1. a: A divine influence or action on a person believed to qualify him or her to receive and communicate sacred revelation.
b: The action or power of moving the intellect or emotions
c: The act of influencing or suggesting opinions
As human beings, we are inundated on a daily basis with little nuggets of information relayed to our brain through our five senses (touch, taste, hearing, sight, and smell). These "nuggets" of data "inspire" us in our daily lives. Without inspiration, human life as we know it wouldn't exist, or at the very least, would be pretty dull.
Inspiration can hit you at any time, any moment of the day or night, even deep in the subconscious recesses of the mind through nightmares and dreams.
Inspiration is a very personal, subjective, and unique human experience. What inspires one person may have no meaning nor significance to another person. As creative individuals, we are constantly driven to search for inspiration. We look for inspiration on the internet, in art and design, with music, in literature, and in the great outdoors. We also look to the individuals we associate with in our daily lives, to inspire us and fuel our creativity.
With that said, I don't think you can actually "find" inspiration, no matter how hard you look. Inspiration finds YOU. It sneaks up and attacks, most of the time when you least expect it, giving you new-found passion, focus, and direction. You can read all the creative publications in a bookstore, walk through the great outdoors for hours, and listen to music until your ears ring. All of these things may help you on your quest for inspiration. However, it's no guarantee that any of these will ultimately inspire you.
My advice? Don't force inspiration and don't fret over it. Put yourself in an environment which fuels creativity or surround yourself with positive influences, and let inspiration find you.
Corey
