Inspiration can be hard to come by sometimes. As we age, flashes of brilliance may seem to strike more scarcely as other factors in our lives slowly crowd out our creative faculties. But we can all take solace in the fact that they will come back again: The fire will come back. The ideas will come back. The passion will come back. These things do indeed come in waves, but that doesn’t mean you have to sit around to wait for the light bulb to come on. There are plenty of ways to induce passion in your life and career.

Changing the way you look at things is one of the simplest ways to get your ingenuity rolling again. Mind hacks like letting yourself fail for once, playing music, reading, or questioning your own thoughts can all flip your thinking process upside down and allow for a new viewpoint to trickle in. Taking a step back, taking the risk you dread, or allowing the cards to fall where they may: These practices can give you a new perspective, especially if you love to be in control all the time. If it fails, it fails. Just save what worked and move on with your head held high.

How about other creative interests? Stimulating your senses through music or reading can help you draw inspiration from the creativity of others. A certain sound or word can convey a particular emotion or memory in your mind, and that can open up the floodgates of creativity. Let the passage take you where it will.

Sitting at a desk and staring at a screen during a mental block isn’t going to get you anywhere. Sometimes it can be helpful not to force the issue at all, if you can avoid it. Take some time for yourself, stimulate your mind with other creative practices, and see if that leaves you in a better position when you return to the task at hand. What’s most important is that you’re leaving room to grow, letting yourself step outside the conventional boundaries that may be holding you back.