"وقت خود را در انتظار الهام تلف نکنید. شروع کنید و الهام به شما خواهد رسید."

Procrastination often stems from waiting for the perfect moment or a sudden burst of creativity to hit. The essence here is that if you sit around waiting for inspiration to magically strike, you might end up waiting forever. Instead, start working and let the act of doing draw inspiration toward you.

Think back to the famous author, Jack London, who said, “You can’t wait for inspiration. You have to go after it with a club.” That’s pretty much the same idea. Whether you’re writing, painting, coding, or any creative endeavor, initiating action creates momentum. It’s like pushing a boulder – the first shove is the hardest, but once it’s rolling, it’s much easier to keep it moving.

Imagine you’re tasked with writing an article. You stare at a blank page, hoping for that brilliant headline or first sentence to pop into your head. Hours pass, and you’re still staring. Now, picture this – instead, you just start jotting down random ideas, no matter how silly. You write a rough, messy paragraph. Suddenly, a phrase sparks an idea, and you’re off. Your mind is now engaged, and that elusive inspiration starts to flow. Before you know it, you’re in the zone.

Here’s a real-life example: Consider the actor and filmmaker, James Franco. He once shared that he doesn’t wait for the perfect script to come along. Instead, he constantly writes, collaborates, and acts. This constant motion keeps his creative juices flowing, leading to some of his best works. He’s known for juggling multiple projects simultaneously, which means he’s always working and rarely idle. This continuous activity ensures he’s always in the thick of creativity, never just waiting around for inspiration.

So, what’s the takeaway? Start. Even if what you produce initially isn’t great, it’s a stepping stone. If you’re an artist, put paint on canvas, even if it’s just color swatches. If you’re a writer, draft a paragraph, even if it’s just a stream of consciousness. The act of doing engages your brain in the process, and that’s when inspiration is most likely to strike.

Imagine a student preparing for exams – let’s call her Emma. Emma has a habit of waiting for that perfect study mood to hit. She tells herself she’ll start studying when she feels motivated. Days pass, and Emma doesn’t feel that burst of motivation. Her anxiety mounts. Finally, she decides to sit down and just review her notes for ten minutes. Those ten minutes turn into an hour. She realizes that just starting, even without motivation, led her into a productive study session. Emma learns that action begets motivation, not the other way around.

So, here’s the bottom line: don’t wait for the muse to show up at your doorstep. Roll up your sleeves, dive into the work, and let inspiration catch up with you. It’s a mindset shift – from passive waiting to active doing. And in that act of doing, you’ll often find that creativity and inspiration were there all along, just waiting for you to begin.