finding creative motivation :: bucket list of creative stimulation exercises {step 3}

image from ikea

let me first start off by saying that this step, quite honestly, is whatever floats your boat. but i do encourage you to test out almost all of my suggestions because you never know what will get those creative juices a flowin'...

i find that i have some go-tos stashed away in my back pocket for when i desperately need some creativity: tea and incense, artful movies, listening to bjork...just to name a few. i have provided a list to help you find something that works for you. Now, if something works once, it may not work right away again but keep it in your back pocket for future use.

start off by trying the ones that most intrigue you but try to be open to all of the suggestions. after all, you just never know! i've found myself in the most seemingly uninteresting situations and have been surprisingly stimulated. see?! you just never know!

so hopefully you have some idea of what it feels like to be creatively stimulated or have an imaginative breakthrough or have a 'lightbulb' moment. if not, i can only describe it as a sudden bolt of excitement and flow of ideas -- total breakthrough in my opinion. it's beautiful and glorious. be sure to always keep a little journal {can be a small pad of paper or post-its} or sketchbook with you wherever you go. you'll want to write down EVERYTHING that comes to mind.

DO NOT CENSOR YOUR IDEAS

there is no such thing as a stupid or useless idea. learn to embrace them...all of them. they may not seem as stupid or useless at a later date. they might even seem brilliant by then! honestly, it happens! i speak from experience. but try to be positive towards your flow of free-wheelin' ideas. this practice will only encourage a more free-flowing, steady stream of ideas.

i also like to do this thing called 'piggybacking.' when an idea will come to me, i let it work itself out. then, i try to elaborate and build on what i've already developed. possibly thinking about what i've come up with and translating it into different mediums.

okay! so here we go! remember to have fun and channel your little 6 year-old self - full of energy and a thirst for exploration. now, get to gettin'!

BUCKET LIST OF CREATIVE STIMULATION EXERCISES::

• go to world market and pick out some beautiful, exotic incense or even candles if you'd prefer. place them around your house or workspace and let the foreign aromas stimulate your senses and imagination.
• drink tea! stash has so many deliciously stimulating blends. some of my favorite go-to flavors are chai green tea and moroccan mint tea. test them out and even pick up a crazy creative mug to drink them from.
• go to the library and look through sections you've never been through before. see what kind of things catch your eye. indulge your curiosity.
• take a roadtrip to somewhere you've never been.
• take the long route home
• watch the movie yes man and get inspired to start saying yes to things - you never know what you may open yourself up to
• take a picnic to a not-so-typical setting
• walk in a park
• watch masterpiece theater classics
• listen to really experimental music and even if you don't like what you are hearing, think about certain elements of the composition that you can definitely appreciate as a fellow artist. you can youtube their music for free to see if it's something you can get into. just sit with your eyes shut and listen to the music...while you're doing so let your creative mind wander wherever.
• Bjork {eclectic}
• CocoRosie {freak folk}
• Sneaker Pimps {trip-hop}
• The Good, The Bad & The Queen {song cycle also a mystery play about london}
• Journey to the West {soundtrack to chinese musical composed by damon albarn of gorillaz}
• Justice - A Cross the Universe live {opera-disco elctronica}
• google more!!
• watch visually interesting or imaginative films
• moulin rouge
• children of men
• hellboy 2
• moonrise kingdom
• romeo and juliet {baz luhrman version}
• coffee and cigarettes
• sin city
• i'm not there
• amelie
• metropolis
• persepolis
• a little princess 
• what dreams may come
• blade runner
• memento
• check out this imdb list that has some other great picks!
• watch old movies - you'll allow your mind to journey to a different time
• charade {thriller with cary grant and audrey hepburn}
• bringing up baby {comedy with cary grant and katharine hepburn}
• the paleface {comedy with bob hope and jane russell}
• metropolis {again! one of the first and arguably best science fiction films}
• the man who knew too much {doris day, jimmy stewart by hitchcock}
• gidget {sandra dee}
• on the waterfront {marlon brando - i coulda been a contender - epic!}
• this list has some really old experimental and sometimes heavy films. i can't speak for all of them but it's a really good list.
• challenge yourself to sketch out your ideas -- even if you think you suck at drawing -- don't let that inner voice hold you back
• visit museums. always be open to learning - keep your mind open and free.
• study science and history
• read conspiracy theories or articles about secret societies...it truly allows you to become imaginative.  teach your mind to be open to seemingly impossible or unexplainable things. it will open you up to a new creative process. to start: 
• loch ness monster 
• bermuda triangle 
• illuminati 
• the philadephia experiment
• giant squid
• roswell
• find more! 
• study ancient cultures and their artifacts. this has always provided me with endless inspiration
• visit antique stores. seek out odd and interesting items that allow you to learn about the past. some of my most interesting finds have been mourning jewelry and odd fellows' items with their symbols engraved
• do an activity a child would do: finger paint, fly a kite, play catch, visit a zoo, play dress up. it will allow you to see the world in another way. it will also give you a sense of excitement about, well, everything.
• go to a comic book store and browse through the indie section. get lost in the art, stories and uniqueness of it all.
• go see a play, opera, concert or some kind of live performance art.
• read/watch fantasy - it will teach your brain to step out of the unexpected.

to check out the previous steps in this finding creative motivation after a breakup series, follow the links below::

step one
step two