5 Ways To Find Inspiration In Your
Daily Life
Happiness Is A Fleeting State
“It is good to love many
things, for therein lies the true strength, and whosoever loves much performs
much, and can accomplish much, and what is done in love is well done.” ―
Vincent van Gogh
Consider
the following narrative depicting how inspiration presents itself in a person’s
life. Crafting a new life script means connecting with inspiration at a deeper
level, like the following fictional character. Every morning after a cup of
coffee while catching up on the daily news, John retreats to his studio, a
small space situated at the rear of his house. This has been John’s ritual for
as long as he can remember. As the hours pass, he is completely consumed by
painting. It is not until evening draws near he realises he has been painting
for ten hours with only a break here and there. Now in his late fifties, John
has been painting since his early twenties and has managed to carve out a
successful career. His artwork is regularly featured in corporate foyers across
the country, not to mention at regular art exhibits and private buyers who
flock to his work. John represents one of many artists who are inspired and,
more importantly, not afraid to put in the dedicated hours to create
masterpieces.
Inspiration
is a call from the soul to express itself through us.
Inspiration
is not only confined to the arts, it may express itself in various forms. You
may be inspired if you are a stay-at-home mother tending to your family.
Inspiration is not defined by WHAT you do, rather it is defined by the state of
being one experiences when in this state. Inspiration is the expression of the creative mind flowing through you — and
it is not exclusive to artists. If you yearn for
direction, inspiration may be beckoning. How can you tell the difference
between inspiration and happiness, since they often share similarities?
Inspiration is characterised by a deep sense of joy and fulfilment. When we are
inspired and pursuing our passion, time stands still and we are oblivious to
our surroundings. Those who are inspired find meaning and purpose in their
work, which are key attributes. They view their purpose as a calling rather
than a job or career. They function from a higher frequency, allowing the
source of their inspiration to flow unimpeded through every cell of their body.
Happiness
on the other hand is a fleeting experience. We may be happy one moment but not
the next — happiness is a short lived
state. We might conclude that
happiness is ephemeral, bound by the constraints of one’s inner well-being and
external reality. Consider the following points to cultivate inspiration
in your daily life. It is worth reiterating that you need not be an artist,
musician, dancer, etc. to connect with inspiration. Cooking and sharing a
delicious meal with your loved one at the end of a long day may be regarded as
an act of inspiration, since it is a calling from the heart.
“You can believe that
you are neither a slave to inspiration nor its master, but something far more
interesting — its partner — and that the two of you are
working together toward something intriguing and worthwhile.” — Elizabeth Gilbert,Big Magic
1. Discover Your Passion And Connect With Purpose
What
are you most passionate about? What stirs your soul and leaves you daydreaming
throughout the day? Those who find passion and purpose report an overwhelming
sense of satisfaction, joy and bliss throughout their life. Their spirit is
alive. Not only does time stand still, one feels the expression of their soul
come alive. Happiness becomes an extension of universal intelligence, which
serves as the conduit of this life-force flowing through you.
2. Identify With Thoughts That Foster Inspiration
It
seems nowadays, life has become a constant battle for survival. Amid the
backdrop, inspiration takes a backseat as the mind is caught up in survival
mode, rather than being inspired. Weed out thoughts which do not resonate with
your deepest self or allows inspiration to make its way into your life. Let go
of disempowering thoughts of lack or limitation since they can stifle
inspiration. As you distance yourself from such thoughts, you create a space
around them rather than becoming invested in every thought. Drop those thoughts
which no longer hold a place in your mind and replace them with empowering
ones.
3. Develop A Purposeful Vision
A
purposeful vision is one that is connected to your WHY. Why do you want what
you want? What is your underlying motivation in all your actions? A purposeful
vision is the pursuit of that which resonates with your deepest self. To others
it may seem trivial or a waste of time. To you, it is an opportunity to connect
with your purposeful self — pursue it with
determination. Your determination to succeed will be governed by how strong
your why is. If you have a strong enough why, success becomes an extension of
your efforts. Your why is your call to action. It is your internal reference and
guidepost leading you towards your purpose-filled vision. In the film The
Lord of The Rings, Gandalf reminds us to connect with a deeper sense of
meaning and purpose by posing one simple question: “All we have to decide is
what to do with the time given to us.”
“Best of all, though, by saying that you
delight in your work, you will draw inspiration near. Inspiration will be
grateful to hear those words coming out of your mouth, because inspiration — like all of us — appreciates being
appreciated.” — Elizabeth Gilbert,
Big Magic
4. Inspired People Can’t Wait To Wake Up In
The Morning
Inspired
people rarely sleep in. You might be surprised to learn that inspired people
are often insomniacs. Many of them ruminate in a positive way about their
passion, even while asleep. They live in the present moment. They practice
infinite patience, since they are not bound by the constraints of tomorrow or
yesterday. Inspired people do things which buck the trends considered normal by
society. A number of inspired people harness inspiration by making time for
brief power naps throughout their day in which to recharge. Not only does a
twenty to thirty minute nap serve to lower stress, it improves cognitive
function and stimulates right brain neural activity. They constantly nurture
and feed their emotional life by creating opportunities to express their
inspiration.
5. Inspiration Is An Act Of Flow
The
concept of Flow known as Optimal
Experience, is a way to connect deeply with a pursuit or passion and was
developed by the Hungarian psychology professor, Mihály Csíkszentmihályi. Flow
is the inner state one experiences when consumed by passion. Therefore, a
violinist may be said to be in Flow during a live performance on stage.
Inspiration is heightened when one is in Flow since they are connected with higher
brain regions, notably the right hemisphere. The good news is that inspiration
crosses over into other areas of your life as you become open to it.
Inspiration loves to be called upon, so the more space you make for it, the
more readily it is available.
So
what ignites your passion? What allows you to feel completely engaged in the
moment? Being absorbed in your favourite hobby, sport or past-time naturally
comes to mind. You might recite the countless hours spent in pursuit of that
interest and the feelings associated with it. In his commencement speech at
Stanford University in 2005, the late Steve Jobs imparted to graduates the
following wisdom, “…and the only way to do great work is to love what you do.
If you haven’t found it yet, keep looking. Don’t settle.” Whilst he was
alluding to one’s career, we can adapt this statement to reflect other aspects
of our lives where our passions run deep. Do not limit yourself when exploring
ways to connect with inspiration. In order to create an inspired life, be willing
to live your life from a higher perspective. This perspective encapsulates your
new thoughts, ideas, emotions and level of consciousness. Therefore,
inspiration is one such area which invites higher levels of consciousness to
permeate throughout your life.
Tony Fahkry
https://medium.com/@tonyfahkry/5-ways-to-find-inspiration-in-your-daily-life-68f0018420ce
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