatever else they do creatively.  People blame this on the weather sometimes, or depression,  or just distracted by life in general.  I am extremely creative and life is good when I get excited about a new idea that needs expressing.  I have days that I just don't want to do  anything because things are on my mind. Time is too precious to lose a day you could be making a difference or even being miserable.

Try writing a  ' letter' to a sympathetic friend or the person they blame for their problems, pour out your feelings, get it all off your chest, blow off all the steam you can muster.  Then it is a good idea to delete it.  You could save these "steamy letters" to a file but you take a chance on someone seeing it that shouldn't. 

Just imagine that you think your spouse is cheating on you but don't want a confrontation right now, but it has you so down you can't move forward.  Write that "skanky ho" a letter and tell her whatever comes to your mind.  Doesn't that feel good?  Now get rid of it and don't let her ruin your day.  Your needs are way more important than worrying about her. 

Is money or the lack of money keeping you in the dumps?  Sitting around worrying about it isn't going to win you the lottery.  Make a list of the ten most important things in your life.  What is their value?  Did it take a lot of money to have them?  Adjust your perspective a little. Think of ten people that have more than you.  Are they truly happy?  Think of ten people who have less that you.  Are they happy?  Would you want to trade places with any of these people, richer or poorer?  So, you must either stagnate or make a change.  Don't throw but one self pity party a week.  They take time and if you serve refreshments like ice cream and chips you'll get fat..

So, you aren't a writer, or hate typing, etc. and think that won't work.  No problem.  Find someone to talk to, who will listen and not judge, just listen  Online friends are great, even find one in a foreign country who doesn't know your family and friends.  Download Skype or Yahoo chat or anything like that and that will at least have you distracted trying to figure that out. 

These experts in magazines and on tv always suggest excercise as a cure all.  Try it, but make it interesting.  Make it a game.  Take your camera and set a goal, doesn't matter how ridiculous it is.  Walk someplace you haven't been to lately.   If you aren't into nature hikes, do a mall walk.  Make a list of goals like , take photos of 5 red things, or 10 sets of feet, or mailboxes, or whatever and have fun.  You have to do something to activate that funk part of your brain.

Artists and photographers need visual goals sometimes.  Take some reference photos of things you might want to paint or use in a collage photo.  If you are stuck at home, go to flickr or stock photography sites  and type in a subject like 'haunted', 'violets', 'green eyes', etc.  You will be amazed at all the unusual things that show up. 

I like to look at famous paintings and try to figure out how to do something similar with digital art software.  Go back to your childhood and read that favorite fairy tale again.  Listen to music or vintage radio or tv shows online and think of different things.  The key here is 'escape to a happy and different place' .

Search online for groups to join with people of similar interests.  I joined Innographx,  Digital Nuts, Painter Talk, and several others.  Just talking to others who know what you are talking about is priceless.  Do you know how frustrating it is to be a computer graphic artist in a place where most of the people you meet at first don't even have computers?  Thank God for being able to have virtual friends online who truly understand what you are talking about.

I'm just rambling here, but I've discovered doing anything to help someone else can give you a great feeling.  I like to help others learn to use software like Paint Shop Pro or Twisted Brush or Painter, etc. Hope this helps, now get busy!