Dr Charlotte Russell and guest contributors
Like therapy, there is no one-size-fits-all when it comes to speaking creativity. In this article, I’ve joined forces with three wonderful fellow therapists to explore what sparks our own creative energy and how you can cultivate yours. From quiet moments in nature to the richness of human stories, we’ve found inspiration in places both ordinary and extraordinary.
Whether it’s the stillness of a lake, or the joy of learning about unfamiliar cultures, creativity often begins with curiosity and connection. We also share how creative hobbies can become powerful tools for self-expression and emotional renewal.
This isn’t a prescriptive guide. It’s a collection of reflections, practical tips, and gentle encouragement for anyone seeking to reignite their creative spark. Whether you’re a seasoned artist, a therapist, or simply someone craving more colour in your everyday life, we hope these insights help you find inspiration in your own way, and in your own time.
Finding Inspiration at Wast Water, Lake District
By Kate Chartres, EMDR Consultant
There’s a place I return to in my mind whenever I need to reconnect with myself and feel grounded. Nestled in the dramatic Wasdale Valley and surrounded by towering fells like Great Gable and Scafell Pike, it’s England’s deepest lake and, to me, one of the most breathtakingly raw landscapes I’ve ever experienced.
When I stand on its shores, I notice a shift within myself. My thoughts quieten, my breath slows, and I feel fully present. It’s as though the rugged peaks and still, glassy waters invite me to let go of noise and simply be. The vastness of it reminds me of my own inner strength and resilience.
What makes this place so inspiring to me is its untouched beauty and sense of solitude. There’s no bustling crowd, no distractions -just nature in its purest form. The changing light over the mountains, the reflections on the lake, and the sheer scale of the landscape spark creativity and a deep sense of possibility. It feels like nature is whispering, “Anything is possible if you just pause and listen.”
My advice for anyone seeking to inspire creativity
I’d say find a place that feels bigger than your worries – somewhere that makes you feel both small and limitless at the same time. Let yourself sit in stillness, notice how your body responds, and see what ideas naturally surface.
Harrogate, Turkish Baths, and FABRIC
Dr Beth Godwin, Clinical Psychologist and Founder of Life for every body
One of the most inspiring places for me is Harrogate, specifically, my annual visit to the Knitting and Stitching Show. It’s a few days out of my normal life where I’m immersed in creativity and surrounded by people who share a love for making things slowly, intentionally, and with love and care.
When I am there, I notice how much more creative and inspired I feel compared to home, where I am distracted, busy with the to-do list and others needing my attention. Just for those few days, my full focus can be on me, and my joy of making things using my hobbies of knitting, sewing and crochet. I can stroke beautiful fabric and wool, watch other people showing off their amazing talents, eat tasty food in cafes, and relax in the gloriously steamy Turkish Baths. Harrogate has become a kind of reset button, giving me permission to rest and refuel, and be completely in the moment.
Spending time living in line with things that matter to you, like my values of creativity and self-care, is something I talk about often in my work, too. I help people tune back into what they actually enjoy, whether that’s eating food they love, moving in ways that feel good, or making space for creativity because it matters to them.
My advice for anyone seeking to inspire creativity
Find what brings you joy, do it as often as you can, and do it with people who will celebrate it with you.
Muskoka Lakes, Canada
Dr Patapia Tzotzoli, Clinical Psychologist Director of My Psychology Clinic, Founder of My Triage Network
One of the places that inspires me most is Canada – especially the lakes of Muskoka. Cottages in Muskoka often sit quietly along the edge of a lake, framed by towering pines, century-old maple trees, and wild, untamed greenery. When I need inspiration, I like to wander barefoot on the sand and dive into the cold waters.
I find this place inspiring because of the stillness of the landscape – it feels like a quiet sanctuary, offering gentle, constant invitations to slow down and just be. The peaceful environment grounds me and helps me reset. It reminds me that inspiration doesn’t always come from doing more, but from being more – more still, more present, more connected to the natural rhythm around me.
My advice for anyone seeking to inspire creativity
What inspires me most here is the awe found in nature. Yet nature’s beauty is quiet – one needs to slow down enough to notice it. If you’re seeking inspiration, you don’t need to escape somewhere far or extraordinary. Just ground yourself in the present moment. Whether you’re in a city of concrete or in the countryside, you’ll find something to inspire you as long as you are truly looking.
Culture, connection and human stories
Dr Charlotte Russell, Clinical Psychologist & Founder
I’m often inspired by things that connect with me, and this is not usually easy to predict or orchestrate. They all have the same, necessary ingredients though; I am curious and open to new information and experiences. I’ll give you a few examples here:
- Feeling the emotion of the performance while watching flamenco, and feeling completely in awe.
- Visiting a museum exhibition in Amsterdam about enslaved people in Suriname. The curated displays showed how enslaved people had used their cultural traditions as a source of resilience and strength through the trauma they suffered. They cared for one another, sang songs and told stories. Their stories reminded me of the human capacity for resilience, and how powerful connection and creativity can be.
- Hearing stories and learning about different cultural traditions helps me to appreciate how big the World is. This seems to expand my sense of possibility somehow.
- Attending music concerts and seeing how many people connect with the songs often reminds me how deeply connected we all are. I find it amazing how the lyrics from one song can connect with so deeply with so many people.
- Being out in nature also helps me to connect with this feeling of how expansive the World is and a sense of possibility.
For me, when I feel inspired it’s like a lightbulb moment. I remember how big the World is and how it’s full of possibility. I remember how amazing human beings are and am in awe of their capacity for healing and resilience. I get the feeling that maybe I have been a bit weighed down by life, and now I am seeing more clearly again.
Usually when I return home from feeling inspired like this, I have lots of ideas for new articles. I also have a renewed optimism and enthusiasm for writing.
My examples are a little different to the wonderful examples shared by our other therapists. This reminds us that we are all different, and will find inspiration in our own ways and in different places.
My advice for anyone seeking to inspire creativity
Think about what has inspired you in the past. Also think about what you might need to feel inspired again in the present.
If you are feeling burned out, you might need to spend some time relaxing, grounding and recharging before you are ready enough to be open to new ideas again.
If you are feeling open and ready to be inspired, look for things that spark your interest, even in the smallest of ways. In her book, Big Magic, the writer Elizabeth Gilbert advises us to follow where our instincts take us when we are feeling uninspired. Seek out the smallest glimmers of topics and places that you might want to learn more about. In line with this, avoid overusing places and sources of inspiration that you’ve relied on in the past. This is great advice, and certainly fits with my own experiences of feeling inspired when I’ve travelled.
Final thoughts: Finding your own spark
As these stories show, inspiration doesn’t arrive in one form or follow one path. It might be found in the quiet majesty of a lake, the tactile joy of fabric and wool, the stillness of a forest, or the emotional resonance of human stories. For some, it’s solitude. For others, it’s connection. And often, it’s a blend of both.
What unites these reflections is a shared truth: creativity flourishes when we slow down, tune in, and allow ourselves to be moved, by beauty, by meaning, by curiosity. Whether you’re drawn to nature, culture, craft, or community, the key is to notice what stirs something in you and follow it, even if it’s just a glimmer.
So take a moment. Breathe. Ask yourself what you need right now; rest, adventure, stillness, or stimulation. Then gently lean toward whatever feels expansive. Your next idea, your next burst of creativity, might be waiting just beyond that first step.
Let this be your invitation to explore, reconnect, and create, in your own way, and in your own time.
If you liked this article check out How can travel increase creativity?
