Love Your Business: Guest Post #13

All month long join me here as I welcome amazing contributors with one thing in common

we love our business {blog/shop/etc} and we want you to love yours too!

To keep up to date with this series view all posts here.

Inspiration is only limited by our imaginations. We need to feed our bodies and souls so that imagination can thrive. Without inspiration I lack creativity and without creativity I feel life just isn't the same. Creation in some form or another brews in all of us. We need it like oxygen; fuel for our fire. Sometimes we loose inspiration, this is where I tell you how to find it and why you should.

finding inspiration

from piccsy

Staying inspired is super important. Sometimes we get stuck in a rut and can't reach that part of our brain that is creative. Other times we are flowing with so many ideas we can't write them down fast enough! I find when i walk away from the computer, tv, magazines is when I have a burst of ideas. They usually pop into my head at the most inconvenient of times, such as while I am driving or showering, or almost asleep! These times are when the mind is quiet and has a chance to explore, ponder, and brainstorm freely without limits and always, always, always write your ideas down the minute you can.  Keep an idea book for all your ideas and inspiration so you can remember that innovative product and refer to it. I have a binder with tabs for blog, shop, school, children's lessons and such- one binder to put everything in. Staying organized with your thoughts and ideas keeps things moving forward :)

Brainstorming is one of my favorite things to do - there are no bad ideas during a brainstorming session, isn't that great?!! You can be as out of the box impossible as you want to be, then later focus and see if these ideas are possible somehow. What if you hired help for something that is our of your skill set? Would it be worth it? Are there things you can learn to make your terrific ideas a possibility? Uou can do it!

Henry Matisse said: 

"Creativity takes courage."

it really does

Henry didn't mean to copy. This is different than being inspired. 

Please be original. Believe in yourself.

When you do it is truly awesome. I promise.

from Departika

Taking regular breaks from work is key for your mind to quiet and allow for inspiration.

I get tricked into thinking that the more time I have to myself the more I will get done. This is not always true. I have found (mostly by accident) that life experience keeps me inspired. Saying no to going out with friends and going places and hanging out with family only leads to isolation, which leads to depression, which makes for a very stifled imagination, it might as well be extinct if your life is cut off.  I recently moved to a new area and I decided to just work and not spend time investing in new friendships, I could get more work done right? Nope, iIbecame deeply depressed. Sad about life, the world, people. Completely negative. How in the world could I possibly work? How could I be creative, imaginative, or inspired in this frame of mind? I couldn't get anything done, dragging my feet, and all I wanted to do was sleep (and this is not so possible with 3 children)! So I got out and joined a few groups/clubs and within hours I was my happy, energetic self, full of love and imagination. balance your days with work and play. This will keep you motivated and inspired.

Find ways to incentivize yourself when you are hitting a wall or getting burnt out.  Besides taking regular breaks also consider rewarding yourself when you finish the job. Instead of having that soda, or cookie, or the new boots now, reward yourself with them when you meet your reasonable goals.

from enjoy cupcakes

It keeps you motivated with something to look forward to, a goodie like a carrot waiting on the other end when you're done! Go out to coffee, get a pedi, bake, go out to the movies with friends. Yay! You did it! Celebrate! It doesn't have to be something big you finished, just reward yourself when are feeling glum. It will put a smile on your face and a spring in your step + you will probably work faster :)

Staying connected to shops and blogs and networking at craft shows, and conferences will also be a huge inspiration to you and your business. Having support by your closest family members is also necessary to stay motivated. Just that they believe in you is all that is needed, anything above that is frosting on your cupcake :)

xoxo,

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