What To Do When You’re Out Of Inspiration

Running out of inspiration.  You’re going to be OK.  It happens to the best of us.

That dreaded feeling of dryness.  Emptiness.  Out of inspiration.

That you don’t enjoy what you always used to, and you don’t rise out of bed looking forward to the day ahead.

What can this mean?

 

It’s a warning.

It’s telling you that you haven’t been doing enough to fuel your purpose, to feed your soul.

That you’re not taking care of the fire within yourself, and you’re giving more than what you can sustain.

It’s warning you that you’re burning out, or close to.  That you’re straying off the path you intentionally set out for you.

You’re not finding enjoyment, meaning, fulfillment, and rewards in what you do.

Or you’re not giving the process a chance, and giving up too easily.  Difficulty in the initial stages, when we still don’t see any progress and results, can also rob us of our inspiration.

It can make us doubt the path we’re on, and what we’re after.

Don’t get to that point.

Recognize the warning signs, and adjust accordingly.

Here are some actionable tips to do when you do hit rock bottom, and you feel empty and stuck.

 

Rest and recreation.

This doesn’t mean lazing around in front of your computer watching movie marathons all day long.

This means taking a break from what you normally do, and doing an activity that’s fun, recharging, and doesn’t have a lot of pressure and productivity involved.

Something fun.  An experience you would do for no money at all.  Not because you have to, or need to.

Do something you want to.

Playing music works for me.  There are days when all I wanted was to spend a few moments playing away on my guitar.

That’s a sign.  The heart wants, what it wants.

Maybe it’s not because your dream is not inspiring at all.

You’re just burned out from the day to day struggles of making your dream a reality.

Take a well-deserved break, and focus on filling yourself up with energy and fun.

Do something that involves your body.  Making stuff, traveling, creative endeavors, arts, and self-expression.  Just stay away from too much computer screen time.

Another activity that works for me?  Writing.  On pen and paper.

Just get it all out.  Don’t judge.  Don’t think.  Just write and capture all of it on paper.

 

Talk to a friend

When we’re dead tired and out of inspiration, we can be at a loss on what to do, and how to feel.

All we really need is someone to listen to us, someone to be our mirror.  Somebody who we can talk to about what we’re going through.

What’s the next step to take?  Does what I do even matter, anymore?

Seek for feedback, and not just from anyone.

Seek out supportive and accepting friends.

Because the last thing you want to happen is the person in front of you criticizing your every move, or worse, highjacking your story.

So then it’s no longer about you, it’s about them.

There’s a give and take to friendships, and ask for some airtime, so you can air out what you’ve been feeling and thinking, which probably has you going around in circles.

Our brain doesn’t really know what it’s thinking.  We need to be able to declare it, articulate it, find ways to express it, so we can become clearer with what it is we’re thinking and what it is we’re going through.

It’s naming feelings, thoughts, and what we see is the right thing to do.

And it’s better to be inspired again with somebody cheering you on.  With a friend who will listen to you, and accept your decisions, and will have your back when you need them.

Sometimes, just talking to a friend isn’t going to cut it.  You’ll need a coach.

You’ll need someone with the tools and experience to help you move past what’s keeping you stuck, and get to taking action, and feeling inspired again.

Go talk to a friend.

Go talk to a coach.

 

Go back to your why.

Go back to the memories, the reason you started in the first place.

What made it important enough for you to make a change and start?

How will this make an impact in your life?  What if you achieved it?

What if you didn’t?  How would your life be different if you didn’t get it, as compared to if you did.

There was a fundamental change that had to happen.  Something big that caused you to move forward.  Go back to that deepest of reasons why you’re doing this.

Also, are you expecting instant results?  That doesn’t happen.

But consistent action does lead to results.

Is your reason strong enough to sustain you through the valley of no results?

Is your why deep enough to keep you going, even when you’re tired?

Strong enough to get back on track even after taking a break?

This is not about glorifying spartan behavior, and not resting up.

You need to take care of yourself.  This is a long-term commitment we’re talking about here.  It’s a marathon, and not a sprint.

And we all need a reason to keep on going.

Go back to that reason.  And the inspiration it gave you when you started.  Go back to the feelings and thoughts, and momentum you had.

 

Keep on going

Even with or without inspiration, don’t give up just because you’ve been feeling dry and with no inspiration or movement behind you.

It’s the consistent action that builds results.

It’s important to regain your inspiration.

But it’s also important to keep on going, while you’re trying to regain that inspiration.

Keep taking care of yourself.

Get back to your why.

and keep on going.

It’s not the inspiration that gets you to the finish line.

It’s the consistent action.

 

What do you do when you feel inspiration has run dry?  Please share in the comments below!