The Myth of Motivation: How to Show Up & Create Anyway
Stop Waiting for Inspiration—Building Habits That Keep You Creating
Many believe that inspiration—or as some call it, motivation—is something that arrives unexpectedly, like a stroke of magic, or that those who have it are special & unique.
In my experience, however, I have found that inspiration is not a fleeting, unpredictable force that we must hope we’re graced with occasionally; but a state of consciousness that we can intentionally cultivate and invoke.
With practice and patience, inspiration and creativity can become part of the natural rhythm of daily life, not something you wait for but something you nurture.
"You can’t use up creativity. The more you use, the more you have."
– Maya Angelou –
Pitfalls & Drawbacks when wanting to start, continue, or finish a project
Inspiration flourishes in spaces where curiosity, discipline, and openness intersect.
Most people who want to write a novel, play an instrument, or engage in any creative activity and fail to do so again and again, often mention one of these common barriers:
Procrastinating; the illusion that you must wait for the ‘perfect’ moment or inspiration to strike.
Juggling too many responsibilities can make it hard to carve out dedicated creative time.
Imposter Syndrome; That nagging voice of self-doubt that, at the most crucial moments, whispers, “You’re not good enough”.
Worrying about making mistakes or being rejected.
Writer’s/Creator’s Block; Feeling stuck, uninspired, or unable to produce work.
Lacking the energy and enthusiasm to create.
Struggling to decide what deserves your attention first.
Constant notifications, social media, or even internal distractions.
Perfectionism; Never being happy enough with your own work.
Which of these resonates with you the most? Or is there another challenge you’ve faced in your creative journey?
"The challenge of writing is to see your horribleness on page. To see your terribleness and then to go to bed and wake up the next day, and take that horribleness and refine it."
– Ta-Nehisi Coates –
Habits to harness inspiration, motivation and creativity
So how do you stay motivated?
Whether you're a writer, artist, entrepreneur, or someone looking to bring more creativity into your life, small, intentional actions make all the difference.
Creativity thrives on consistency, and that often means making space, letting go of distractions, and cultivating habits that fuel your creative practice.
Here are a few tools that have helped me harness inspiration, stay motivated, and create sustainably:
⌛ Structuring Your Time for Creativity
Designate specific time slots for creative work to ensure consistency.
Establish daily practices that cue your brain it’s time to create (e.g., morning journaling, tea before writing).
Use focused work intervals (e.g., 25/5 Pomodoro technique) to build momentum while avoiding burnout.
🧘🏾♀️ Supporting Your Body & Mind
Prioritize activities that nourish your well-being: meditation, deep breathing, or a relaxing bath.
Gentle movement, yoga, or outdoor walks to refresh the mind and spark new ideas.
Listening to a playlist or creating music can help set or shift the energy and vibe.
A consistent break, rest, and sleep schedule enhances cognitive function, memory, and creative thinking.
Fuel your body with foods that support sustained energy and mental clarity.
You don’t need to do all these things, these are just resources. The key is to create the space for inspiration by designing routines that support balance and flow.
🫱🏾🫲🏾Creating a Supportive Environment
Being surrounded by people who inspire, challenge you, and make you feel safe and seen, is paramount to sustaining creativity and inspiration, too.
Community looks different for everyone, so it may take a bit to find a space you align with.
You can join an existing community or even start one yourself: creative meetups, online groups, coworking sessions, and write-ins. The possibilities are actually endless.
This past couple of years I’ve been hosting weekly live events that have become one of my favourite community spaces to create in and feel inspired.
Would you like to join us this week?
Friday, Feb. 28th - Cozy Productivity & Creativity Session with Pomodoro Method: This relaxed and intimate session is designed to help you dive deep into your creative projects while enjoying the supportive energy of working together in a virtual space.
Saturday, March 1st - Creative Community Gathering | Find & Sustain Inspiration: This interactive workshop will explore how to build habits and practices that help you find and maintain inspiration, even when motivation feels low.
Photo by Jordi Pros for LBY
"Forget inspiration. Habit is more dependable. Habit will sustain you whether you're inspired or not."
– Octavia E. Butler –
So, what’s one small shift you can make today to nurture your creativity? Set aside dedicated time, start a new ritual, or join a community that fuels your passion—just commit to it. Even if for one week.
I’d love to hear what helps you stay inspired! Drop a comment or join me in one of my upcoming sessions, and let’s create together.
That’s all from me for now.
Until we meet again pause often, breathe deeply, and be kind - especially to yourself.
Much love,
Laia. 💛
Thank you for reading to the end. I know focusing is not an easy feat these days, and I appreciate you. If you see this, put a🤎in the comments.
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Recently fatigue has been a barrier 💚 though I have found mindful colouring to be a low energy way of be creative 🥰 and find that it sparks creativity later on when I have had more energy