Tuning Into Your Creative Inspiration: The Power of Meditation and Mindfulness

Last time we talked about inspiration and getting down to practice consistently. Inspiration will best find you already working on your craft.

But how do we make it easier for inspiration to come to us when songwriting?

One answer to that is to just start writing by doing some freewriting to get us into the flow of writing down our thoughts and ideas. That’s a great way to warm up the creative engine.

Another way, which can work alongside that is to clear our mental clutter and noise before sitting down to write. And the best way I’ve found to do that is to practice meditation and mindfulness, before and during a creative session. This is a practice that’s too often overlooked.

These techniques can help clear your mind, boost your focus, and tap into your creative intuition. Let's explore how incorporating these practices into your routine can help make your songwriting process easier and more inspired.

Clearing the Mind for Creativity

One of the biggest challenges we face is mental clutter – overactive voices and conversations we have going on in our mind that are usually negative or at least unhelpful when it comes to creativity.

Meditation helps quiet the noise in your head, creating space for new ideas to flow. Start with a simple breath-focused meditation:

Sit comfortably and relax, close your eyes, and focus on your breath for 5-10 minutes. Don’t worry about any thoughts that come. Just notice that you’re thinking and then let it go. If the thought is inspiring or helpful, then it may be ok to roll with it, or write it down. But if it’s not helpful, or useful, just notice and acknowledge it as a thought, and then allow it to pass and drift away. Think of it like a cloud passing through the skyline of your mind’s eye. Then, always, bring your attention back to your breath. Notice the sensations of the air passing in and out of your nose. Notice the gentle rising and falling of your belly and chest as you breathe in and out. Stay focused on your breath.

This practice can help clear your mind before a writing session, allowing fresh ideas to surface.

Enhancing Focus and Concentration

Mindfulness can significantly improve your focus during writing sessions. By training yourself to stay present, you'll find it easier to concentrate on crafting lyrics or developing melodies.

Try this: When you sit down to write, take a moment to notice your surroundings, the space around you, the feel of the pen in your hand or the keys beneath your fingers. Every now and then, tune into the sensations in your whole body – the feelings in your feet, legs, chest, gut, arms, shoulders, forehead, and jaw. Relax into any tensions you may be feeling.

This simple act of presence can anchor you in the present moment and boost your productivity.

Tuning into Creative Intuition

Your creative intuition is a powerful source of inspiration, and meditation can help you access it. Through regular practice, you'll become more in tune with your inner creative voice and subconscious ideas.

Try a body scan meditation: lie down and slowly focus your attention on each part of your body, from toes to head. Notice the sensations in each part as you go through. Relax each area as you move from toes to ankles, legs to hips, belly to chest etc. When you get to your head notice your neck, jaw, lips, eyes, forehead. Take your time to tune into each part in turn and really feel what’s going on there.

This exercise can help you connect with your inner wisdom and hidden creative potential.

Cultivating Inspiration

Mindfulness makes you more observant of the world around you, which is crucial for gathering songwriting inspiration.

Practice mindful walking: take a stroll and consciously engage all your senses. Notice the sounds, sights, smells, and textures around you. This heightened awareness can lead to more vivid, inspiring lyrics and melodies.

And, yes, always have a notebook with you wherever you go to get down those thoughts and ideas. You never know when or where ideas and inspiration will come to you. Don’t judge them – just write them down anyway.

Overcoming Writer's Block

When you're stuck, meditation can help reduce the stress and anxiety often associated with writer's block.

A simple visualization technique can help: Close your eyes and imagine a door in front of you in your mind’s eye. Open it and step into a room filled with loads of musical ideas. Explore this space, picking up inspiration as you go.

Integrating Meditation into Your Songwriting Routine

Consistency is the key to making all this work for you. It takes practice. Meditation is always a challenge, and some days are easier than others.

So, meditation is a practice, and takes only a few minutes before each creative session, or even as part of your daily morning routine.

Start with just 5-10 minutes of meditation daily, gradually increasing the duration as you become more comfortable.

Before writing sessions, try a quick mindfulness exercise: Take three slow, deep breaths, allowing all your muscles to relax, and focus entirely on the sensations of breathing.

The effects of meditation and mindfulness on your creativity may not be immediate. They can be subtle, but powerful. Be patient and persistent. Over time, you'll likely notice an improvement in your ability to generate ideas, maintain focus, and tap into your creative flow.

By incorporating meditation and mindfulness into your songwriting practice, you're not just improving your craft – you're nurturing your overall creative wellbeing.

So take a deep breath, clear your mind, and let your inner songwriter shine.