As an author, I did my normal story-storming, read posts by favorite writers, and participated in author webinars. My brain hurt. My passion dulled. Maybe I wasn’t a writer after all. Then one dreary morning in February, I zoned out gazing at a favorite painting of mine. A gift given to me during my stint as Anna in the musical “The King and I.” The watercolorists were two artsy elephants from our local zoo. Staring at their broad brushstrokes, I had an epiphany. Their silly, joyful, random way of exploding color on canvas epitomizes for me what fuels inspiration. It pumps the heartbeat of living and growing.

Here are five lessons these gentle giants taught me. May they feed your muse as well.

Lessons from Elephant Art

ONE: Don’t think about where to start. Just get doing.

TWO: Explore on a broader canvas, beyond what’s usual.

THREE: LOVE the mess. Imagine the process is a playground.

FOUR: Forget about failure. Nothing’s ever wasted.

FIVE: Keep joy in the journey.

Ready to begin a new venture? A fresh attitude? Think like an elephant. Congratulate yourself as you climb each slippery step toward your goal. Stay strong. No wavering…hesitating. When the newness wears away, hold on. You’ll be wowed by what’s beyond your “usual.”