Most people believe that seeking inspiration is better than simply waiting for it. This way, ideas or inspiration can come more quickly and in more diverse forms. For example, a writer seeks inspiration by walking around the city and chatting with random people. He then finds inspiration for a story that is completely new to him: life without sunlight in an alley in the capital.

Furthermore, the assumption has also been formed that artists are usually synonymous with new, creative ideas. They successfully capture reality and express it in various meaningful works. However, behind this, these discoveries are nothing other than a form of creativity or innovation. As the saying goes, " there's nothing new under the sun ," there is nothing truly new in this world. For example, the sunless alley in Jakarta may be new to people outside of Jakarta. However, for those who have lived there for decades, it is commonplace.

Just like the story of the famous writer, William Shakespeare, whose name became legendary thanks to the tragic tale of Romeo and Juliet. Many people think that the story was actually written by Shakespeare. In reality, he himself was inspired by stories written by other authors. And it's likely that other authors also took stories from other figures. It's like a cycle that repeats itself but presents itself in a different form. Just like the French saying, l'histoire se répète. It means that everything that happened in the past will, or tends to, happen again in a different way or form.

Therefore, in the creative process, people sometimes tend to use the observe, imitate, and modify (ATM) method. This method is commonly used in design, writing, and other fields. In simpler terms, the term "observe" refers to the way someone observes to capture inspiration and then translate it into an idea. This inspiration can be found anywhere, depending on how observant a person is.

Then, "imitation" encompasses the learning process of someone to realize an idea using their own techniques. This process can be achieved by following the tips, strategies, or methods of an inspiring figure. However, the imitation stage isn't necessarily the same as the inspiration. There's a modification process where innovation must emerge to avoid plagiarism. In this case, innovation doesn't always involve new discoveries ( inventions ), but can also involve breakthroughs to make a work more aesthetic, practical, or otherwise.

While creating something truly new is nearly impossible, creating something that seems new isn't impossible. The key is finding inspiration and having the confidence to get started. It all comes down to your mindset, how far your mindset can push against the uncertainty of creating a work.

Some world-renowned figures, such as Mozart and Disney, tend to build self-confidence before producing great works. They typically follow three steps: (a) they see it (or hear it) in their heads; (b) they believe it in themselves; and (c) they create it. Therefore, it all comes down to a combination of desire, discipline, and determination. Everyone inherently possesses all of these; it's just a matter of how they unleash them.

So, that explains how the adage " there's nothing new under the sun " applies to the search for inspiration. Although everything in this world has been created, there's still much we don't know. Therefore, continue to seek inspiration everywhere and transform it into creative works.