SATISFIED SATURDAY: Finding Inspiration

Everyone lacks motivation from time to time. Often this lack of motivation is directly related to the way in which you are looking at a specific task you have to accomplish. If you view a task as an inconvenience or as something that you really don't want to do, you will have a difficult time getting motivated to accomplish that task. The truth of the matter is that all of us must do some things of have some experiences that are either an inconvenience or something that we really don't want to be bothered with. So how do you get motivated to meet those challenges when you feel unmotivated to accomplish them?

First, let us look at what motivation is. The dictionary definition of motivation is "the general desire or willingness of someone to do something." It clearly implies that motivation comes from within. Inspiration is a self-generated force that motivates you to action. Inspiration comes entirely from within you. It is the result of having the desire and the feeling of excitement about any task you might need to face, whether or not that task is something you really want to do.

Moreover, inspiration becomes a genuine choice you make by the way you view a task. If you have the attitude of "I have to do this because I was told to do it" you will be less inspired to accomplish it than if you were to think, "I want to do it because that's what I want to do." The way you think about a task, your attitude toward it, will affect your inspiration, and therefore your motivation.

Inspiration is not just some divine gift bestowed upon certain people from the heavens. Inspiration is a gift we all possess, regardless of our religious beliefs; although it has been found that your beliefs do affect your inspiration. But the secret to inspiration is to be found in switching how you think about the task at hand. Again, if you think about the task along the line of something "I have to do" you will be less inspired to accomplish it and will generally just go through the motions to accomplish it, with very little, if any, internal gratification.

An important note to make here is that gratification feeds inspiration. Gratification and inspiration are related. Gratification takes place when you have accomplished a task and get that feeling of satisfaction within yourself.

Gratification is that sense of wellbeing for a job well done that you experience and it will fuel your inspiration for the next task. In addition, gratification can be internal evidence of your inspiration. Inspiration is also compounded with each success.

Desire is another element of inspiration. Desire stresses strength of feeling and a strong intention toward a goal or aim. Much like gratification, desire is fuel to inspiration. In fact, desire nurtures inspiration. And the more desire you create within yourself toward accomplishing your goals the more inspired you will become, not only toward your goals, but your life in general.

Finding inspiration when you need to get motivated is a matter of knowing the difference between inspiration and motivation, as well as their relationship to each other. As mentioned earlier, motivation can come from both inside and outside of us. External motivation comes in a wide variety of forms, from paying the bills to performing well on the job to get that raise. Inspiration, on the other hand, is strictly internal and comes from conscious decisions and attitudes about a task, the environment, and your life.

Inspiration is not concerned with the external stimulus because inspiration is a higher level of functioning and thought processing that is highly dependent on your attitude and desire to be successful.

Finding inspiration is an important part of getting through each day, regardless of what you hope to get out of it. Here are some tips that can help you find inspiration in your daily life:

• Friends and family. Your friends and family can be a great source of inspiration to you. Talk to them about your worries, fears, hopes, and dreams and listen to their advice and positive thoughts. Often, people and loved ones can give you a fresh perspective on life that leads to new feelings and thoughts of inspiration.
• Music. Music has more power over people than they often realize. Music can be calming and soothing when you listen to your favorite songs or artists you enjoy that have a positive effect on you. Take some time in the car or as you get ready for the day to play music and think about the lyrics or the feeling the music gives you. You might be surprised at the inspiration you find in it.
• Nature. There's a reason people take walks along the beach or drives through the country when they need to think-nature has a great effect on people and is so inspirational it has been the source behind many poems and songs by great artists. As you look for inspiration in the every day, stop to observe the beauty and calm of the world around you.
• Books. Whether they are inspirational books or religious texts like the Bible, many people turn to books for inspiration. Memorize your favorite passages or phrases from books you come across and turn to them when you need inspiration.
• Art. Art is also inspirational and can be found all over the place in everyday life, not just in museums. Look for inspiration in your children's pictures, book illustrations, or other forms of artwork.
• Children. Children are all around, but few people tend to turn to kids for inspiration. Yet you can learn a lot and be inspired in the simple things children do. Try and look at children with a different outlook and see how their childlike love and trust can be inspirational to you.
• Meditation. You can find inspiration in the every day simply by keeping your mind in tune. This is difficult if you are consistently stressed out or frazzled, so take some time to meditate during the day. This can be getting up a few minutes early to be alone with your thoughts, taking a bubble bath, or going for a walk on your lunch break.
• Daily activities. You'd be surprised to know the simple, every day places you can find inspiration. This is especially true during times where you are alone with your thoughts; for example, in the shower, driving in your car, or working out.