Waves of Inspiration

I have found myself watching lots of surfing videos recently and although I daydream about “getting barrelled” in the wave of my life, I am not a surfer. However, there is something so attractive about the surfer lifestyle, making the most of every moment, watching the swells for the perfect opportunity and seeing adventure around every corner. None of this is forced, it can’t be. They are at the mercy of the ocean, observing and waiting to catch a wave. This lifestyle is a mindset. Taking every opportunity and making every moment count.

Then I looked closer to home… In my own life, my passion for creativity and my affinity for storytelling. I realised that this too comes in waves. Inspiration and creativity can come and go like the tide. As creatives we ride the waves of inspiration and although they can be short bursts but we make the most of them. We enjoy the ride. Sometimes the ideas aren’t flowing so we look for other opportunities. New waves of creativity. Like surfers we look for the waves on the horizon — and if nothing comes we will still make the most of the moment. We still enjoy the process.

When we catch these waves we enter a flow state — a mindset of deep focus and concentration. Our whole body is at the mercy of creativity. We are productive. This same flow state is experienced by a surfer on a wave. At that moment their whole focus is on the moment, every part of their body works for them. This is the high that they live for.

It was at this point I looked up from the video and peered out of my window. The sky was clear and the sun was glaring through the trees. It was going to be a clear sunset. There was my opportunity. My wave of creativity. So I set out with no planning, and experienced a beautiful sunset. This mindset has served me well over the years. I have had amazing conversations with friends, adventures that I will never forget and seen more beauty than I could have ever imagined. All because I caught a wave of inspiration.