No matter what you do, you need your creative batteries recharged from time to time. Creativity help us solve all kinds of problems and not just pick paint colors and furniture for the spare bedroom. There are a few experiences that have helped fill my creative tank. A few years back I took my entire family to  Cirque du Soleil’s show “Love.” It features the music of the Beatles and the cast of Cirque’s über-talented performers. It was an amazing experience–a double wow! The whole thing, from beginning to end, was just jaw-dropping. I won’t try to spoil the show and not do it justice by trying to describe something that needs to be experienced.

It is intriguing to me how the creative minds at Cirque continue, after all these years, to surprise and give us the unexpected. As I was sitting in the theater waiting for the show to start, I was reflecting on my own expectations for the night. They were huge. I have been to 5 other Cirque productions over the years and my level of anticipation for what they do was extremely high. That’s not even taking into consideration my own critical nature–if you know me at all, you get this.

So, there I was, sitting with my family after spending hundreds of dollars in tickets waiting to be wowed. And these guys blow me away. Every detail, from the lighting, the costumes, the amazing acrobatics, and the superb sound had been thought through. At times during the show, I laughed, other times I had goose bumps, and once I even cried–just because it was so beautiful.

I love these experiences; no, I need them. I need them because they inspire me to move beyond my limitations and not to accept the status quo. They remind me that beauty matters and that it inspires and lifts our spirits. They motivate me to attempt something great.

I want to challenge you to pursue something beautiful for your own sake. Go to a show, to the symphony, to a Cirque presentation. Whether you are an accountant or a creative director, you need beauty, and creativity in your life to help you grow and become better at just about anything you do. Trust me on this one.

Where do you find inspiration? Where do you recharge your creative batteries?