When it comes to the cognitive process, Inspiration is inevitably part and parcel of uniting new thoughts, artistic expressions, and innovative solutions. Scholars to researchers have developed their theories about the triggers of Inspiration for a long and many thinkers find it an interesting phenomenon. From the review of contemporary research in this area, it may be stated that Inspiration is fueled by a host of factors that are internal and external to the individual. In another term, practice increases to success rate of attempting through facing problems, skills, and experiences.
Reflection is just like applying practice but more focused on the way one undertakes to process their experiences. With proper reflection and the elimination process of critical thinking, a person can explore ideas or even be creative in a reflective manner. Taking moments of reflection and analyzing concepts enables people to reason, thus exploring new perspectives and ideas that would crystallize their creative ideas. For example, Santiago Baca commented how journal writing “made bridges of fire between me and everything I saw” because it let him think more deeply about the experience and then figure those experiences out in writing (Hackett-Hill 9). Reflection is the process of creating new connections and capturing important Inspiration from taking back one’s own experiences.
Also, an essential point with respect to Inspiration is the emotional state. Emotionally aware individuals can deal with their emotions un-critically and in an affirmative way that increases the possibility of creative and inventive ideas. It takes one through an emotional journey where people can convert whatever they feel into pieces that inspire others. Other instances of Emotional states that can drift toward Inspiration include excitement, determination, frustration passion. In moments when JOY is felt, Inspiration can carry fast and furious in conveying prodigious ideas and insight. Thus, emotional awareness can contribute to more potent and poignant works of art and ignite great Inspiration.
Meanwhile, Inspiration also does not necessarily arise out of external materials and must not be written off either. Random epiphanies or moments of serendipity, too sometimes offer the factor of Inspiration. For instance, sudden insights, experiences, or relationships can also play an influential role in creativity. Consider, for example, how mythologies and folk tales have come down through generations to inspire countless stories over time. These experiences are random and chance whims but might those generate the fantastic ideas through which no one would otherwise come. Being open to the possibility of having Inspiration from these chance encounters, individuals will keep themselves primed for this epiphany no matter how faint it may be.
Cultivating an environment where Inspiration is essential in breeding new ideas is part of the creative process. It must be such an environment, as described by Santiago Baca in his story, inspiring and inclusive, like the environment at St Joseph’s Hospital. Other factors among these include supportive communities and available resources such as extensive libraries, art galleries, and cultural centers, all of which will impact external factors necessary to guide the nurturing of creativity toward accessing Inspiration (Jimmy Santiago Baca). In this respect, the relationship a person may have to his environment, the people within it, and the resources that can be tapped as needed have proven key to the successful completion of the creative project. This never necessarily means that Inspiration has to come from other persons but can also be gotten even from the environment itself.
In conclusion, Inspiration combines internal and external such as exposure to new ideas, practice, reflection, emotional state, and random epiphanies. Creative thinking, critical analysis, emotional intelligence, random epiphanies, the collective sharing of ideas, and supportive environments are just a few of many other factors that inspirations might strike from. Which one factor would be more indispensable than the other? Which of these holds more importance in inducing creativity is difficult to say since they are intermingled in the process. However, the understanding of the interplay of all these factors is necessary because it facilitates fostering creativity irrespective of a level or discipline.
Works Cited
Hackett-Hill, Kathryn. “BECAUSE THAT IS OUR ONLY CHOICE.” A Primer on Arts Integration: Strategies, Lessons, and Collective Wisdom of Teacher Leaders (2023): 9.
“Plato – Allegory of the Cave PDF | PDF.” Scribd, www.scribd.com/document/418490570/Plato-Allegory-of-the-Cave-pdf.
Jimmy Santiago Baca. “Coming into Language.” PEN America, 3 Mar. 2014, pen.org/coming-into-language/.
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