BEYOND INSPIRATION
BEYOND INSPIRATION
Throughout our lives we experience inspiration. It makes us feel alive and energized. We find ourselves in a state of effortlessness in our ability to create or accomplish the tasks set before us.
We all seek and depend upon inspiration in our lives. It is the driving force behind all that we do spanning the accomplishment of our ordinary, everyday demands to making decisions that will be life changing. Inspiration is the force behind the creative minds whose inventions have changed the world. A powerful weapon when one finds themselves in varying degrees of battle.
What is inspiration, and where does it come from?
In the Thesaurus, a list of related words for inspiration are motivation, stimulation, encouragement, muse, idea, brainwave, insight, flash, bright idea and revelation.
For me in honesty, I never really thought about it but always had a sense of gratitude when it came. I suppose I considered it as a divinely appointed spiritual experience that fuels our human need to contribute, to be of value and ultimately the fulfillment of our purpose. It is the reason behind that which we commit ourselves to, the people in our lives, important causes, desired accomplishments, acts of courage and yes the mundane demands of our daily living.
But what happens, when we no longer feel inspired and we struggle to meet the demands of commitment and desire. How does one find inspiration? Many of us will seek inspiration through books, tapes, videos and personal development courses which are helpful but somehow in time run their course.
Could it be in our efforts to contain inspiration within an experience, that we have missed its essence? Could it be that the inspiration is found within the spirit of our being, in everyone and everything that surrounds us? A constant and unique experience, specific to the individual and yet through common threads of understanding, we are able as a human race to witness its existence.
In writing this I believe I have found an answer to my struggle of being inspired. And that is, not to struggle in my pursuit of inspiration but to know that it exists, to look within myself, to see it the lives of those who cross my path, to become more aware of the cycles of creation creating that I witness every day. And in those moments of revelation allow inspiration to touch me.
In closing, I have included a video that truly inspired me and has brought even the toughest of men that I know to tears with its message. I am moved to tears and applaud every time I view this video. It is about an ordinary man, with an ordinary job who had a dream but lacked confidence. It one step of faith his life was changed forever.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y703tPc4PRk&feature=player_embedded
You inspire me,
Cathrine Feehely
Categories: INSPIRATION
Tags: inspiration cathrine feehely paul potts inspiring encouragement revelation motivation
Cathrine,
I don't think that Inspiration is something that can be sought and captured. You can't hunt her down like stalking a deer.
Inspiration arrives on the path that you prepare for her with consistent work. As you lay down brick after brick, and you are busy with the menial work, Inspiration will swoop in and carry you away when you least expect her.
You can't capture her. You can only welcome her when you are ready to receive her.
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Hi Cathrine,
What a great topic and article. Inspiration begins from within. I aspire to be open to spirit so that I recognize the lessons and inspirations that are present in every moment.
I love that video clip and wrote about it on my blog a while back, too. Thanks for the reminder to be grateful and to see the miracles all around me.
With love and a peaceful heart,
Theresa
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Thank you not only for an inspiring post, but also a wonderful reminder of to that inspiring video about Paul Potts - one I saw some time ago, and like you I was moved to tears.
I agree wholeheartedly that inspiration is all around us all the time, if we only have the spirit to invite it in and the eyes to see it.
When we are open to that 'essence of inspiration', as you so beautifully describe it, life holds so many magic moments that touch the soul.
Coincidentally just this week, only a little over a year after Paul's story, the internet has again been flooded with news about another magic moment from the same British TV show in which Paul sang.
I'm not sure if you've seen it yet - this time the video is of a woman called Susan Boyle, whose story is equally inspiring. I actually wrote something on my own blog today about it.
You are so right that inspiration is at its most elusive when we are hunting for it. It's like that old saying about chasing butterflies. Try to race after a butterfly and you won't catch it. Stop running madly about, just sit quietly, and it may alight softly on your shoulder.
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Catherine:
Thanks for sharing this article and video. I had seen the video before but seeing it again touched me as it had the first time I had seen it.
In addition to what you so eloquently write about inspiration I find, for me, that a simple change in routine can somehow have effects on my inspiration.
While on vacation with my son this past week we went to Sea World and watching "Believe" - their show with Shamu, brought tears to my eyes and it further reminded me that we are all really "one" in this planet.
Michelle Mangen
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Found you on twitter (and really liked what you're writing). I wish you'd post some of these writings on a community site that has a lot of lost & hurting souls looking for meaning in their lives: www.storyofmylife.com - many of them could benefit from hearing your messages.
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Interestingly enough, here I sit on Father's day in a hotel, in Jerome, Idaho, awaiting Tuesday's schedule in Thayne, Wyoming, and trying to increase my number of hits on several websites to hope for building monthly income enough to know I won't be up and down the road for life. When I stumbled across one of your tweets, clicked on your face to take me to your website, then your blog, to see that yours is hosted by the same one I recently set up on myself http://blog.krisswilliams.com and your dilemma seems seems to also be very close. I guess really why I've left this comment is because you don't seem to be following me on twitter, so this was the only other choice I seemed to have. I would like to hear how you are coming on your project, and as you can see on my blog, it's blank.
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Thank you for this article, and yes Paul Potts is an ongoing inspiration, in fact here is his current website http://www.paulpottsofficial.com/us/
still a very humble man, with an unbelievable voice.
In terms of inspiration, it usually and frequently comes to those that seek it, or ask for it. But in seeking it, the tricky thing isn't directly looking for that inspiration, but rather being open to what can come through the channels of relaxation, gratitude, charitable work, hope and kindness to those that can't repay you.
That seeking may be completely different than one would think about the word "seek." The paradox is, not expecting that which you need/desire, and giving freely, realizing your own gratitude for the blessings you live with, and voicing your thanks...you get back more than you could ever give.
Shared words of those with "like" faith can be a start of channeling expounded inspiration to the extreme pleasure and enlightenment of all those involved. Please email me when you have the opportunity, your return email isn't deliverable, when I tried.
Thanks again for sharing, and firing those chambers.
Kriss
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