Over the past two weeks I have seen the word ‘inspiration’ written over and over again…
inspiration lifts our spirits above the mundane and guides us to what could be better.
Having just written a post about motivation, my mind turned to inspiration and how the two are related, yet quite different. Motivation, as I see it, is much like a cheerleader, spurring us on to action. Inspiration however, seems much more like an angel on our shoulder whispering to us, so our hearts listen and take note.
Motivation roars like a lion while inspiration is peaceful like a lamb. It stirs something deep within us and gently nudges us to say ‘this is my gift to you, please take it’. We all need inspiration; it seems to be the one component that continually works as a catalyst for change.
So, where can we find it? How can we embrace this gift that presents itself in the everyday of life? Here are eight simple places it can be found.
nature…
Get outside and take a walk in the fresh air. Spend time in the sunshine. Really look at the trees, plants and flowers that are close to where you live. Gaze at the water; be it ocean, lake, stream or pond. No matter where we live or what the season, nature is abundant with inspiration.
travel…
Whether we stay close to home or travel half way round the globe, experiencing a new backdrop to our life can be uplifting. The new sights, sounds and smells give us an opportunity to learn and grow. Visit new shops, markets, cafes and attractions near and far. Immerse yourself in foreign magazines, books and film; this is travel too.
art…
Often times art speaks to us and stirs an emotional response. Art encompasses so many avenues; from superb museum pieces to humble handcrafted treasures. The soul of the artist comes through and prompts us to listen. Visit museums, art fairs, craft shows, linger over lovely publications on the subject.
design…
Being able to experience an inviting room, a delectable meal, a stunning outfit, great architecture or a welcoming garden allows us to find inspiration in the daily activity of our lives. Be aware of the way items are grouped or composed and what impact this has.
music…
Listening to or making music can instantly transport us to another time or another place. It is a powerful medium for connection and community. Even in oppression, people raise their voices in song to unite themselves together. Listen to a variety of music and do not be afraid to hum, whistle or sing aloud yourself.
words…
The written word or words spoken aloud inspire and transform us. From a persons life story to poetry; engage in reading and listening to a variety of genres.
others…
The kindness we see in others can inspire, it can be a smile, ahug or a listening ear. An answer to a question, a door being opened or a meal shared. Sometimes life is so busy we miss sweet gestures of others and their willingness to help.
quiet…
We can find inspiration in doing nothing more that quieting ourselves. To hear the whisper and accept the gift we need to slow down and become more attuned to what we have been given.
So where have I seen this word ‘inspiration’ written over and over again? It is in the many kind comments written for our on-line instructors. I am currently taking an e-course called Blogging Your Way created by Holly Becker of decor8 and co-instructor Leslie Shewring of A Creative Mint. This course has been motivating and inspiring to me and I can see it has had a similar effect on many of my classmates. It is lovely to be in an environment of openness, honesty and kindness.
If you currently have a blog or are just starting one, this course has an abundance of advice, instruction, hands-on projects and interaction. It has far exceeded my expectations and I am appreciative of having the opportunity to be part of it.
So, where do you find inspiration?
Kristyne says
Hello from BYW. Great post!
I draw a surprising amount of inspiration from my daughters – their wants, needs, likes, personalities.
Dawn says
hi kristyne,
thank-you for taking a look!
i must agree, my daughter has a great zest for life and lifts my spirits often as well.
dawn
Courtney says
What a lovely writer you are! This is a very intuitive and motivational post. I love the line, “Motivation roars like a lion while inspiration is peaceful like a lamb”. True indeed. Thank you for the inspiration! :)
-Courtney
Dawn says
hello courtney,
thank-you for the kinds words and encouragement…
i really appreciate it!
dawn xo
Angela Steyn says
Lovely, lovely post… when I saw the title, I just knew it was for me!
Angela x
(Fellow BYW classmate)
Dawn says
angela,
thank-you for so much for reading it!
your encouraging words mean a lot.
cheers, dawn xo
Leslie says
Thank you Dawn, I love reading posts like this. xo
Dawn says
hi leslie,
thank-you for your encouraging words!
i love to write and it means so much when the reader connects with it.
just loving the byw class and all your advise!
cheers, dawn xo
Shari says
That was really a lovely post, Dawn! I also noticed that I was seeing the word “Inspiration” all over the place lately… ha ha! It just took this post to make me remember where it was!
I agree with your list… those are my sources for inspiration, also. I’ll add just one to that list… my animals! They inspire me, also, and are a great source of joy as well. :-)
Dawn says
hi shari,
thanks for taking the time to look…
so true about animals…
i appreciate your encouragement!
dawn : )
Laurie Ashbach says
Hi Dawn,
Inspiration is so key! Thanks for all of yours. Isn’t this the greatest eclass?
Laurie from BYW
Dawn says
hi laurie,
yes, this class has been so much more than i was anticipating, which is such a lovely welcome change!
thanks so much for taking the time to stop and read my post, i appreciate it!
dawn
Solange says
Hi Dawn
Beautiful and inspiring words. I love the last thought – drawing inspiration from being quiet and reflecting on what we have. We don’t do enough of that!
Yes, this course has been incredibly inspiring – much much more than I expected.
Take care
Solange
Dawn says
hi solange,
thanks for reading…
you are sweet with your kind words…
they are an encouragement…
dawn x
Kristin Johnsen says
Nice blog – I love your photos, I have so far to go with my proposed visuals! But thanks for such a deep discussion, in such an approachable way!
Dawn says
hello kristen,
thank you so much for having a peek…
your comments mean a lot!
cheers, dawn
journeyseeds says
Another BYW student…This was a thoughtful and gentle post. I find inspiration from stories…be it our own personal biographies we share or a tale told over the centuries. When I go to a blog often I first must read the “about” page to get a sense of a person. It’s been a great journey so far, right?!
Dawn says
hi,
i agree, connecting with the person is important…
i actually have on my list for today to update my ‘about’ page…
so your comment is very timely and encourages me to follow through!
thanks for stopping…dawn
Kristin says
Hi Dawn,
What beautiful photos! And I thought your post was inspiring – you have a lovely style of writing. I agree with what you said about BYW – it has been much more than what I expected on many different levels.
Take care,
Kristin
Dawn says
hi kristen,
thank you for your encouraging words…
they mean a lot…
i will be missing byw once it is over…
dawn x
soraya nulliah says
dear Dawn-first off…what stunning pics of those sunflowers! Just dripping with inspiration:) I loved reading all your ideas on how to facilitate inspiration-I use most of those myself. I especially like the “quiet” one-I think so many times we overlook it.
I wanted to thank you so very much for your very kind and thoughtful response to my “finding your niche” question on BYW. I just read it today (am a bit behind in class!) and …you are so sweet and encouraging:) I too am just loving BYW…so sad its’ almost over:(-Soraya
Dawn says
hello soraya,
thank you so much for having a look here…
your comments lift my spirits!
yes, ‘quiet’ seems to be a theme people connect with.
more than happy to help…
thanks again, dawn :)