I don’t know about you, but at the moment – I am happily accepting ‘inspiration’ from wherever it comes. It is mid-April (we’re in the second quarter of 2013 already!) and for those of us in the UK and Europe and even much of the US – it has been a long winter with sun and warmth being but a distant dream. The season of spring – the season that represents new beginnings is only now beginning to grace us with its presence. Not sure whether this is the case for you, but sunshine has always been a source of energy and inspiration for me and with so many conversations focused around meteorological matters at the moment, I thought you may appreciate a quick run-down of 5 things which may inspire you, rain or shine.
Inspiration for the purpose of this blog post is anything which makes you smile, energise you, motivate you, generate new ideas or confidence in yourself and more. Have a read, let me know what you think of these inspiration activators and please share some of your own.
#1: Connect with loved ones
Stepping away from social media for a while to have a face to face or even a phone connection with a loved one can be really energising. Don’t get me wrong – I am a HUGE fan of social media for forming and maintaining connections but it is the face to face time, phone conversations, Skype calls etc. that are at the heart of true connection. This week, take 10 minutes to make a phone call to someone you’ve been meaning to catch up with. You may find it leaves you with a spring in your step.
#2: Take a break
Our daily and weekly routines can become overwhelming when working in the way we do, so pay attention to what your body and mind are telling you and have a break. R recently celebrated a birthday and we had an amazing break in Abu Dhabi (SUCH fun) – but it doesn’t need to be an overseas excursion to be inspirational. A day or two away from the daily grind can work wonders and you are likely to return inspired and ready to work towards your most pressing goals
#3 Listen to music you love
Music is so powerful! Whatever music moves you is what you should listen to (and if applicable, dance to) as often as you can. My personal taste ranges from Bon Jovi (mainly the stuff from the 90s) to soca music from the Caribbean – and when I hear music that I want to sing along to or jump and wave to – it’s a real inspiration. What track / type of music rejuvenates you? (Below is a track from Trinidad Carnival 2013 that puts a smile on my face and motivates me)…
#4 Start your day doing something for you
In my experience, when you start your day doing something for you (as opposed to your employer or anyone else) – you set yourself up for a more positive day, having had a flash of early morning inspiration. This ‘something for you’ can be doing some exercise, writing a blog, texting some friends and / or anything else that you will be proud to have done at the end of the day. Ticking something off your list at the beginning of the day, that you have been keen to get done can be energising.
#5 Seek inspiration in others
Whether it’s your pre-school aged child who made yet another hilarious comment or your favourite author doing a TED talk (see an example below) – real people in their own moments can sometimes inspire you to keep on pushing those boundaries which enable you to do your very best, whatever the circumstances.
The above are some of my inspiration activators. Now it’s your turn. I’d love to hear whether these work for you and to know about some of yours. Don’t be shy… use the comment box below.
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Gina Visram is a career coach, speaker, mentor and author who works with ambitious, multi-tasking women (and men!) who are ready to work hard at being successful in their careers and personal lives – on their own terms. She has recently published Happily Ever After for Grown Ups: A Post-Wedding, Blues-Busting Guide for Newlyweds” and is committed to helping people get over overwhelm and achieve the career success/life balance they seek. For more information and to sign up to her free newsletter visit www.limitlesscoaching.com.
