Finding the beauty of inspiration in these strange times
Bringing ideas to life is one of the most beautiful things in the world to me. The idea itself is irrelevant, but the process and execution is a magnificent and unique experience. Of the millions of species that inhabit this Planet, we are the only ones with this extraordinary ability.
Bringing ideas to life
I don’t know exactly when it was that I recognised the place my ideas really started to take shape… but that realisation was a revelation. While seeds of inspiration can come from anywhere, at any time, often without awareness of their source, it’s where they start to unfold and become my own interpretation that I find the most beautiful. For me, for whatever reason, most of my favourite ideas really start to grow as I round the corner towards the train station and walk along the back street of the tracks near my home.
There, on that back street of a run-down part of north-west London is a concrete wall. The top end of the wall is filled with monochromatic faces of children asking the question “good or bad?”. My routine is always the same. I continue passed faces and wonder to myself what has become of the children staring back at me. Did they fail or succeed in this life? As the faces taper off and my mind is filled with imaginings of other things, there, as if out of nowhere, a beautiful mundane dark grey of nothingness appears before me and like seedlings pushing through the earth, my ideas begin to emerge and take shape.
Where do you find inspiration?
Some people find their inspiration in nature, or in art galleries or in conversations with friends… or strangers. Others get their sparks while on the toilet or in the shower or running on a treadmill. I think it’s important that we different the origin of the idea from the outcome, and learn to identify where the beauty is for each of us as individuals. There is no right or wrong, but if we are unaware of the times and places we can turn ideas into reality, we risk missing many potentially life-changing opportunities. Whether that’s a meal you cook for your lover or an idea for a book or painting… or an invention that could save lives. For me, the nothingness is like a blank canvas. My thoughts, ideas and dreams are the colour.
The problem is not a lack of beauty or ideas or inspiration, it’s the inability to see it because we’re too busy looking in the wrong places. There is beauty all around us, all the time and always the in most unexpected places.
In these strange and uncertain times we find ourselves in, it’s easy to miss these beautiful moments because we are overwhelmed with boredom or survival. But, perhaps it’s more important than ever to learn where our best ideas flourish so that when we are ready, we can go there and let them pour out of us into something wonderful and joyous. The problem is not a lack of beauty or ideas or inspiration, it’s the inability to see it because we’re too busy looking in the wrong places. There is beauty all around us, all the time and always the in most unexpected places.
How to turn ideas into realities?
- First, and perhaps most importantly, we need to understand that an idea is not a single thought or feeling. It’s a collection of different pieces of information and experiences and smells and colour and opinions and inspirations. Ideas are made of many fragments.
- Ideas do not belong to us. They are out there flying about like frenzied butterflies. Only if you’re lucky enough to catch one, and you take the time to care for and nurture them, do they become something you can craft and mould into your own unique interpretation of the collective puzzle.
- Spend some time reflecting on where your ideas take shape and flourish.
- Once inspiration strikes – write them down.
- Leave them.
- Go back to them.
- Visit the places or recreate situations that stimulate and inspire your own unique creativity as often as you can.
- Go to places and do things that take you away from thinking about your ideas.
- And lastly, but equally as importantly – if your ideas do not come to be, do not despair. It was not the right time for all the puzzle pieces to fall into place. Other fragments will come – so be ready for them.
- Repeat.
I invite you to share with us where your ideas come to life.
