I often imagine I have an ocean inside of me. Sometimes I close my eyes and try to look for wisdom and clarity in there. You know how sometimes there is so much noise from the outside world you just need to take a step back and listen to your own waves again?
I think this is especially true if you´re on social media a lot, sometimes you just need to do your own thing and not look at what everybody else is doing. Stop comparing and just devote your time and energy completely to your own creative desires.
The reason I wanted to share the image of an inner ocean with you was that I've lately been thinking a lot about where inspiration and new ideas come from, and in my case it´s definitely not from spending endless amounts of time looking at what others post on Instagram or blog about.
There are times where it feels really good to research a lot about what others are doing and keep up with trends, and there are times where you just need to let your own ideas develop in solitude.
Some months ago I went and saw one of my favorite bands, Future Islands live in concert and they have this song called the Dream of you and me which has these few lines that I find really inspiring:
I wrestled by the sea
A loneliness in me
I asked myself for peace
And found it at my feet
Staring at the sea
“I asked myself for peace”, that's a line I can relate to so much and I feel I have to practice that daily.
There´s a lot of talk about slow living and being gentle to yourself, but sometimes I feel like the quotes and phrases surrounding it have been used so much they become kind of empty. They often just feel sort of impersonal and too abstract to really hit me deep. But listening to this song makes me more present in the moment immediately.
I've noticed that I often return to themes surrounding the ocean when I think of things that inspire me. Maybe that's because I spent so many childhood Summer's by the sea, I remember that feeling of total freedom and endless possibility as a child.
It´s by the beach where I dare to dream my biggest dreams, but when I can´t go there physically I just have to close my eyes and listen to my inner waves and ask myself for patience, for calm, and to not worry so much about the future.
When was the last time you did something that made you feel really alive and inspired? Where do you find meaningfulness?
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