How to be Inspired on Demand

This is a guest post by Henri Junttila at WakeupCloud

We all cry after inspiration. If you’re a blogger, you probably feel like there isn’t enough to go around, but what you don’t know is that there is an infinite amount of it floating all over the place. All you have to do is tap into it and that is exactly what you will learn to do in this article.

Why wait for something that is all around you? I have an abundance of ideas jotted down and more coming to me all the time. The more open you are to new possibilities, the more “ideas” you will receive.

There is no right way to go about this, so this article is meant as a suggestion only, because what works for me may not work for you. Try the tips in this article and see how they feel. They might give rise to new methods of grabbing inspiration. When that happens, make sure you share it with us!

3 Ways to Be Inspired

1. Meditation. Sitting down for 10-15 minutes of meditation is one of the best ways to be inspired whenever and wherever you want. Sit down, focus on your breath for 5 minutes and observe the thoughts that pop into your mind. What are you thinking about? Is there a problem looming about that you can write about? The possibilities are endless.

2. Walk. Taking a walk is a time-proven way of clearing your mind. When you clear your mind, you allow inspiration to enter. Remember that saying: if your cup is full, then no more inspiration (information) can enter. Make sure your mind is clear and crisp. You will see that the inspiration has always been there.

3. Listen. Most people miss the fact that inspiration is everywhere because they do not listen. Step out of your mind and your thoughts for a while and enjoy what is right in front of you. Sit in silence as often as you can. A lot of people today are scared of the silence, because they cannot face their mind. Constantly distracting yourself will get you nowhere. Turn everything off and just listen. Let your thoughts pass.

Being Okay with What Is

As I said above, there is no one way to do this. We all want certainty. We want that one method that is guaranteed to work. If there’s one thing that I have learned during my short lifetime it is that nothing is certain.

Listen to your own feelings, thoughts and inspiration. You will most certainly feel inclined to do something. Maybe your thoughts flow when you play ice hockey. Maybe you are struck with inspiration when you talk to people.

Whatever it is, embrace it and use it, because it is there for a reason.

Henri Junttila is a lifestyle superhero and the father of the Wake Up Cloud, a blog about small ideas that produce big results. Subscribe now and follow him on twitter

1. 

   Srinivas Rao says:

   January 15, 2010 at 3:36 am

   @Henri: Thanks again for the guest post here. One of things that inspires me about you is the rate at which you are growing, guest posting everywhere and really pushing the limits of what people think is possible. I think you really show us here that ideas are abundant if we are willing to take a few small steps to activate the imagination.
2. 

   Henri Junttila says:

   January 15, 2010 at 10:17 am

   Thanks for letting me! It certainly isn’t always easy for me to write either, I’ve had a few days that were rough and nothing seemed to come out but mostly when you write every day it all works out.

   I also think a big part of why I am making so much progress is because I’m extremely passionate about what I do, so that helps a lot!
3. 

   Archan Mehta says:

   January 15, 2010 at 7:40 pm

   Henri,-

   Thanks for this post about inspiration. It was an inspiring post!
   Here’s my take on this issue: I have a few ideas to contribute too.

   Some people complain about not being inspired. Their lives are boring. Your life is probably boring because you don’t feel inspired by the “old wine in new bottle” mindset. What’s the solution?

   Well, if you really want to be inspired, look for inspiration in unusual places. For example, if you feel your life is a joke at work, do something that compels you to step out of your normal routine. For me, I remember the first time I went swimming it was a revelation. I have never felt so refreshed in my life, energetic. For you, it can be learning how to play a musical tool.

   If you are a mathematician and feel bored with numbers, try something else that makes you feel more inspired. How about learning how to garden, so you can grow your own fruits and vegetables? There is no rule that says: mathematicians are only concerned with numbers and can’t be sensitive toward nature.

   Some people complain about being bored because they have a 8 to 5 job and hate the rat-race. Well, be inspired and try to start a home-based business or join a volunteer group and work for a charitable organization (NGO) even if it means less money. Many people have left the daily grind of the corporate world to pursue a life of the imagination or doing something that inspires them.

   Are you bored with your friends? Have you run out of things to say to them? Well, make new friends who share your interests and outlook. Or, spend more time in the library reading inspirational literature, such as Agatha Christie, Sherlock Holmes and P.G. Wodehouse. Get out of your inertia and find something that makes you feel like your spirit is flying like an eagle in the sky.
4. 

   Henri Junttila says:

   January 17, 2010 at 11:08 pm

   Excellent comment, Archan. I agree completely with what you said. Take action in your life and do things out of the ordinary. It will spark new thought and inspiration, guaranteed!

   Thanks for reading!
5. 

   Srinivas Rao says:

   January 18, 2010 at 1:32 am

   @Archan: Thanks so much or the insightful comments. They could have been a separate blog post in and of themselves .