How to give inspiration an opportunity.

“Write every day. Not every other day. Not tomorrow. Not after the party. But before. The more you write, the more comes out of you. If you don’t give inspiration an opportunity, it will never arrive.” – Ethan Hawke

Interestingly, I find this can be applied to a lovely variety of goals and personal interests. Perhaps for you, too?

Here are seven areas of my life where I apply this motto:

1. Want to be a better cook? Read through cookbooks, plan a menu, and put on your apron.

2. Want to learn how to sew? Visit the library and bring home a teetering pile of books, then borrow your family’s sewing machine and basket of notions. Next step: cut your fabric today.

3. Want to exercise more patience? Read text that encourages you, challenges you to bury your old self and bring to life better Fruit. Admit your faults, ask for help. (See also this.)

4. Want to have more energy as a mama of little ones? Start right now: promise to go to bed on time and wake up with the sun. Rinse and repeat. Also, see line above ;)

5. Want to have more money? Stop spending all the money you earn, stop it right now. Be intentional with saving your money, start that right now.

6. Want to have a better, more positive self image? Give yourself a morning pep talk, an afternoon pep talk, and an evening pep talk. Surround yourself with people who encourage you, challenge you, and pray with you. You are so valuable.

7. Want to learn to do something that you don’t know how to do? Take a moment to think of someone you want to learn from and reach out to them. Send them a message with your question, or better yet, invite them over to your home for a meal and cup of tea. Don’t forget to get out your notebook and pencil ;)

Do the things that matter to you right now. Talk about them with your peers, with God, and take it one step at a time. You’ll get where you need to be, however slow or fast it needs to be; I totally believe this to be true.

So. Write every day. Not every other day. Not tomorrow. Not after the party or once your child is napping or once you have all the dishes washed or once you finish school or your job or take that phone call or scroll through social media for just one more wasted hour of time, and certainly not in five years once you “have more time” but before — just as Mr. Hawke says.

PS. have a creative itch that needs scratching? Try this easy method.

xx