On the Search for Inspiration

Bye bye, Pembrokeshire!

Sometimes, you just need to get away. Away from your normal life, away from routine and anything that ties you down and has pulled you into a rut.

This weekend, I got away. I travelled far (but not too far) along the tracks, all the way to the beautiful heart of Wales -- Cardiff.

I love Cardiff. Full of life and friendly; music, art and drama is the lifeblood that runs through its veins. It's also where my sister lives. Where better to come to reinvigorate the mind than here?

​I can't remember the last time I wrote a blog post in the way I am now. Lately, my writing schedule has been very rigid; sit down at my desk, write 'X' number of words, sit there for as long as it takes. When you start to slump, make coffee, rinse and repeat.

​There's nothing wrong with this approach. It's disciplined and gets you into good habits, a routine even. But it can also cause all kinds of problems. And if you continue to force yourself regardless of feeling, or a lack of, then you'll soon forget why you're even bothering to write in the first place. 

Roath Park

It's important to take a step back every once in a while and take a look at the big picture. Why are you doing what you're doing? Is it because you enjoy it? If so, are you still enjoying it? If you can't answer that question, then it may be time to reassess your life goals.

In my case, I'd written myself into a rut. I was doing the same things every week, writing in the same two places all the time and I wasn't really enjoying it. Don't get me wrong, I DO enjoy writing. I'm passionate about the words I write. Writing is a big part of who I am today. But I stopped experiencing new things and became almost mechanical, closing myself off to the world when I write. As a direct result, I wasn't allowing myself to be inspired. 

Standing in Roath Park, it's hard to believe that you're in the city. Cardiff has lush greenery to rival any countryside view, but step outside of these bubbles of tranquillity and you'll find the concrete jungle you'd expect from any city. It seems to have the best of both worlds. 

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Roath Lake

You don't have to travel to be inspired. Inspiration can be found in your local area, your back garden or even sitting at your laptop. What I do recommend, though, is that you step away from routine. Leave your plans and the familiar behind you. Be spontaneous. 

It's hard to let go. Routine is safe and predictable. We know what we're dealing with before we've even got there and we've done it so many times before. 

When I told myself not to sit down and write this weeks blog post, my whole being fought the decision. But I have to, I thought. I'm doing it this way for a reason. It needs to be done. But once I let go of what I had to do, I felt free. 

Stepping away allowed me to reset my frame of mind. And once I'd established that I no longer had to write a blog post, I found myself wanting to. Not at my desk in the same old room, but in the sun, in a little cafe, in bed. Wherever I happened to feel inspired. 

That, my friends, is about as much as we can hope for. Because once we lose inspiration, we become lost ourselves. So, seek it often and everywhere. And know when to step away.