Have you ever had a great idea, only to watch it run laps inside your head like a gerbil on a wheel? Inspiration strikes and motivation follow, but somehow, neither leads to action. Why does that happen? More importantly, how do we stop the cycle and start creating?
The Battle of Inspiration vs. Motivation
We all have moments of inspiration—those exciting flashes of insight that make us feel alive. But if inspiration stays locked inside our minds, it turns into looping thoughts. That's where motivation steps in. Motivation is the bridge between inspiration and action.
The trick? Get it out of your head and into the world.
Why Thinking Isn't Enough
Dr. Roger Sperry, who won a Nobel Prize for his work on brain function, discovered that our left hemisphere is in charge of verbal intelligence (words, logic, reasoning), while our right hemisphere handles non-verbal intelligence (creativity, images, emotions).
Here's the catch: We need both working together to turn an idea into something tangible. If inspiration stays stuck in the right hemisphere, looping in our thoughts, it must be handed off to the left hemisphere through action—writing, drawing, singing, dancing, and even scribbling on a napkin.
Otherwise, it's like rubbing sand all over your body—irritating and frustrating. (Ever felt that way about an idea you never acted on?)
Exercises to Break the Loop and Take Action
Try one of these:
The Napkin Challenge – Write or draw a thought on the nearest piece of scrap paper (napkin, receipt, envelope). No pressure. Just move it outside your mind.
The 5-Minute Sprint – Set a timer and do ANY creative action related to your idea—write a few lines, sketch a scene, and hum a melody.
Move the Energy – Do something physical if your thoughts are looping negatively. Punch a pillow, shake your body, scribble with reckless abandon. Shift the energy so it stops bouncing around inside you.
Create for No Reason – Allow yourself to create without expecting an outcome. Play. Explore. Make something messy.
How a Bag of Scraps Became an Award-Winning Song
In the 1970s and 80s, I had no idea what to do with my poetic thoughts, so I jotted them down—on diner mats, napkins, anything—and stuffed them into a paper bag. I had no expectations, just the relief of moving them out of my head.
Years later, I met Elaine Silver, a folk singer, at a yoga class. One day, she sat in my kitchen, exasperated. "I'm bored with my songs—I need something new."
Suddenly, I had the motivation to do something with those scraps of paper. We combed through them, pieced together lyrics, and in six weeks, we wrote 12 songs. One of them, Sister Moon and Brother Sun, won the Garden State Award that year.
(You can listen to two of our songs at this link below to listen:
What About You?
💡 What's something creative you've been holding inside?
💡 What's stopping you from taking the next step?
💡 What's one small action you can take today to move inspiration into motion?
Remember, creativity doesn't wait for the perfect moment—it blossoms anywhere, anytime, for any reason.
Go create. Even if it's on a diner napkin.
In the infinite light of love,
Nancy