It’s Monday, and I’m just starting on the idea for this post.

We like to have a draft of the post and newsletter done by now. Up until a few minutes ago, I wasn’t sure what to write about.

A few days ago, Beth and I were meeting with a good friend, and he asked where we get our ideas for posts. We said, it’s easy – they just naturally show up when we’re ready for them.

Maybe because of that added pressure, this week’s post has been slow in developing, but, we still have plenty of time.

He asked a great question: Where do you get the inspiration for all your posts?

 

For that matter, where does any inspiration and creativity originate?
Is it prompted by something external, or does it come from a deep well within us?

According to many different lines of research, creativity is somewhere between a chemical reaction in the physical brain and a miracle.

We don’t think it’s a miracle, but it does come from someplace beyond a bunch of chemicals interacting within our three-pound brain.

We like to think creativity is more like the result of flow. I know when I’m in a crazy creative mode, things come simply. I don’t worry if they make any sense, I don’t care about logic or being correct. I let go, and things simply show up.

When we put up resistance – like when we think we aren’t creative or we think we might be doing it wrong – the flow and creativity come to a hard stop if it even gets going.

I also know that ideas sometimes just pop up. I’ll be thinking about something completely different, or more often seemingly nothing at all, and the right answer will show up.

Sometimes, when Beth and I are out for a walk, we’ll be talking about this or that and a word or phrase from her will spark a brand new idea.

Being open and playful are essential ingredients for creativity. Wild and exciting ideas flow to you when you don’t feel like you have to put them into boxes. Brainstorming with a group of excited and open colleagues is far different than when you are in a more formal setting.

We write and talk about resistance quite a bit because it is so commonplace. We often don’t even know when we are resisting; we think we are just thinking or seeing things the way they really are. However, it’s in being open where creativity makes its appearance.

 

When you’re open to possibilities, it is so much more fun and creative.