Southern California is easily one of the most unique places on earth. It is home to millions and offers an ocean, mountains, and many activities to fill and kill time. These arguably make it one of the biggest creative hubs on the planet. Home to musicians, artists, writers, and many others, it is not hard to find creative inspiration everywhere you look.
The creative process can vary from person to person. But, generally speaking, it is taking an idea from conception through a series of thoughts and actions that bring it to its final form. The process usually entails five stages. The preparation phase is where the mind works to generate an idea. Brainstorming or journaling are excellent avenues to use to list out possibilities. The second step is known as the incubation stage. Just like it sounds, it’s where the idea sits while you step away from it as it subconsciously starts to take form in your mind. The illumination stage is next. This is that light bulb moment when the idea becomes clear. The evaluation stage follows, where the idea and all its parts and pieces are evaluated to determine if the concept has legs. The last part of the process is the verification process. Here, the end product takes its final physical form, whether a song, poem, book, sculpture, mural, or painting, among other creative possibilities.
Finding Inspiration
The creative process often needs a little kick in the pants to get those creative juices flowing. Thankfully, Southern California offers plenty of opportunities to do just that.
The hills of Southern California are laden with endless trails. Rising high above the skyline, hikes of varying degrees offer spectacular views of the city itself and, beyond that, the Pacific Ocean with its mesmerizing blue horizon. Or, at dusk, epic sunsets rivaled in few places. An afternoon in the hills of Laguna Beach or Malibu with their easy trail access makes them perfect starting points to find inspiration.
Of course, hiking trails can be a bit daunting to some. Those who seek a more accessible source of inspiration need look no further than the Pacific Ocean that ebbs and tides along our Southern California coastline. Whether inspiration derives from the feel of the warm summer sand underfoot or the spray from the cool ocean waves in your face, the Pacific beckons to those who see the possibilities. Given the pure number of paintings and poetry dedicated to the wonders of the sea, there is no doubt this is a favorite spot.
Beyond the trails and seas, there are some less conventional ways to find inspiration. Foodies will find an abundance of restaurants, food trucks, and street vendors spread throughout the area. Whether it’s Mexican, Italian, fusion, Indian, American, among many others, enjoying edibles from exotic locations is just as likely to inspire an idea. Or maybe the old McDonald’s standby will spark a childhood memory that spawns your creative genius. Food is more than fuel for the body; it can fuel the mind as well.
Lastly, if mother nature and the primal need to eat don’t inspire enough, a new alternative is quickly gaining momentum: CBD. In very basic terms, the body’s endocannabinoid system (ECS) is responsible for keeping balance by regulating things like sleep, mental health, pain, and immunity response, among others. It also produces cannabinoids. These occur naturally in the body. Sometimes the body gets out of whack, and the ECS finds itself in need of a bit of assistance to get the wires uncrossed. This is where CBD products become helpful. They bind to receptors in the body which help the ECS produce cannabinoids. Whether you buy CBD oil, CBD gummies, or other CBD products, they all help increase positive hormones that help you stay relaxed and happy. This clears the mind to focus on the creative process more freely.
Inspiration Awaits
There is no one guaranteed way to find that inner creative genius. It might just be that an hour in rush hour traffic doesn’t make you mad but gives you the time to reflect and, suddenly, you’ve come up with that next big thing. Creative inspiration abounds. There is no one-size-fits-all formula, but, fortunately, Southern California is crawling with the opportunity to find creative inspiration virtually anywhere you look.
