Where Does Your Creativity Come From?

For centuries, artists, poets and other creative people have talked about “the muse.” The muse is the source of inspiration. It has often been seen as some kind of dark supernatural force, but actually it can be anyone around you or something as simple as a photograph or a walk in the park. If you can identify your muse and turn to it when you need inspiration, this will help you unlock your creative energy.

Who is Your Muse?

Take a minute to think about the people you know. Who makes you feel inspired? Is there someone you chat with over coffee and then you find yourself rushing home full of creative ideas? If there is, this person is your muse.

You don’t have to limit yourself to just one muse. Artist Pablo Picasso considered every woman he had a relationship with his muses. It may be that simply going out and socializing is a good way to get inspired. Your muse may be a stranger you have a conversation with at a bus stop or waiting in line at the grocery store.

Favorite Things

Your muse may not be a person at all. It could be an object or a work of art. Music is especially powerful for inspiring people. You might have a favorite song or album that gets you in the mood to create. It may be a photograph or a book of poetry that you like. Look around your house and ask yourself, “What things here make me want to be creative?”

You may also find inspiration by looking at other projects that are similar to your own project. For example, if you’re trying to design a website, go online and look at the sites of other similar businesses. You may get a great idea.

Your environment can also inspire creativity. For me, going outside for a walk in the woods or along a river near my home always produces new ideas. Think about the environments or activities that stimulate your creativity.

Follow Thought Leaders

There may be a person you don’t know who serves as your muse. Many people find thought leaders in their industry to be inspiring. By following them and keeping up with their work, you can get inspiration from them.

Who Needs a Muse?

Actually, the muse is perhaps a bit overrated. Creative people have always had an almost spiritual belief that their creativity comes from outside themselves. It’s as though inspiration blesses you suddenly and then disappears again. What people fail to recognize is that hard work, practice and habit play important parts in the creative process. If you get into a routine of creative work, you’ll find that the muse drops by much more often.

Action Step: Start looking for people, activities, or environments that stimulate creative ideas for you. Once discovered, start spending time with those people, activities, or environments to boost your daily creativity.

Want more help developing more creative ideas? Get a complimentary copy of my Innovation Strategy Checklist to start creating a steady stream of innovative ideas.