The Power of Inspiration

Research has shown that inspiration is the key to staying motivated . It awakens us to new possibilities by allowing us to transcend our ordinary experiences and limitations. Inspiration propels a person from apathy to possibility, and transforms the way we perceive our own capabilities, and that’s something many of us could use more of right now. But how do we get there?

According to psychologists Todd M. Thrash and Andrew J. Elliot , there are three main aspects to inspiration: evocation, transcendence, and approach motivation. By its nature, inspiration is not something that can be planned. It occurs spontaneously, without intention or our own self-imposed limits. Think about the last time you came up with a solution or were inspired to set a new goal. In the first few moments, your mind didn’t focus on possibility or practicability. That is the power of inspiration; it reaches beyond logistics and allows you to create something entirely new. The next step is to bring that vision into reality, through approach motivation. According to Thrash and Elliot, inspiration involves being inspired by something and acting on that inspiration. Sometimes we stop ourselves from acting. Here’s are some ways you can build and tap into your own reservoir of inspiration, even when it feels impossible.

Learn

Explore industries completely different from your own in order to understand how they do things. After the movie Avatar came out in 2009, I booked a tour at an animation studio to learn about their processes. Although my work had nothing to do with animation, I was inspired by the way they created the animated experience and wanted to learn more. After the tour, I applied some of their processes to the way I do things in the L & D space (even 13 years later). Listening to another person's perspective, learning about another industry, and exploring new processes can sometimes give us a jolt of inspiration that we need. It’s a great way of challenging and expanding our own perspective.

Movement

In 1889, philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche wrote, “All truly great thoughts are conceived by walking.” Current research shows that there’s science behind that. According to a study out of Stanford University , walking helps boost creative ideation, cognitive function, and improves memory. Encourage more movement in your day and give yourself space to just breathe.

Time

We tend to believe our productivity is tied to how much time we spend working, but that’s not entirely true. According to the Journal of Positive Psychology , engaging in creative activities that you enjoy can actually impact how you feel in the days following the activity. In the study, researchers asked university students to keep a daily diary of their experiences and emotional states over 13 days. After analyzing the entries, researchers found that there was a pattern of participants feeling more enthusiasm and higher “flourishing” than usual following days they were more creative. The study defined flourishing to mean an increasing positive growth in oneself.

Recently, I was inspired by a tweet to make a list of Things I Never Regret . I use it as a reminder of where I draw my inspiration from. My list included playing, learning and spending uninterrupted time with my son, as well as going to the lake and waking up early. It’s easy to convince yourself that you’re too busy to be creative or to “play.” But what if you gave yourself time to do so each day?

Oftentimes, we become so focused on learning new skills and honing our talents, that we forget what encourages us to create our magic. When we continuously create from a place of exhaustion, and deplete ourselves of the opportunity to create, learn, and play, we engage in work that may not be reflective of our truest ability.

The power of inspiration is in redefining what’s possible for you. Sometimes what we need to propel us forward is a reminder that we can overcome many of the limits and barriers that keep us stuck. Sometimes that involves getting out of our own way and encouraging some movement, exploration, and play.

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