What comes first: Inspiration or the willingness to do the work? (a post for writers and artists)

We've had a great discussion about this topic lately. After blogging for 3 years and writing 2 books, I wanted to share with you my point of view on this (big) question...

Inspiration - the artist's elixir of existence

Especially for a writer, or an artist in general, inspiration pretty much rules the destiny and eventually the existence of any artist.

Without flowing inspiration, there's no art. And an artist without art is ... well...

In my beginner days I've hadn't had the problem of "no inspiration". I simply just wrote when "I felt like it"... I would end up hammering out 5 articles a week, and then I would be in silence for another month, or two.

I knew, it wasn't sustainable. And I knew, that if I wanted to find my voice, and to turn pro, I had to follow a schedule.

The artist within me, initially hated schedules... After all, I can't force myself to be inspired... who can?

I was like a freedom loving, free-flowing bird... who was broke.

The hopeful artist and turning pro

As I gave myself a schedule to write everyday, inspiration was not any longer something I simply hoped for, but I needed it - desperately and daily.

First I suffered. And then I thought that it would perhaps serve me better, to look at inspiration in different ways.

For long, I've believed that inspiration was like a lightning bolt that strikes upon you - if you're lucky. 

I call this the "way of the hopeful artist". 

The results: Inconsistency, slow learning (due to prolonged times of inaction), and a way of living that just wasn't sustainable.

Getting back to the initial question: What comes first? inspiration or the willingness to do the work?

How about this belief (it served me very well ever since):

Inspiration is always present. It's always flowing through me - I, as Sam, have to simply get out of the way.

Inspiration is not something that can be forced, but only allowed, and I fulfill my job when I sit down, and create a space where I can relax and allow inspiration to come through me.

The battle of creativity and consciousness

This is the initial battle. I refered to it in a few other posts already. 

Why a battle? Because inspiration lifts you - in a way - to a different state of consciousness. You forget the world around you. You enter a bubble and all your energy is focused, on simply the one thing that you're doing.

The fearful little-me (or: the egoistic parts within me), is usually scared to let go and focus on simply one thing. Because to do so, it has to let go of the idea of Sam, of the ideas of how "things should be", let go of all expectations, of literally the whole world around... 

This "little-me" wants me to survive in the jungle. And if I'd focus solely on one thing, I could miss the tiger behind the bushes that will rip me to pieces (I sometimes feel that our primal brains have difficulties to adjust to the new world...). Therefore it will try everything to resist and distract myself from doing the work.

Another scary thought: Who would I be without the idea of who I am? There's an existential threat of letting go of all those ideas that comfort us to stay sane in this world.

Well, to me, that's the battle to be fought - it's not against inspiration itself, but against my ...well... ego. 

I almost experience writing as a spiritual practice, to sit down and surrender to that truth within, to the inspiration that is always flowing through me.

In the past I would simply walk away from facing those shadows, pretending that art was just about love and light. Well... I've mentioned the results above already... It didn't work for me.

In conclusion...

...this whole thing is a letting go of control. And that's scary.  

To know - or at least to believe - that inspiration is always here - helped me a lot.

Essentially, to me, tapping into that bubble of total focus and engagement is a form of freedom that I can't even place into words. And we all know how it feels.

The "way of the hopeful artist" was a way seeking inspiration outside of myself. Hoping that it chooses me someday again.

Yet, I've found for myself, that art is not only about creating beautiful things but also about facing those demons within me that prevent me from stepping into my fullest potential.

Inspiration is here. Flow is here. If I don't block it with expectations and distractions.

Again: What comes first inspiration or the willingness to do the work?

For the hopeful artist, this question is easily answered.

Yet, for the established artist, the willingness to do the work and face her inner enemy has always priority. Then inspiration is not a lightning bolt that randomly chooses her, but a natural consequence of her surrendering.

I see art as a commitment. A beautiful one. Facing the battle and sitting in the fire is always worth it. Because when the point of surrender comes, I feel free, alive - and that's why I love it all so much...

If you are interested about my writings and my personal blog, you can head over and have a look at it here. I'm posting daily, short, uplifting notes about life, love, relationships ... and those small little daily battles within.

Encouraging the dialogue... 

...there are many ways of "how to look at inspiration"... I believe neither of them is right or wrong - as long as they serve us... Also, I'm still a young man and my perceptions are likely to be changed. This point of view however, is what currently serves me most, but...

...What is your point of view? What is inspiration to you? Let us know in the comment section! I'll be curious what you guys have to say! I want to encourage a dialogue about this, as I believe it affects all of us (not only regarding to art) but living life with integrity.

Thanks already for reading, and enjoy your weekend.

Sam