Inspiration for Motivation

They go hand in hand.

Oct 30, 2020

I approach business daily with goals and purpose but right around this time of year work starts to slow down as I begin to start thinking about 2021. I know, it’s hard to believe. So I take this time to think about what inspires and will ultimately motivate me for the year ahead.

After all, inspiration and motivation go hand in hand.

When we’re inspired, we tend to be more motivated to accomplish our goals. Motivation is a short term fix but inspiration is long term, lasting longer and impacting more areas of your life.

For instance, I inspire to paint. To get better, I need practice every day. While my motivation may fluctuate day to day depending on what’s on my plate, that inspiration continues to shine like a light in the background to keep me going.

Whether you want to start a business, train for your first marathon, learn a new hobby, change fields of work or even become the next Chuck Close, you need inspiration.

Here are a few ways to help kick start the process.

Learn Something New - Just get outside your comfort zone and learn something new. That could be a new craft, learn a few words of a new language, or pick up the guitar. The simple act of trying something new can kickstart creativity and inspire you in unexpected ways.

Move That Body - Work up a sweat, get some fresh air and just moving your body is a great way to find inspiration. When we work, we have laser focus on the task at hand but getting outside allows your brain to expand and think about new ideas. Some of my best inspiration comes when I break a sweat.

Study Other People - Another great way to get inspired is reading biographies. Learning about the people you admire and their path to success can inspire you to find your own roads. One of my favorite biographies is the Beastie Boys and actually a key inspiration for me to start painting.

Keep A Notebook - Pick up a small notebook like this one. Jot ideas down whenever they strike you. Those ideas may not seem life changing at the time but writing down your ideas takes them from being just a thought, into being a real, tangible thing.

Seek Wisdom of Others - Reread last week’s post about the benefits of seeking advice from those with experience. You’ll gain a ton of wisdom in most case and learn about what inspired them to succeed.

To me, the biggest thing you can do is just get started. Put in the work to get your ideas flowing. It doesn’t matter what path you choose, they are all the right direction.

“The rest of us just show up and get to work. If you wait around for the clouds to part and a bolt of lightening to strike you in the brain, you are not going to make an awful lot of work. All the best ideas come out of the process; they come out of the work itself.” ― Chuck Close

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