How I Stay Inspired

“to be creative you have to be boundless. freedom only exists in the mind, through art you can break all the rules. our expression is everything.”

Inspiration is an energy source. It’s a burning fiery spirit that lives deep inside of you. It fades away and grows like any flame the more air, space, fuel, and freedom you give it. 

The fuel comes from the internalization of perceptions and observations of the miraculous world around. 

It’s too easy to get caught up in a world where we think we need more, when the answer is less. How can we quiet down our minds, peel off the layers, strip down illusionary identities, false assumptions, and learn to turn inward towards our truest self and spirit? For me, it’s about taking time monthly, weekly, daily to check-out and check-in.

writing.

Writing found me as an 8-year-old and over the past 20 years has become the most honest dialogue with myself. Curiosities I had turned to uncontrollable mind chatter, restlessness, and voices. Journaling wasn’t a hobby or something I felt like I ought to do, it became a part of my mental, spiritual, and emotional well-being. It freed me of spinning thoughts and wonderings, and without fail, allowed me to tune deep into myself and hard truths. When I am there, inspiration is found.

travel.

Our experiences are what make us who we are. Our exchanges with people, places, food, music, art, and more leave an impression on us whether we like to believe it or not. Like pianos, we’re open to be played by our encounters and overtime, we create a song and symphony than is uniquely our own. Travel is one of the richest things a person can do for themselves. To step away from what is familiar and test ourselves in the face of the unknown, to see the paths other people walk and realize there’s no one way, to have our thoughts, beliefs, and values challenged and exposed, and return to where we came from to realize we’re not who we used to be. It’s on foreign streets, inspiration is found. 

surfing.

The ocean found me as a teenager. There I was beach side in Brazil watching the melodic flow of energizing waves. I was hypnotized by a love that I’d never forget. A dive into the saltwater, weightless, and in love. I wanted to get closer to her. The long journey to surfing taught me to sync with myself, harmonize with nature, wash away worries, free my mind, to be humble in the face of power and fear, to arrive whole, present, and remember what is simple is also beautiful. When I am there, inspiration is found.

art.

In order to be creative, we have to be boundless. In order to be boundless, we have to be free. In order to be free, we have to know that freedom only exists in our minds. Art found me in the hardest of times. When I had no words for thoughts or feelings and needed time to churn out an idea or obstacle. A blank canvas, colors, and nothing but time to smooth mind to material. It became practice of opening space and allowing that inner dialogue to take a newer more abstract form than something as literal as words.

love.

Love is the highest form of inspiration. To shift my perspective on a person, place, or thing and find where love may live ignites me. It can be found in the innocence of a flower, the rhythm of a song, the touch of the sun, the tenderness of a kiss, or a smile exchange with a stranger. It’s everywhere if you look with clear eyes, an abundance of love. It’s when we are in love with life, inspiration is found and never lost. 

The Power of Collaborating

We seem to have made a culture that’s starving for individuality originality, and ownership. The way things are designed sets us up for division and limit our unity. Our boarders, countries, religions, beliefs, colors of our skin, and laws on love limit our ability to connect. But what if we shifted our focus? 

Collaboration starts with connection and ends in creation of a common goal or dream. In order to connect and create successfully with others, we have to understand own personal visions and agendas. What’s my dream? Can I do with alone? What would I sacrifice to make it come true? What can I live with and without? 

When we’re able to shift our perspective and meet another person where they are without judgement, preconceived notions, and exceptions is when we can really listen. The art of collaboration is in finding points of commonality.

Seeing eye to eye and moving forward in synchronicity.