Where does inspiration come from? 

THE ANECDOTE

Ever wonder where inspiration really comes from?

I do, probably more often than I’m supposed to be thinking about the Roman Empire.

It usually happens when there’s something important I need to tackle, but the motivation just isn’t there. And when you’re not feeling inspired, the work feels ten times harder.

At first, I thought inspiration was binary. Either you had it or you didn’t. If it wasn’t flowing, I’d step away, convinced it was better to wait until the right feeling struck.

But the problem with waiting is obvious:
Inspiration rarely shows up when it’s convenient.
And if you always wait for it to appear, your output crumbles.

A RADICAL IDEA

Inspiration isn’t something you find – it’s something you create.

Research shows inspiration comes from the interplay of two brain networks:

• The default mode network (where imagination, daydreaming live)
• And the executive network (where focus and task completion happen)

When you give your mind room to wander while staying lightly engaged, like taking a walk, listening to music, driving, even showering, you naturally trigger that spark.
You’re building the conditions for inspiration without even realizing it.

Charles Dickens figured this out long before the research.
It’s cited he used to take up to 30-mile walks, drifting between thought and observation, helping him publish 4.6 million words across his lifetime. (For comparison, Shakespeare clocked in under 900,000.)

Sometimes inspiration comes from within.
Other times, it’s about what you surround yourself with.
The raw talent of an artist.
The immensity of nature.
The electricity of a winning team.

One thing is for certain, exposure to greatness ignites something inside us.
It reminds us what’s possible, and dares us to reach for more.

CHALLENGE

Don’t wait for inspiration to strike. Invite it.

Take a walk. Read a book. Watch the sunset.
Fill your cup so you have something to pour back out.

Because your creativity and output, even on the days it feels small,
also has the power to spark something extraordinary in someone else.

Keep creating. Keep sharing. Even when it feels like you’re just muddling through.
That’s where the real magic happens.

🔗 Connect with me at: linkedin.com/in/scottschoeneberger.