As musicians, we’re always trying to come up with new stuff. Every day, we look for ways to use a cool little melody here … or some great chord progression there. Music is definitely an art—and it takes equal parts practice and inspiration.

But like everyone else, we probably fall into a rut every once in a while. Occasionally, it’s easy to overuse a certain kind of rhythm … or stick with a favorite effects pedal for a little too long. Sooner or later, though, we have to shake the temptation to be unoriginal, and then push ourselves to the next level.

Which has got me thinking about (in my humble opinion) one of the most unoriginal artists of all time. A lot of people love Frida Kahlo, but I’m not a big fan. You’ve seen her painting … the one with that uni-brow woman looking all serious.

I say “her painting” because, to my eyes, she simply did the same thing over and over again. She was a one-trick pony—riding that poor horse to exhaustion. In nearly every piece she created, Frida Kahlo painted herself as the subject. In one shot, she might be sitting … while in another, she may be walking or standing. But it’s always the same, old theme. It seems Ms. Kahlo was totally in love with herself (… um, and monkeys).

But my question is “How can you create true greatness when you’re staring at yourself in the mirror all day?” My opinion might offend some people right now. But hey, it’s just an opinion. Either way, how can we avoid the “Frida Syndrome.” To really get the inspirational juices flowing, does anyone have any special tips?