Waiting for inspiration is called procrastination

I find it’s the order of inspiration and creation that we may be mixing up when it comes to producing something.  My experiences tell me that we need to begin the physical creative process in order to reach inspiration.  You need to type in order to write.  You need to write in order to be inspired.  It’s through the actual motions in the world of the 10,000 things that the spirit which is unnamed can transmit its message.  If we don’t move the physical, there is no vehicle for the spiritual.  Inspire literally means to be “in spirit” – to take oneself to that place where we transcend our ego and pride and simple allow the Tao to flow through us.  The hardest realization I’m coming to is that God writes all the books, he composes all the symphonies, he directs all the movies, and he writes all these little blog postings.  It’s both unsettling and liberating at the same time.  Imagine, the work of spirit being seemingly paradoxical and our reactions to it being mixed and confusing – sound familiar? 

I read a great bio on a band recently who worked with a legendary producer.  Upon meeting in the studio for the first time, the band presented their life’s work in demos.  The producer said, “Yep, these are OK.  Write 3 new songs for Friday and we’ll start your record.”  In the 2^nd verse of the Tao Te Ching, it says “When her work is done, she forgets it. That is why it lasts forever.”  I love this.  To let go of all that came before us and create for the moment, in the moment, expecting to release it forever, knowing we didn’t actually create it.

Remember, if we think too much about what we want to do, we’re not doing it.  Yoda said there is no “try”.  Do, or do not.  Thinking about eating an apple is the same as not eating an apple.  Thinking about creating something is the same as not creating anything.  If you don’t walk, you’ll never arrive.