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There are stages in which we learn consciously and premeditatedly. Every day, without fail, we learn something. Most of the time we do it from the example of others, especially those who inspire us.
Now, the first question you may ask yourself is what is inspiration? If we stick to the dictionary definition, we run the risk of falling into the trap of the muses. “The action and effect of inspiring or being inspired”, “A stimulus that encourages creative work in art or science” or “To feel motivated by someone or something for the development of one’s own creation” are some possible meanings.
For the purposes of this content and the message I have prepared for you, I identify with the last definition. I am convinced from the experiences I have lived that inspiration is the spark of motivation, the breath of the muses awakening dreams and illusions, and also that engine that should not be missing to achieve goals. Inspiration is the fuel of motivation.
In childhood, mainly, though this process never truly ends, we adopt what we see from the people around us as a source of learning. Our parents and relatives, our friends and teachers inspire us, and in turn, motivate us. They are a reference, a model that we long to imitate: “When I grow up, I want to be like you, dad/mom,” we say.
Also, especially in this globalized world, there are the modes of inspiration transmitted by the media (television, movies) and the Internet (social networks, mainly). These are often not adequate, because they encourage us to be inspired by figures or people who lack values, who are not guided by principles to act, who are not a good influence.
Likewise, there are other sources of inspiration: a book, a song, a work of art, a place or an activity such as practicing sports, dancing or cooking. In short, inspiration is everywhere, it is within everyone’s reach, but ironically we spend our lives looking for inspiration. And we do not find it for a simple reason: we look for it where it is not.
What does that mean? That, just like with happiness or success, we are wrong to look for it outside when it is actually inside of us. In other words, it is a self-construction that, although it follows the example of others or imitates the model of others, must be adapted to what we are because otherwise it will go against our essence.
For example: Understanding inspiration as the motivation required to achieve something, if you start a healthy diet, everything you need is within you. What do I mean? Discipline, self-esteem, self-love, and self-knowledge. It is convenient when you receive the help of a suitable professional who guides you, who prevents you from making mistakes, but the rest is up to you.
That is the reason why so many people set their New Year’s resolutions to “go to the gym” or “lose weight,” goals that quickly fade away. Why? There is a lack of self-esteem, a lack of self-love, a lack of discipline, a lack of self-knowledge to know that, for example, it is better to go out and ride a bike or go to the pool to swim than to go to the gym. Do you understand?
Now, it is important to take into account another factor: it is not possible to be motivated all the time, we are not inspired all the time. Why? Because life is like that, a constant coming and going, going up and down, falling and getting up. One day we wake up full of energy, positive, and at any moment a small event changes our course, and we end up bored.
In addition, inspiration comes and goes also because we get distracted, because we lose focus on what we want. The reason? It may well be that it is something that we do not want with the necessary passion, and we lose motivation at the first difficulty that presents itself. It may also be because along the way we find something different that catches our attention.
Most of the time, however, it is because we let ourselves be carried away by emotions, those mischievous, capricious and treacherous ladies. We accumulate emotions related to the goal we set for ourselves, which become a heavy burden that sooner or later overwhelms us. That is when we allow negative thoughts to invade us.
And that is where motivation ends and inspiration is driven away. As the Spanish painter Pablo Picasso said, “Inspiration exists, but it has to find you working.” What does that mean? That for inspiration to become the driving force of your dreams, you need to be fertile ground, to be prepared to receive it and, above all, to take the necessary actions.
Whatever you want in life, no matter how ambitious that desire is, is possible to achieve. You will need knowledge, developing some basic skills, practice, and that extra bit of inspiration. Which, I repeat, is within you, it is a powerful force built into your original configuration. You just have to discover it, activate it, and take advantage of it.
You must also know that inspiration by itself will not help you if you do not do what each situation or challenge demands of you. For example, it is not enough to watch videos of how to prepare smoked salmon: you have to go to the kitchen and prepare it. Maybe it doesn’t work the first time, it burns or is undercooked; it doesn’t matter. As long as you persist, sooner or later you will achieve it.
And the same goes for each and every goal you set for yourself in life. Learn another language? You can. Study another career? You can. Get your dream job? You can. And so on. Motivation as a manifestation of inspiration is a very powerful force that, like the brain or muscles, is strengthened and enhanced if you use it more.
Your dreams, for example, are a source of inspiration: they motivate you to fight for them, to give that extra effort required to get out of your comfort zone and get what you want. Although you may have already realized it, I emphasize it: inspiration’s best allay is perspiration, that is, work. Again: inspiration without action is nothing more than a transitory, ephemeral impulse.
Let’s look at a classic example of what most people think of inspiration. Do you think Vincent van Gogh would have managed to leave such a rich legacy with inspiration alone? No, of course not. There were many hours, many days, dedicated to work, to polishing the details of his works until they were just the way he wanted them. He painted more than 800 paintings and about 1,600 drawings.
And no matter what model you take, you will realize that it is a constant: “Inspiration exists, but it has to find you working,” as Pablo Picasso said. Colombian writer Gabriel García Márquez, winner of the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1982, used to say that his work consisted of “99 percent perspiration and 1 percent inspiration.”
Whatever you want in life, no matter how ambitious that desire is, is possible to achieve. You will need knowledge, developing some basic skills, practice, and that extra bit of inspiration. Which, I repeat, is within you, it is a powerful force built into your original configuration. You just have to discover it, activate it, and take advantage of it.
Now, an important note: to take advantage of inspiration, it is necessary that your head and heart are calm. In the midst of life’s storms, the difficulties and conflicts of everyday life, inspiration fades away. Why? Because in a hectic environment, your brain and heart are distracted, sensitive, and not able to receive the message you send.
Doctors Todd M. Thrash and Andrew J. Elliot, who have studied inspiration in depth, establish some common characteristics in people who make use of the power of inspiration. These are factors, behaviors, and personality traits that differentiate them from the rest and, in particular, allow them to achieve achievements that for most, are unattainable.
Let’s look at these characteristics:
1.- They are open-minded. They are willing to live new experiences, especially those that give them the possibility of learning, of feeling different things, of interacting with others.
2.- They are very active. Inspiration, contrary to what many think, only comes when you are working, when you are fertile ground to receive and take advantage of stimuli.
3.- They do not expect anything in return. What motivates them is doing, growing, feeling, seeing how they can generate changes and transformations that positively impact others.
4.- They are better people. Why? Because, supported by inspiration, they develop creativity, attention, reflection, the ability to achieve, and self-competence
5.- They have better self-esteem. Since they are balanced, they enjoy emotional well-being, they feel more positive, ready to take on life’s challenges, to transform their reality.
Now, the million dollar question: why inspiration?
We are not in this world by chance: we were entrusted with a task, we came here with a purpose that is none other than to serve others, to help others. Everything, absolutely everything that life gives us, is granted to us based on that task, that purpose. They are necessary tools to carry out that task that was given to us.
Because, and this is the message I want to convey to you here, inspiration only makes sense when we use it to share with others what life has given us. Knowledge, experiences, learning from mistakes and the fruit of gifts and talents. All of these are resources destined to cause a positive impact on the lives of others.
So how do you do it?
First, be authentic, be yourself. Don’t follow someone else’s script, although it is valid and often necessary, to follow the model of others who are already where you want to be.
Secondly, forget about learning a nice speech and reciting it everywhere: to inspire, there is nothing better, nothing more powerful, than the example based on your values, your principles.
In other words, let your deeds, your actions, speak for you. Of course, this implies that you must be consistent: that your actions correspond with your words, because otherwise you will lack credibility. Third, be humble: remember that the best teacher is, in essence, an eternal learner. Never stop learning, because otherwise you will stagnate.
Fourth, work with passion and, above all, in what you are passionate about. This is very important because only if you enjoy what you do are you able to inspire others. Fifth, be grateful for life and for others, because it is a blessing to be on the side of those who give, of those who have something to give, and not on the side of those who need, of those who are in a hurry. From the first day of life, and for as long as our existence lasts, human beings are in a permanent learning process. Most of the time we learn from the example that others give us, especially those who inspire us.
From the first day of life, and for as long as our existence lasts, human beings are in a permanent learning process. And most of the time we learn from the example that others give us, especially those who inspire us.
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