Inspiration can be defined as the process that produces an idea that then leads to something tangible. It’s how Lady Gaga comes up with all her eccentric outfits, how Lennon and McCartney wrote their iconic songs, and how every writer since Homer has written a book. Sometimes, inspiration is like a lightning bolt that strikes our brains out of the blue. However, sometimes we must actively search for inspiration.
If you’ve ever had writer’s block, you know that a lack of inspiration can be incredibly frustrating. Inspiration drives everything; it’s what gives us hope that people still have the ability to create something with meaning. I’m hoping to instill a love for the search for inspiration in you.
Nature is the first source of inspiration for many people because it’s all around us. Countless poems include observations of nature; dozens of landscape paintings were born from a painter’s need to express the beauty of what they saw and what it meant to them.
Since it’s autumn, take a walk around your neighborhood later this fall and admire all the beautiful colors of the leaves. Maybe pick one up and examine it. Take pictures of the trees and put them up somewhere so you can always have access to that beauty. Who knows? Maybe you’ll be inspired to write a poem, or at least help you write that ten page paper. I think that we all become so focused on our individual problems and situations that we forget that there’s a whole world out there.
Next time you need some inspiration to create something or come up with an idea, step away from Facebook and take a walk in the Brooklyn Botanical Gardens, Central Park, or even in your local area, and keep your eyes open for something interesting. Who knows? Maybe a flower, a bird, or a ladybug can inspire you to come up with the idea that you need.
Another source of inspiration comes from works of art that can be seen in museums, art galleries, or on the streets. Art is interesting in that it is a manifestation of whatever inspired the artist to create it, and can be a source of inspiration for anyone who views it simultaneously. I find that going to places like the Met or the MoMA and looking at all the different types of art on display can encourage people to go out and create something as well. In the early 1970’s, American singer-songwriter Don McLean was inspired to write the international hit “Vincent” after looking through a book about Vincent van Gogh; McLean wanted to tell the misunderstood artist’s story through his paintings.
A work of art can also help you look at something differently. For example, Pablo Picasso’s portrayal of prostitutes in the famous painting, Les Demoiselles d’Avignon, is not exactly realistic, but it presents a different way of looking at things. When people write essays and poems or create music and sculptures, the last thing that they want is to create something that somebody else has already created. If you’re looking for an interesting idea, take a look at some pieces of art, and observe how the artist interpreted reality. It may be the push that you need to think of something unconventional or make the idea that you already have more interesting.
I think other great sources of inspiration are interactions with other people — including family, friends or even strangers. People have a variety of perspectives, and it’s important to talk to each other in order to formulate new and interesting ideas. Inspiration can also come in the form of encouragement.
For example, if you start to feel that the major you’re pursuing is turning out to be too difficult and you’re confused as to whether or not to continue your studies, it’s a good idea to talk to someone that will help you see the bigger picture. That person may be your father, a professor, your advisor, or even a stranger. They can help you pursue this path or inspire you to try out something new. A pre-med student can go and talk to patients at a hospital and see that the work they’re putting in now will allow them to help sick people in the future. Maybe a talk with a patient that has a particularly debilitating disease will encourage that student to do research in a particular field to help people like the patient they met.
Inspiration comes in all shapes and sizes — in a sculpture, a snowy mountain, or a person you meet in a restaurant. Inspiration is not something that can be bought in a store. It’s important to keep your eyes open and be observant of what’s around you. So go out there and find your inspiration — it’s everywhere!
