The Secret To An Inspired Life
At the dawn of 2021, my husband and I took a short trip to the country and stayed in a tiny home overlooking the beautiful valley of Oberon in New South Wales.
At this time, I found myself in a state of weariness, drained from the previous year's challenges. I was tired of dwelling on my fears and seeing them reflected back at me in every area of life.
Time to reset.
When I pack, even for a short while, I prioritise the essentials. And by that, I mean my sketchbook, art supplies, book options, and a guitar. Ready to go.
We packed the Jimny to the brim and drove in a different direction than usual. The drive showed us an array of visual landscapes: buildings, highways, flat farms, and the odd horse. "Horse!" We'd exclaim. If you've seen Eagle vs Shark, that might ring a bell. Somewhere along the way, our twists and turns led us to a vast, beautiful river. It was so lovely, we chucked a uey and marvelled at it again.
As roads turned to dust, we found the entry to our stay. I'm glad we own a Jimny. Any other car would've been abandoned in one of the many ditches we encountered.
Alas, we had arrived! My goodness, the view was more breathtaking than the photos. We set the space up, got the campfire going, and threw our phones off a cliff. Not really, but it was a phone-free zone.
Our bums became terrific friends with the log overlooking the view and campfire. We spent several days waking, cooking eggs over the flame, chatting, exploring, drawing, and winding down by the fire again.
The sun sets much slower when there are no buildings in the way. We'd hear the birdlife fussing about in the forest every night, getting ready for a big sleep. Then we'd chat for hours.
I remember sharing all I was grateful for but that I was tired. I felt a pull toward something more, a need to unleash my wild, creative self, but I was afraid.
My husband turned to me and said, "If you focus on fear, you'll only be more afraid."
Revolutionary! He was right. I was focused on why I couldn't do it and had every excuse under the sun. A lightbulb went on, and something shifted in my brain. "Okay... so if I just focus on what inspires me, I'll move in that direction?"
He nodded.
I couldn't wipe the smile off my face. A sense of peace and gratitude washed over me.
If I hadn't created space for myself that weekend, I wouldn't have been in a place willing to receive that learning.
This newfound mindset transformed my life. Gone were the days of making excuses for my shortcomings. It was time for me to take the wheel and see where I could take this thing.
Within one day of this revelation, an unexpected opportunity knocked on my door—I was asked to create four large artworks for a local brewery. I had never painted for anyone but myself, and certainly not on a scale larger than A3. The old me would have dismissed the opportunity outright, drowning in self-doubt. But not this time.
The new me leaves her ego at the door, dives in, and expects herself to do well.
Everything falls into place when you move toward what inspires you. Suddenly, challenges become opportunities. You'll see.
Key points
✽ Reset in nature
✽ Whatever you think about you bring about
✽ Create space and allow yourself to make connections
✽ Moving towards inspiration transforms the soul
