Inspiration is For Amateurs
The title of this post hit home the other night as I struggled to get through the past week. It hit me in the way that was so earth shattering and humbling that it took my breath away. Doing what I’ve done for the past 16 years as a profession has created a level of confidence in my abilities that made me look at the title of this post and laugh it off. An arrogance grew in me, that I could get by on my own will and knowledge without the need of a fresh cup of inspiration. That was completely thrown out the window when I watched a video that I came across on YouTube of Denzel Washington giving a speech to a graduating class. His speech spoke about failure and the need for it. Nothing great was ever accomplished without a massive amount of failure. And it’s the fear of failure that is crippling, it’s the fear that keeps us from achieving great things. He spoke of risk and having something to fall back on. But true risk is taking a chance with it all on the line. And learning from failure and the risk that it takes is easier said than done. Throughout my life I’ve tried to manage risk and calculate failure. And much to my effort I’ve always come up short. Denzel says in his speech, if we are gunna fall - and it’s going to happen - fall forward. Fall forward. Such a great concept, simple, direct and to the point. Learn from Your failures, get up and keep going. Again, easier said than done.
It reminded me that when our cup is running low on inspiration we have to fill it up again. We have to create something, anything. I typically find that inspiration through faith, music, experiences, people, art, and rest.
These past few weeks have been filled with stress, anxiety, worry and an overwhelming feeling that this is all to much. As I look for joy in the next week, I’m reminded of all the good things in my life and the obstacles I’ve faced to get to where I’m at. It hasn’t been an easy road, with the help my wife, my friends, my faith and my partners we have managed to take an idea of starting our own company and craft it into a real thing. Vast Creative Co. (more details to come)
I’m not sure where this road will go and frankly I’m ok with not knowing, I can only do my part in listening and following where the Holy Spirit leads me and be open to the pain of growing. But now as I live through this process, my mind will be open to falling, because now when I fall, I’ll fall forward.