I do not know about you, but the changes and events of the past year have left me feeling slightly lost and what I assumed was lack of motivation. I am still trying to shake the effects of being put through the spin cycle of 2020. All the shifts in focus, changes in routine, and navigating different roles we were presented with, left some of us saying “Okay. Now what? What was I doing before all of this chaos?”
The lack of direction has left me feeling like I am in a “slump”. Feeling overwhelmed by possibilities and not knowing where to start, often feels like I have lost motivation to move forward with previous goals. I recently listened to a podcast called the Craig Groeschel Leadership Podcast. The episode that stuck out to me was the fifth part to a leadership series he was covering. It was called “Think Inspiration Not Motivation”. My wheels started turning as I shook my head through the entire podcast. I highly recommend the listen!
I quickly learned, if I expected to be motivated, or better yet, motivate others, I needed to lean into inspiration. Inspiration comes from within while motivation has an external force driving it. How can I motivate others if I am struggling to be inspired? Here are a few ways that I have started to find inspiration and move forward with my goals:
- Read/listen to book or podcast that relates to a subject you are interested in. It is nice to be reminded of what you love and are passionate about.
- Do something you love! I LOVE working in my yard. Since the weather has been nice, I have been getting out more. Clearing my head, doing something I love, has created space in my mind for new ideas and movement forward.
- Communicate with others! It is so refreshing to be having more in person conversations. When I can talk with friends that I share common interests with, I am left feeling happy and lighthearted. Even if it is just a phone call, make time for communication!!!
Three ways to inspire others:
- Compliment and encourage others. Modeling positivity will encourage them to do the same. When something makes someone feel good, they will want to do the same!
- Let them see you working hard. Be proud of what you do! When I see someone thriving, I start to look harder at that person’s actions and feel inspired to do the same.
- Speak and act on your passion! Communicate your “why” to others. How did you get to this place where the drive for your passion became so strong? Share it!
After listening to the above podcast, I knew I could not motivate or inspire without fulfilling those same needs for myself. Lean into your passion, your community, and healthy outlets!
There are five essential oils that I reach for on days that I need an extra boost to keep my mindset balanced. Taking 10 seconds of my day to apply and inhale makes a BIG difference when consistently worked into a routine. My go-tos are:
- “Magnify Your Purpose” when trying to center my mind.
- “Into The Future” to promote positive, uplifting vibes through discouraging moments.
- “Valor” to give me courage to step out of my comfort zone.
- “Harmony” to provide a balanced state going into my day.
- “Release” to assist in releasing any limiting beliefs that I put upon myself and my goals.
What are you favorites to reach for? What are some actions of others that leave you feeling inspired?
