Having just posted some of my creative works to this blog (see tabs above) I thought I would end the week by writing about inspiration, the creative process and risk taking. So even if you find my paintings and photography uninteresting, my hope is that you may just find them inspiring enough to re-awaken your own creativity!
Discovering your muse!
Nearly all creative endeavors are related to the muses that inspire us. The ancient Greeks believed that all creation, whether artistic or scientific, was motivated by goddesses who served as the embodiment of inspiration, these were the Muses, the givers of the creative spark. We still rely on muses to drive the creative process, though ours may take a diverse range of forms. People we meet, intriguing ideas, movies, books, nature, big life changes and cultural ideals all have the potential to awaken our imaginative minds… and when we are touched by our muses, we understand that we are capable of fulfilling our own innate drive to create and producing our own unique kind of greatness.
Many of us move through life unaware of the presence of our muse’s. This lack of awareness is often compounded by the fact that we may have one muse that remains with us throughout our lives, several muses that come and go as necessary, or a single muse that touches us at specific moments. You will know that you have found your muse when you encounter a feeling that makes you feel courageous enough to broaden your range of creativity. The presence of this force has the power to erase your self-doubt and motivate you to give your thoughts and feelings form. However, should your muse continue to elude you, I have found that there are a few things you can take do increase your chances of falling under a muse’s inspired influence. If you surround yourself with people who support you, keep a pen and paper handy, remember to to be present and open wherever you are, practice good listening habits, immerse yourself in culture, and brainstorm frequently, you will no doubt reconnect with your own personal muse.
Once you have identified your muse, you can embrace it by giving yourself over to the creative inspiration it provides… and no matter what you are moved to create, you will find that neither fear nor criticism can penetrate the joy that goes hand in hand with the act of taking an idea and turning it into something real and tangible… something the whole world can enjoy.
“Creativity is inventing, experimenting, growing, risk taking breaking rules, making mistakes and having fun.”
Mary Lou Cook
The thing I love about reading blogs is finding other people’s posts that express your thoughts in a way you would never be capable of. Nice post Bruce.
I am glad our children have your genes! I am so proud of you… By the way, you look great on your new picture…very healthy!