Welcome to the Daily Quote, the podcast designed to kickstart your day in a positive way. I'm your host, Andrew McGivern, and this episode is brought to you by the Great News podcast. Because great news should be heard, and the link is right here in the show notes.
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Today’s quote is from Henri Matisse.
Henri Matisse (1869–1954) was a French artist, painter, sculptor, and printmaker, widely regarded as one of the most influential figures in modern art. A leading figure in the Fauvist movement, he became famous for his bold use of colour, expressive forms, and innovative approach to composition. His work helped reshape modern art and continues to influence artists today.
Henri Matisse once said…
“Don’t wait for inspiration. It comes while one is working.”
I just had a conversation about this topic yesterday. I said that waiting to be inspired isn’t the best option and that you need to get to work and the inspiration comes. Like Steven King says, he gets inspired every day at 8am. She said no, you could have writers block and sit there staring at the screen all day.
And yes, that is true. Some days are more productive than others. But if you get in the habit of getting your creative juices flowing and force yourself to do the work.
Once you get moving the Muse is more likely to visit you and give you some inspiration than if you sit there and watch Netflix or play video games.
For our creative work we often tell ourselves we will do it when we feel motivated, inspired or ready. But that moment may only arrive once in a blue moon. And if you have a deadline or publish date or if you produce a “daily show” than every blue moon isn’t going to cut it.
Once you do the hard part and sit down and try to get something out and focus on doing the work, something starts to happen inside you. If you focus on it and try to push through then you will start gaining momentum. Your output may not be the best at first but as you continue to focus it starts to get better and hopefully as you get deeper into a flow state you will trigger inspiration and start creating something special.
Action creates momentum and momentum brings you the Muse.
Whether your writing, working out, working or pursuing a personal goal, getting started can generate ideas and see possibilities you don’t get when sitting idle.
You don’t have to feel inspired to begin. Sometimes the first five minutes can be the hardest but once you get going, the work becomes easier and your enthusiasm for it grows.
Remember the Zig Ziglar quote we covered in a previous episode? “You don’t have to be great to start. But you do have to start to be great”.
Instead of waiting to be inspired before working on your creative project, just start it anyway. You don’t have to be inspired to start. But you might become inspired because you started.
So here’s the question:
Is there a project you’ve been putting off because you weren’t feeling inspired? What might happen if you simply gave it ten minutes of focused work today.
You don’t have to wait for inspiration to strike. Sometimes, you have to meet it halfway by getting to work.
That’s going to do it for today. I’m Andrew McGivern signing off for now, but I’ll be back… tomorrow! Same pod time, same pod station with another Daily Quote.
