In the last few weeks I have had a few clients question what inspiration really is and how it shows up in life.
My ‘oh so knowledgeable coaching self’ responded with: “It depends”.
The truth is that inspiration is different for everyone. What inspires one person might completely deter someone else from doing what they need to do. Our likes and dislikes are so very unique that telling you what form inspiration can take for you would likely not be entirely true.
The same goes for how it shows up in your life. Some people get inspired in a way that makes them excited, uplifted, and running to the canvas, the page, the computer, or whatever they are inspired to do. For others, it comes as a faint whisper that can easily go unnoticed.
I can’t speak for everyone, but I can tell you what I have noticed from myself and from clients regarding the many ways inspiration can show up.
I am often inspired by quotes, books, lines in movies, articles, music, nature, conversations with others, and oddly enough, water. I get some of my best ideas when I am in the shower and my mind is on auto-pilot with no real rhyme or reason to the direction my thought process in the moment. I also notice that when a great idea for a blog post, offering, quote, or something else comes to me, if I am not open to it, then it will vanish as quickly as it came. So, as a result I have learned to be open to the ideas that come and to write them down as soon as I can, even if I have no idea where it might lead. (Take a glance at my brainstorming notebook and you will find a collection of ideas, words, titles etc.)
In my coaching, I talk a lot about inspired action and following your inspiration to the next step, but I have found that there seems to be a misconception about what inspiration actually feels like. For most people it is simply a heightened awareness or thought that leads to another thought, that might lead to doing something etc. One thing leads to another and before you know it you have followed the breadcrumbs to an amazing destination that might manifest itself as wonderful opportunities, a book, a course, a piece of art, etc.
What is interesting is that inspiration doesn’t always result in a fire-in-your-belly-run-as-fast-as-you-can-back-to-your-workspace feeling. Sometimes it comes as a whisper. A faint thought that peaks your interest and gets you thinking about something in a different way. It may not seem all that important in the moment, but I am here to tell you those faint whispers hold a ton of power and punch if they are used the right way.
In fact, the name of my blog, my coaching model, numerous blog posts, a new offering I will be rolling out next week, and a future workbook I want to put together all came to me in faint whispers. Some came a few words at a time, others came as full-fledged titles and images, but the one thing they all have in common is the speed with which they came to me. One moment I was doing something (like washing my hair) not related to my business or writing work and BOOM there it was.
Inspiration is an amazing thing and sometimes all it takes is the ability for you to be open to it and not try to force it into being. Simply noticing moments that peak your interest and lead you to something else (an action or a string of thoughts), is a great way to learn more about your process of creating and living the life of your dreams. It’s a simple step that will likely be a game-changer in how you live and is something I do with all of my clients.
Have you experienced big inspirational movements or do you generally get the gentle whispers that lead you to the next thing? How does inspiration show up for you? Share in the comments below, I would love to hear how you are inspired!