Finding Inspiration

Hey guys!

I wanted to cover a topic that pertains to all creatives. I want to know what inspires you, what gets you motivated, and why you do what you do. Being inspired and finding your motivation is something that we all occasionally struggle with.

Inspiration is not just for artists. It applies to all creative outlets; music, writing, photography, etc. Each one of us have something that motivates us to create. What inspires me with my art is the fact that what I do will make others happy, that it might be something that they can cherish, if only for a little while. My focus for 2018 is to make people feel like they are not alone. As someone who suffers from depression and PTSD, I know how lonely one can feel. I want people to look at my artwork and see that outlets can have a positive influence on your life. It has definitely had a positive impact on mine. Art speaks to each person differently, but I always strive to provoke one emotion; joy.

For this post, I have asked a few friends of mine questions regarding inspiration with their own individual outlets. (All of them are really talented, and I'm really lucky to know them.) I have asked them what inspires them, why they do what they do, and when they are having a hard time getting motivated, what do they do to find inspiration.

First, I asked Darrian Duckworth (soon to be Darrian Chamblee) what inspires her most. Darrian is a talented writer and has one of the kindest souls. She is an amazing blogger/vlogger, who focuses on fashion, beauty, and everyday life. Check out her blog at www.darrianmichelle.com/!

"...I would say my main inspiration is the people who read and support my blog. My word of the year for 2018 is community, because I really want to focus on building a great place for people to come, and not only find actionable advice for life, but find relatable stories as well. People and their struggles, their realness, their stories are really what is inspiring me right now, including my own experiences."

I also asked Darrian what made her want to get into blogging.

"...my love for writing is why I started blogging. I wanted to exercise writing every day (or attempting to), so that one day I can cross writing a best-selling book off of my bucket list. But since then, blogging has evolved into so much more for me. I Google probably everything and I was having trouble finding blogs I could relate to, or who was writing about more than just that week's trend. I wanted to read about the struggles of mental illness, adapting your wardrobe after college, navigating professional life, etc. Throw in the military aspect and I was really lost. So I sat down and started writing in June and I haven't looked back since."

Second, I asked one of my best friends, Karly, who is an incredible musician, what inspires her presently, and what inspired her to take on music as an outlet.

"The people around me and the people that I love the most are what really inspire me to do music. My experiences are also good inspirations for music. I've been singing for essentially my entire life. My whole family is very musically inclined. When I was a child, I sang because I loved it. When I got a little older, music became an escape for me. Being someone who suffers from depression and anxiety, music gives me a way to say what I am feeling when I don't have the words myself. It allows me to release all of that negative emotion. Music saves my life every single day."

Third, I contacted my friends Kaitlyn and Stephen Lehman, the dynamic-duo behind Rainstorm Photo. Kaitlyn and Stephen are adventurers. They are the most humble, kind, and driven people I know. Again, I asked them the same question, what inspires them.

"I think inspiration starts with a mindset. Once I step into an attitude of awe and wonder then inspiration comes flooding through in practically any form, whether it's going for a walk, listening to music, or even a trip to the store. I spend time in the morning being silent and just listening to whatever God might want to place in my mind or my heart, and many times this is where awe and wonder for the world is sparked."

I also asked them what they do when they get uninspired.

"When I am feeling uninspired, it's often a pretty depressing place to be. When I'm in a rut creatively, I've found that stepping out of my comfort zone is the best thing I can do. Here are some of the things I've done in the past: started a deep conversation with a stranger, went out in a blizzard, walked somewhere I'd normally drive, got up before the sun and the rest of the world just to see everything in a new way, went to events without knowing anyone there or bringing anyone I knew, and spent a day doing random acts of kindness for strangers or new acquaintances. When I choose to step out, a whole new world opens up and suddenly I see everything differently. A moment of discomfort is always worth the flood of inspiration it brings."

You can check out Rainstorm Photo on Facebook, Instagram, or at rainstormphoto.com.

All creatives' inspiration is unique. Find yours and pursue what you love most. It's definitely worth it.