Inspiration particles hurtle through the universe at close to the speed of light, all barrelling towards a sentient consciousness, agnostic of outcome. Many a dog or cat have received wisdom that they lack the capacity to elucidate simply because a human stepped out to make a cup of tea at the wrong moment.
What I am describing here is raw inspiration. The apple-dropping, gravity-defining variety type of eureka bathtub overflow that blindsides its recipient and can lead to an epoch-defining course correction. Most of us will never experience the bullet of genius, however…
Us mere mortals
The other more common or garden variety of ideas are the ones already in use and often recycled many times. These lie in art galleries, podcasts, YouTube videos, movies, box sets and books. They are ten-a-penny and discovered by actively participating in life, stepping out of your door and getting stuck in with whatever is on offer.
Ideas are common but not very helpful without a bit of laundry to wash off the whiff of theft from their previous owners. While infinitely recyclable, they are useless without the magic ingredient — You and your take on all things existence-related.
A “little bit” unique
Each of us is a walking, talking perception filter whose individual personality, worldview, soul, spirit, background, education, pain, joy, gratitude, hate, anger and/or indifference make us utterly original in the known universe. Dwell on that for a moment. There never has been, nor will there ever be, another exactly like you again. Therefore, how you see and interpret information should be extraordinary.
The harsh reality is that many are too busy living, ensnared by the endless to-do lists, the obligations, the ‘musts,’ ‘shoulds,’ and ‘oughts’ that kick creativity to the curb. You’ll write that novel one day. The complexities of our society, with its Maslowvian pyramids constantly in pursuit of significance and security, often stifle ideation.
But here’s the revelation: You don’t have to change a thing. Be here now. Take inspiration from the work of others and pass it through the filter of your life as it is right now. It is the hard that makes things good. A tremendous recycled idea passed through your struggle is as fresh as line-dried laundry.
It is now yours and ready to be put into the world for someone else to use as reaction mass for their creativity. Pay it forward.
This article was freshly laundered from Steal Like An Artist by Austin Kleon.