To Get Inspired, Sometimes You Need To Give Up

To Get Inspired, Sometimes You Need To Give Up

You’ve been staring at a blank page for hours. No matter how hard you think, you just can’t make the brilliant ideas appear. It’s time to give up, and that’s OK.

Photo by jarito.

As business site Entrepreneur explains, inspiration doesn’t work on a schedule (and there’s plenty of science to back that idea up). Your brain can’t be forced to come up with a stellar idea. Trying to coerce your mind into trying, however, can hold you back. If you want to encourage the good ideas, get comfortable with giving up:

I can’t tell you how many times I’ve stared at a blank screen, a white sheet of paper or a media board and racked my brain for a big idea that just wouldn’t come. Finally, I give up, plop down in a chair and say, “Screw it, I’m done.” It takes a while for my mind to shut off, but when it does, that’s inevitably when the answer comes.

Any good creative knows that ideas can come at the least opportune times. The trick is getting into the habit of allowing them to happen naturally. Sometimes that means you just stop working for the day, give up on being “productive” and let your mind wander. Adhering to a rigid set of rules doesn’t always guarantee brilliance. Let yourself have space to give up for a while and you may find your ideas come more naturally in a relaxed state. Don’t forget to have a way to write them down when they happen, too.

What to Do When You Need Inspiration But It Just Won’t Come [Entrepreneur]


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