Sitting with inspiration is a new concept for me. I’m more of an impatient magpie who picks up a new nugget of inspiration and flies with it, only to drop it when it becomes too heavy. Admittedly, this tends to be because I’m endlessly attracted by new, shiny ideas and tend to over-burden myself.
This week, or should I say last week, was the second week of CP’s holiday, so we spent lots of our time doing lovely things. We visited The Deep, went up Withernsea Lighthouse and frequented many local cafes, comparing cappuccinos and sampling cake.
It felt amazing just to kick back and spend some quality time together. And I can’t wait to create more memories together.
Ideas, ideas and more ideas
I don’t know if you’re like me, but I find that when I’m in a relaxed but busy state, ideas flow effortlessly. So amongst the day trips and coffee sips (see what I did there?) I kept getting flashes of inspiration.
The ideas included new ideas for my blog, creative projects and book ideas. I jotted them down to prevent them from escaping into the ether and knowing that I can return to them another day feels good.
Another thing that I noticed felt good was the feeling of not needing to rush to do anything about them. Sitting with inspiration has actually felt empowering. It feels like I now have a little treasure trove of nuggets stashed away that I can explore when I choose to.
And I think having a choice is part of the point. Before I quit my job I was very time poor, and whenever I felt inspired it felt like I had to take action right then or it wouldn’t get done. Because I had so little time, I didn’t feel like I had the luxury of contemplation. This tended to result in me jumping feet first into projects without fully thinking them through.
Ironically, because I now have more time, I feel less pressured to take action. I’m hoping that this translates into better results and fewer abandoned projects along the way.
The priority conundrum
Considering this from a slightly different angle, have you noticed that we often use the word ‘priorities’? I often find myself speaking about my priorities. Yet a priority is meant to refer to just one thing. The moment you have more than one priority, you no longer have a priority, you have a list of things all competing for your attention.
This is something that I try to remember each day. The practise of choosing a single priority fits nicely with the plan of sitting with inspiration. I’m currently writing a book and completing it is my priority. Before I begin to act upon any of my other inspired projects, I want to finish it. Then I can direct my full attention to my next venture.
I’m hoping that by doing this, I’ll begin to tame my inner magpie and drop fewer projects. Only time will tell. But one thing I am sure of is that the process of sitting with inspiration feels good. I feel calmer, more in control and more committed than ever to my current project. I feel confident that alongside my writing, the inspiration will keep flowing and when I’m ready to take action, I’m hoping my ideas will have fleshed out and matured like a fine wine…Actually, I’m not a huge fan of wine, perhaps a full-bodied Guinness would be more apt.
What are your thoughts on sitting with inspiration? Is this something you do or do you find yourself rushing headfirst into whatever inspires you? If you do, then maybe it’s time to sit with it for a while and see how you feel.
Image courtesy of Thought Catalog