One Apple A Day #722 - action precedes inspiration
"The man who chases two rabbits, catches neither."
Confucius
This morning I woke up with a few ideas I wanted to write about in my morning practice. But because I couldn't easily pick one, I'm now stuck and unable to begin while a conversation is still going on in my head.
"This one is interesting!"
"Yeah, but I'm not sure I have enough clarity to write something meaningful."
"On this other one, we have clarity."
"But is it interesting enough to read?"
"And what about this?"
"I think I already wrote about that."
In the meanwhile, time is running, and my morning slot for this practice is getting thinner and thinner. So, here I am. Writing even if I haven't picked a subject.
If there is one thing I've learned in this little morning practice of mine, is that action precedes inspiration. I can't wait for inspiration to just happens before doing something. Inspiration ensues from my dedication to the creative process.
"This is the other secret that real artists know and wannabe writers don't. When we sit down each day and do our work, power concentrates around us. The Muse takes note of our dedication. She approves. We have earned favor in her sight. When we sit down and work, we become like a magnetized rod that attracts iron filings. Ideas come. Insights accrete."
Steven Pressfield