Inspiration is all around us, we just need to know where to look. Whether we are looking for something to give us hope in a time of need, to get our creative juices flowing or for an example to follow, finding something – or someone – that inspires you has the ability to make all the difference.
To be inspired is to be driven. Without inspiration, it can be difficult to find the motivation that drives you forward and that is arguably true in whatever context you try to make it fit. For example, a creative person feeds off inspiration as it is that what gives them ideas to work with, such as an artist painting on a blank canvas or a songwriter penning a new song.
Inspiration can also be what gives people hope. By seeing others who have endured hard times, similar to what you may be enduring, gives hope that you can also come through whatever obstacle may lay in front of you. Whether that is seeing someone overcome financial difficulties, a spinal cancer diagnosis or a disability, you can draw on their experiences as inspiration.
Who or What is Inspirational?
What may be inspirational to one person may not be to another, it is all down to personal opinion. Where one person may simply see a sunrise early in the morning, another may see the backdrop for their latest piece of art. We are inspired by different things, and at different times in our life. We may look back on things we have witnessed, people we have met or something else and, even if we didn’t find it particularly moving at the time, find it inspirational. Context is important.
Inspiration is something that moves us which evokes emotion. It can be anything, and the same thing can inspire different people in different ways by evoking different emotions. The same person or event can evoke emotions from different ends of the spectrum, inspiring people to either achieve a goal and/or avoid making a mistake.
Where to Find Inspiration
Inspiration can be found anywhere we look, but if you are actively looking for inspiration then there are many places in which it can be found. Going out for a walk, talking to friends and family, visiting new places or just simply keeping your eyes and ears open as you go about your business.
Exercise can be a good way of finding inspiration as it releases endorphins and puts the mind at ease. When you are becoming overawed in a situation and need to get away from something, going out for a run can make the world of difference. By clearing your mind and returning to what it was you were doing/struggling with, you can view things from a fresh perspective.
One way that has grown in popularity to find inspiration is by browsing the selection of TED talks on offer, where viewers can find presentations by personalities in a field in which they hold an interest (or even not). This is particularly popular for business-minded people, taking ideas and examples from others that have achieved goals that they also aspire to. They may already consider that person to be an inspiration, which is why listening to them can be the source of greater inspiration.
Look
If you want to find inspiration, then look because it can be found wherever you are, whenever you are there. What inspires you may not inspire someone else, and that is okay.
