(IN)spiration

Let’s face it, inspiration is something we all need. Some people might need daily doses, while others might need a little inspiration every once in a while.  This is quite evident in the growing movement of inspirational and personal development quotes via social media outlets. I have also seen quite a few in people’s homes, cars and on their phones.  A few of my clients have also shared that they go online to research inspirational quotes and have shown me some of their favorite ones in sessions. My favorites are the ones embedded with images (as you will see throughout this blog) because I find them to be fun and engaging. 

However, as I think more about the inspirational quotes movement, I realize I have one major concern. Although inspirational quotes can provide an uplifting boost to our day, I am wondering how much do they really help us change our behaviors and work on our goals.  I have posed this question to a few of my clients and they have shared that these quotes have had little to no effect in helping them address some of their problem behaviors and how they approach their goals. Personally, I have found the “experience” to be short- lived.  If I see an inspirational quote I like, I might post it to my private practice’s Facebook page, forward it to a friend, and/or maybe think about it that day and I tend to move on. 

I will not pretend to have all the answers, neither do I have any empirical data to back this, but I believe this is the case for myself and others because it can be very difficult to internalize the inspirational quotes found online. We can relate, yes, but because we are not involved in the molding of the words or phrase nor do we have any personal experience tied to these quotes, very little positive information is getting into our subconscious mind. Therefore, the information, though positive, is not being sufficiently internalized to make much of a difference. 

While I understand that inspiration can come from all around, I think it is best to come from within, especially when we are working towards our goals. When we are connected and attuned to our goals, we are naturally drawn to do whatever it takes to accomplish them.  When we are inspired, we know! We know because:

•   Our mindset and actions are different; nothing holds us back from working on our goals actively.
• We will exude passion, something that will help us see our goals to completion
• We will constantly be realigning ourselves, being flexible with our approach to address our goals.  

Finally, inspiration comes to us slowly and quietly some of the time.  Probing the web for inspirational quote is a great place to start. However, in order to ignite and cultivate lasting inspiration, we need to create the conditions for this process to happen within ourselves. 

Are you interested in cultivating inspiration in your life for longer lasting impact? Below are 5 important steps I have found helpful: 

Seek out solitude:

It’s important to note that seeking solitude does not mean isolating yourself, especially if you struggle with depression. Solitude, are “moments alone” where you are freeing yourself from life’s demands.  This can be very difficult for a lot of people.  The trick is to try to not look for anything when you are spending time in solitude, but rather take a few moments to just enjoy life. Without the distractions of the outside world and your obligations, your thoughts will shift on to your true passions and your goals. Nature can be a great place to create this type of experience as well as listening to music, practicing deep breathing and/or reading.  Spending time in solitude allows you to slow down to the speed of life, which allows you to have a clear mind and sharpen your senses which make the impact of inspiration often more intense and lasting.  

Write or Draw or do both:

Disconnect for a while and write/draw in a journal. It really does not matter what you write about. One of the major benefits of keeping an inspiration journal is that you can use it in whatever way suits you best.  Let the words and/or drawings flow!

I would also encourage you to write your own inspirational quotes. For example:  I have found that if you ____________________ or Life is like _______________. You can also take this information and create a vision board with pictures of all of those things and declare what you want to accomplish.

Reward yourself: 

It is very important to reflect on everything you have learned and accomplished thus far. Taking time to celebrate the little things is a great way to cultivate inspiration because you are reminding yourself constantly of your small successes which will in turn help in motivating you to accomplish those large-scale future goals.

Pay attention to your emotions: 

Your emotions are probably the best indicators of your passion. This is so because you will feel a strong level of connection to the thing(s) you are interested in. If whatever activity you chose to do evoke positive emotions, then you have probably discovered good source of inspiration.  

Follow Your Faith:

Once you have discovered what is inspirational to you, you have to trust it! If you develop your faith and self belief to achieve your goals, then you are more likely to do so.

Be Inspired!