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Inspiration
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Inspiration Inspiration What Inspires Us To Is The Topic Of The Seventh Virtual Symposium The pivotal aspect of inspiration is that it triggers a "want". At least, by the textbook definition. There is no mention of "need". However, I imagine many needs have inspired certain folks. We all have "needs", and they are generally easily identified. But what about "wants"? Those waiting-in-the-wings characters or moments in one's life that tend to just walk-on and improvise the act despite (or because of), our best intentions to play-out the libretto we've rehearsed. An inspiration enables and sometimes downright coerces someone to "want" to do (or be) something (or someone) else. It gives that soul an "idea" toward a "creation" or an "action". Let us break down these three aspects so we may fully grasp what is being discussed herein. I'll take the last one first if the reader doesn't mind. ACTION. How many times have you heard, "Why did you do that?" "What were you thinking?" Have you ever answered, "I was inspired"? My favorite definition of "action" is #2: "the bringing about of an alteration" (et.al). Alterations are to be expected in life, but many folks are surprised by them. Blindsided, even. In many people's lives, daily actions are what one might refer to as "rote". "Rote" is an unthinking use of memory, or "routine". It is actually a reduction of the word "routine" unto its core – "rote". For a creative like myself – rote is akin to being within the outer layers of Hell. I don't harbor a lot of hate, but much of it goes to routine. Example: One gets up in the morning, makes the coffee, hops in the shower, comes out of the water closet in a bathrobe and pours the coffee, sips. Gets dressed and commutes to where-so-ever he/she must go, does whatever he/she should, goes home after a third of a day, stares at the television for about one-sixth of a day, gets tired, undresses, and goes to bed for another third (or maybe a quarter) of a day. Repeat. For five – freaking – days (or more) in a row! This is NOT an inspired existence. "Working for the Weekend" as Loverboy so aptly put it. Needs met… but what about those "wants"? Can you feel that little tingle just around your hypothalamus? The butterflies in your stomach? Although I realize many of us are "stuck" in this loop, it is quite "uninspiring". No offense intended. Let's redefine a "want" as a "desire". A fair trade within the English lexicon, to be sure. "Desire" simply sounds more romantic and worthwhile – "want" seems, well… selfish. "Desire" is the beginning of all "creation". On the road to creation… does one stop for directions? Where do these desires come from? When and how do they "hit us"? CREATION. Consciously or not, we are creating every moment of our existence. This free-will we have been granted by our creator allows us to be a creator. I think He WANTS this from us. Not necessarily an expectation… but a desire. WHO can we be? WHAT can we make? WHERE will we go? Neale Donald Walsch wrote, "Life is a creation, not a discovery." He went on to describe "thought, word, and deed" as he heard it from on high. Thoughts are easy, and take up nobody's time or energy but one's own. Words become vibrations that can shake another from their rote ( even one's self – try speaking your desires aloud. It has a powerful effect ). Deeds are where the rubber really hits the road and something emerges out of nothing. That's inspiring. IDEA. I could write pages about the importance of this word in our vocabulary. Merriam-Webster states, " a transcendent entity that is a real pattern of which existing things are imperfect representations". That is a real mouthful for what I thought was "a plan for action”. I'll share my own path toward inspiration – even if you don't wish to know. By the way, "wishes" are not "inspirations." They are pleas for inspiration. To whom? Up to you. Kinda like a person outside of a locked door – wondering what kind of key would open it --- I, personally, do not spend a lot of time wishing or hoping. What was it: "hopes and wishes don't do the dishes?" Things you must do, MUST be done. This is rote – taking out the garbage, picking up the mail, sweeping the floor, dusting the mantle. Things you wanna do – one's inspirations – require interruptions to the "rote" and accommodations within reality. Some folks are drowned by it… others wish they could somehow tap into it. I'll tell you my own inspirations come from half a handful of aspects in humanity and nature. 1 – Sincerity Whoa… that's a big word with a heavy meaning. It's easy to be inspired by things that simply cannot be. Time travel, for example (for now, anyway). If you really wanna be inspired, try to keep to the laws of physics – it worked for Newton, Da Vinci, the Wright Brothers, NASA. When I experience sincerity in its rawest form (honesty) – I become a pile of rubble at the feet of the truth. Though it may make me cry or feel sick to my stomach, the truth is the best remedy for whatever ails me. 2 – Proportion This here is the most important thing to me. People discuss beauty, and I continue to say… it's not in the eye of the beholder, it is within proportion. It happens to be my favorite definition for ANYTHING: "The correct or appropriate relationship between the size, shape, and position of the different parts of something". Vague? Maybe. "Correct" is easy to identify. "Appropriate"? Whew! Difficult to account for. However, I think that we know it when we see it:  We, as humans, can try to extrapolate what might be important from such "human" creations. But what about when nature imitates itself?  My bodyshape is proportionate to my mindshape.   Many women I have communicated with on this site have "apologized" that they are not "perfectly shaped" like some kind of model or superstar. WTF?  All I have to say, in that regard, is -- if your shoulders match your hips, you are in the zone. If your nose is halfway outward to your toes, and your belly is not an obstacle between the two, you're in there. Proportion-wise. If you're not… no worries, just make up for it somewhere around your frontal lobe within your skull. Your mind is sexier to me than your body, I promise. If you have an excellent body and a gorgeous face, but cannot think for yourself or have an opinion… we're not going anywhere. But if you have a brain that can form thoughts and ideas… regardless of your bodyshape, haircolor or measurements; I can guarantee a deep and lasting friendship (if nothing else). 3 – Persistence. Possibly the most important aspect of inspiration is to KEEP AT IT. To be inspired and flip off a painting, a poem or whatever is only "a way" to get the inspiration "out of your system". Some inspirations need to be followed-through beyond that kind of "rote". When a really good idea causes multiple creations there could be myriad actions that result from the efforts therein. These are my $0.02. Cheers. |
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It helps to have a passion to be inspired. Visit my blog It's a Mad, Mad, Mad World of NaughtyInSO, leave a comment, become a watcher. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ LIVE AND LET LIVE Be happy! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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This is an awesome post! Well done.. I can truly see your passion! hugsssssssss V This symposium that HG has done up this time will be very interesting reading.. Become a blog watcher sweet_vm
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Love your use of words and definitions! Thank you for your authenticity! "To Be Consumed" Blog : I want to be your drug of painful withdrawals.
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Nature is always inspiring!   [image]
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Your post is truly inspired and wonderfully written.  It's great fun to watch you ponder out loud for us. And it's a remarkable insight into who you are and how you think. Become a member now and get a free tote bag.
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What a terrific, literate exploration of the nature of inspiration! Not sure I buy all of it, but it gives a lot of food for thought. My biggest quibble is about inspiration solely being the child of need. I dunno, sometimes inspired, creative thoughts emerge out of a desire to play, or be playful. Do many artists strive to be vindicated through recognition? Absolutely. But -- and I can speak from personal experience -- a creative person can have an inspiration, express it, and be completely self-satisfied by the result without needing external vindication, or needing to sell it for his/her daily bread. The points about symmetry being inspiring are also well taken... but remember that some inspiration comes in opposition to what is presented. Consider Nathaniel Hawthorne's "Rappaccini's Daughter," which is about a woman with a tragic flaw. Still, in order for there to be inspiration in unbalance, there has to be an appreciation of balance... Still... you've offered an awful lot to chew over here. What a great addition to the symposium! Stop in, read, and offer comments at my "swinging as seen in the media" blog, "Confessions of a Lifestyle Man" humorlife, which is also the home of the monthly virtual symposium. New post: The Virtual Symposium Returns Lets Pick A Topic
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I was having doubts as to why I was reacting the way I was to your post. I don't think that inspiration always comes from "needs", any more than I think that inspiration always comes from "wants and desires". Still all in all, this was a most excellent post! I think that while you and I think a bit differently, we do think. That is the most important part, eh? Kk The observant make the best lovers, I may not do right, but I do write, I have bliss, joy, and happiness in my life, Kitkat Come check out my blog KItkat1415 check out this post by me Adventures In Body Grooming #39 April Topic Link: What Lies Beneath If April Showers Oh Bloody Hell What Kind Of Weather Turns Me On Bloggers Symposium 40
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4/26/2015 5:40 pm |
What a terrific, literate exploration of the nature of inspiration! Not sure I buy all of it, but it gives a lot of food for thought. My biggest quibble is about inspiration solely being the child of need. I dunno, sometimes inspired, creative thoughts emerge out of a desire to play, or be playful. Do many artists strive to be vindicated through recognition? Absolutely. But -- and I can speak from personal experience -- a creative person can have an inspiration, express it, and be completely self-satisfied by the result without needing external vindication, or needing to sell it for his/her daily bread. The points about symmetry being inspiring are also well taken... but remember that some inspiration comes in opposition to what is presented. Consider Nathaniel Hawthorne's "Rappaccini's Daughter," which is about a woman with a tragic flaw. Still, in order for there to be inspiration in unbalance, there has to be an appreciation of balance... Still... you've offered an awful lot to chew over here. What a great addition to the symposium! Thank you for the kind thoughts and for hosting such an extravaganza. However, you can put your "quibble" away, sir. The opening line states "The pivotal aspect of inspiration is that it triggers a "want"." From the actual definition: "something that makes someone want to do something or that gives someone an idea about what to do or create : a force or influence that inspires someone" I'm certain that "needs" have inspired folk along the way (indoor plumbing is an excellent example) - but I am with you, MOST inspiration is based in want or desire. Further, I agree with your assessment of unbalance... every bit as important as balance. We couldn't have one without the other, no?
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The concepts analyzed in this post are particularly relevant to me these past couple of weeks. I have been trying to figure out the rhyme and/or reason behind certain actions of mine. When asked to justify them, I was at a loss for words. I just couldn't/can't pinpoint with [unequivocal] certainty the want behind the inspiration that led to my action. I am still working on it.
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normalisoktoo replies on 4/26/2015 8:48 pm: Are you psychoanalyzing me, B? I don't know how to do that. I don't know anything about psychoanalysis, but I know what I like. Become a member now and get a free tote bag.
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