Passion: 15 Tips to Kick-Start Our Creativity

Photo Credit: lambchops/Creative Commons

Are you passionate? Are you enthusiastic about whatever it is you’re called to do?

If not, maybe it’s time to re-evaluate.

Granted, I’m speaking from a writer’s perspective, but creativity isn’t limited to writing. Our creative pursuits are as unique and diverse as we are individually.

Passionate folks tend to see the world through a different lens. We love hard, play hard—and yes—we sometimes debate causes we feel strongly about.

Passionate thinkers are (healthy) risk-takers. We see a mosaic of choices as opposed to only one solution. 

• We dream.
• We set goals.
• We visualize success
• We create.

To stay passionate about my writing and to kick-start creativity, here are some tips that work for me:

1.  I begin the day with prayer and a favorite scripture. (Even on my off-days when I’m feeling less than my best, I make this a priority because I always feel better afterward. Try it, stick to it for 30 days, and you’ll see what I mean.)

2.  I use “power colors.” Red’s my favorite. I wear it a lot and I have splashes of it in my house and in my office. The idea is to create energy out of something visually appealing.

3.  I do aromatherapy. One of my favorite oils is lavender. I dab a tiny amount (because it doesn’t take much) on a handkerchief, and it has an incredibly calming effect. There are other scents that energize, but I find the calming oils tend to keep me grounded and focused—something that’s necessary for a creative frame of mind.

4.  I display favorite photos, magazine clippings, quotes, etc. I use pictures to brainstorm ideas and quotes are a great motivator.

5.  I eat chocolate. And drink coffee. (Yes. It’s true.) Now, while I do limit these, this is a combination that stimulates the “happy hormones” in my brain. I prefer a bold blend of coffee and I drink it black. No creamers, sweeteners, or sugar.

6.  I listen to music. I like the tranquil sound of the inland tide and the call of the seagulls in flight. Or depending on the scene I’m working on, my playlist changes. (Give me some Adele if my heroine’s feeling particularly feisty, or perhaps, some Chris Tomlin, Mercy Me, or Amy Grant if she’s struggling with decisions.)

7.  I use natural light. I always have the blinds open in my office so I can look outside. On gloomy days, I use lamps.

8.  I brainstorm with friends.  For those in solitary careers such as writing, a sounding board is a must. Encouragers and nurturers are vital to our careers, including our emotional well-being.

9.  I jot “trigger words” on Post-it notes. (Words like achieve. Believe. Encourage. Awesome. Wonderful. Jesus. Hope. Faith. Love.)  I place them in strategic places like on my desk, near my computer, on my office closet door, the bathroom mirror, and on the refrigerator. No place in my house is off-limits.

10.  I read something motivational. This might include a blog post, a (writing) craft book, a devotional, biographies, or books by my favorite authors.

11.  I people watch. Anywhere! The mall. Starbucks. Church. The grocery store. Wherever I go, I carry a small notepad so I can record snippets of conversation for future stories.

12.  I write in my journal. Recording my private thoughts and feelings helps free up my mind, as well as charts my progress.

13.  I take short research trips. There’s a lot of scenic beauty and cultural flavor to the Ozarks. Since that’s the setting for my stories, inspiration is always within a few miles.

14.  I watch old movies. As a classic movie buff, I’m in awe of these timeless masterpieces. Think It’s a Wonderful Life, The Ghost and Mrs. Muir, The Enchanted Cottage, and so many others. I take notes about the characters and why I think aspects of specific movies work. I envision how I can apply those qualities to my writing.

15.  I scour flea markets. I like to visit out-of-the-way shops and imagine how it was to live in certain time periods.

AND something that doesn’t kick-start my creative juices? Negativity. This is something that’s huge for me. There are folks with very real, legitimate needs and problems, and they need our support and understanding. I’m thinking more about the Downer Dans and Dismal Debbies. People who chronically complain—about everything. Always. Rudeness, meanness, cutting words, and cruel remarks I find difficult to tolerate. And those things are sure-fire creativity-busters.

NOW…

Maybe you thought this would be a post about romantic passion since I write contemporary Christian romance. I’ve written several blog posts about that subject, and if you’d like, you can check those out here, here, and here.

Today, I wanted to focus on passion as it pertains to our creative pursuits since I know many of you are beginning NaNoWriMo.

Have a delightful weekend!

Stay encouraged!

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What are you passionate about?

Do you have any tips to spark our creativity?

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15 Ways We Can Infuse Passion into Our Creative Muse… (Click to Tweet)

Passionate thinkers see a mosaic of choices as opposed to one solution… (Click to Tweet)

Does your creative spark need lit? These tips may help: (Click to Tweet)

Photo Credit: lambchops/Creative Commons

Blessings Always,