Ask yourself: What is inspiration, really? It’s not an idea or solution—it’s the natural fuel for our creativity.
I cannot say exactly how nature exerts its calming and organizing effects
Oliver Sacks
on our brains, but I have seen in my patients the restorative and healing
powers of nature and gardens, even for those who are deeply disabled
neurologically. In many cases, gardens and nature are more powerful
than any medication.
The “Grab It” Moment
I am being chased by an idea.
Little electric currents of thought fragments and fresh insights are coming at all hours now. When I am cleaning my paintbrushes, pouring a coffee, or rubbing Sophie’s velvety ears, I feel the physical presence of the idea before it lands fully in my mind.
Sort of like an idea premonition, the sensation lands in my stomach with a zing and a twist.
“Pay attention to what comes next,” it says.
I’ve learned to drop everything—brushes, French Press, a dog ear. Before I can find a piece of paper and a pen, the idea balloon hovers over my head and begins to dump out the contents of its basket.
I chase pieces wildly, in a panic. Flailing, scooping. I’m like someone in a game show, inside a glass box with dollar bills flying around their body that are being pushed and circulated into a frenzied force by supersonic fans.
I reach. I trap. I stuff tiny fragments, elusive visions of how certain dots connect, into my pockets.
This beginning of the life cycle of an idea zygote fills me with the anticipation of an adventurer just as she conjures up the next juicy destination she will place on her itinerary.
To carry this idea to term and then out into the world, I know I must go to the woods.
It is in the woods that I can seek and find and fill myself with inspiration. Without Nature, I won’t see the ethereal, nearly invisible concept threads or the new combinations of old notions that reveal exacting, liberating revelations for my readers and me.
What is Inspiration?
So, what is inspiration, anyway? I wrote about the power of inspiration in my book, BUOYANT:
“Little by little, I came to learn what inspiration actually means. That it is not an idea or solution to a problem delivered by generous gods of creativity in a sudden burst of illumination. Rather, inspiration comprises the vital “breathing in” acts of refueling and refilling the reservoirs of our soul, spirit, and stores of energy. That it is the “sourdough starter” of our creativity. Inspiration is the raw material for offers that connect and convert, for our competitive advantage, and for our market fit, all of which drive our business success.
Inspiration is what we are passionate about, what we find breathtaking and beautiful. It is blissful moments of being lost and in a state of flow while making something, working our hands and letting our minds nap. Without inspiration—this joyful infusing and breathing into the center of us—we have nothing to offer that has the shape and stamp of our uniqueness.
When we are without inspiration, we are hollow husks, looking outward to what others are doing. We are tempted to follow suit, ignoring our own visions and voices. We may even measure our value (or lack thereof) against the apparent successes of the thundering other.
Without stores of inspiration, erasing our boundaries becomes first nature to us, and we routinely erode one of our most precious assets: our sacred, creative energy. We let others’ agendas drive our own. We leap to our inboxes and phones. We honor interruptions, distractions, and habits that dull our trains of thought, our senses, and our shine.“
The Sanctuary of Inspiration
Being in Nature slows the whirring dollar bills. Lets them waft here and there and to my feet, within reach. I find a rhythm of thought and sense my brain burning through the fog within its chambers like a bright sun winning over vapor.
My thinking becomes organized in step with the new order in my brain. All courtesy of Mother Nature. So what is inspiration? It’s the freedom to calmly engage this fresh clarity.
In a world brimming with constant stimuli and distractions, the power of Nature stands as a delicious sanctuary for the human mind. By immersing ourselves in the natural world, we unlock the potential for clearer thought, richer creativity, and groundbreaking discoveries.
Whether it’s a walk through a forest, staring out at the sea, or enjoying a quiet moment on the edge of a lake, Nature is an enduring source of inspiration, guiding us to honor our intuition, think deeper, and explore further.
