Topic of the Week

Get Inspired!

“Keep your face to the sunshine and you

cannot see the shadow.”— Helen Keller

Before March rolls around and I start receiving calls for interviews from magazines working on spring stories related to sticking with New Year’s resolutions, I thought I’d offer you a little shot of inspiration early this year. It’s from a story I shared in 2007 that spawned a great list of ways to stay motivated.

A group of friends invited me to see the movie “Dreamgirls,” staring Eddie Murhpy, Jamie Foxx, Beyonce Knowles and Jennifer Hudson (who is amazing!). During the movie I was so moved, that I found myself thinking: “I need to do this more often. I need to put myself in places where I have a chance to experience this kind of ‘visceral inspiration,’ – a strong emotional reaction that lifts me up, takes me to new places in my mind, ignites my creativity, and gives me a first-hand experience of what it looks and feels like to channel Divine Creative Expression.” I left the movie thinking about inspiration and the role it plays in keeping us motivated to achieve our most heart-felt goals.

I’m sure you’ve had a similar experience where you find yourself deeply influenced by a theater performance, a great song, or the stunning beauty of visual art, only to be transported to another place that connects you to your highest potential. You might see a powerful character in a movie who encourages you to keep taking the acting class you finally signed up for last month. Or, you might read the biography of a great athlete who renews your commitment to keep going to the gym. It’s the energy of inspiration that can be used as divine fuel that keeps us moving in the right direction.

So, what inspires you to keep pursuing your dreams? Here are a few examples from members of our community:

• From an artist: a visit to my favorite museum

• From a writer: a long walk on the beach

• From a mom: seeing my daughter in a piano recital

• From a daily exerciser: listening to a playlist of my favorite music

• From a dancer: watching a dvd of my own dance performances

This year, why not make a deliberate attempt to fuel your goals, resolutions, or dreams with regular inspiration – starting now? Don’t wait until you lose steam. Make a list of the things that inspire you and resolve to have one experience every week. If music, movies, books, or great conversations provide you with inspiration, you might even make it a daily habit – they’re easy to incorporate into your day. When thinking about inspiration, keep this in mind:

Inspiration = Motivation and Motivation = Realized Dreams

For more great ideas from our community, check out this week’s Take Action Challenge.

Let’s get excited about making a great life, shall we?

Take Action Challenge

Where do you find inspiration? Let our community members inspire you to find new ways to stay motivated. Check out this terrific list of examples from people who care about you. You’ll find them here.