Inspiration Everywhere: How to Feel Inspired

By Helen Brown, Spa Director, Mayflower Spa, Washington, Connecticut

Inspiration is indeed everywhere and can come from multiple different sources. I truly believe that inspiration comes mainly as a direct result of our own efforts to remain curious, to seek out new experiences and information, as well as to develop new positive connections and partnerships.

The more energy that you put into these efforts, the more you are rewarded with a variety of sources of inspiration on which you can always draw. You may find some of the suggestions below helpful in your own search for inspiration:

1)      Seek out your own personal bliss. Do you know what makes you happiest and what makes you feel the most passionate?  Who inspires you and what type of environment re-energizes you? Following your bliss is the true source of never-ending inspiration.

2)      Seek out new experiences. The more we stretch ourselves and venture out towards the edge, past what is known and comfortable, the more richly we are rewarded with greater self-awareness , fresh perspective, and, consequently, a rich source of inspiration.

3)      Seek out greatness in others. If you are able to identify and then associate with inspirational people who already model the attributes you aspire to, you will find that you too will first consciously and then unconsciously emulate that same behavior. They will continue to provide you with further opportunities for inspiration through their own evolution and open new doors that you might not otherwise have considered.

4)      Seek out inspirational supporters. You personally have already inspired many around you by your own example, whether you are aware of it or not. If you can periodically coordinate spending time with those people so as to help them with their own growth and goals, they will reflect your own inspirational behavior back to you, celebrating the value of the efforts you have made already and reinforcing your own drive for future efforts.

5)      Seek out small changes. The power of a small change, even an almost imperceptible one, should not be underestimated. Look for areas or key relationships in your life that could be improved and use those as inspiration for creating meaningful change.

6)      Seek out opportunities to quiet your mind. Our creative channels are most open when we are not distracted. Activities like meditation, walking a labyrinth, or even receiving bodywork can often result in clearer insight, flashes of inspiration, or simply renewed levels of energy to channel back into your efforts.

I think Joseph Campbell summed it up perfectly when he stated: “If you follow your bliss, you put yourself on a kind of track that has been there all the while, waiting for you, and the life that you ought to be living is the one you are living. When you can see that, you begin to meet people who are in your field of bliss, and they open doors to you. I say, follow your bliss and don’t be afraid, and doors will open where you didn’t know they were going to be.”

Inspired? I do hope so.