The Myth of the Muse

As a creative, I’m often caught in the trap of starting my workflow hoping motivation will strike. Especially when struggling with executive function and ongoing attempts at being disciplined in my practice. I often find motivation out of reach (because it feels easier than gaining momentum, and well, I’m tired).

There is a desirability when it comes to the idea of a creative spark: the craving for a fully formed idea to appear and present a clear path forward. It is seductive because it removes the boring work of discipline. If the muse shows up that day, then we’ve been chosen. But if the muse doesn’t show up that day, then it’s not our fault we couldn’t get any work done. We’re off the hook for showing up in the monotony of our creative practice.

I do believe creative downloads happen (and criticizing this idea probably seems antithetical to the essence of this Substack). But the truth is, much of our work gets done on the days we simply show up, even when we don’t feel like it.

Discipline in our creative practice isn’t the absence of a spark, it’s what makes its arrival so much more likely. Because what you make never arrives fully formed, it always requires the practice of building. 

No need to wait for permission from the muse to start creating. What you were actually waiting for was permission from yourself, dressed up as something else.

Some prompts/questions to sit with:

• What does “waiting for inspiration” protect me from?

• If the spark never arrived on my latest project, would I still be willing to build it?

• Would I still show up for my creative practice even if I didn’t necessarily feel “inspired”?