I’ve been thinking about the people and experiences lately that have really helped solidify my goals and dreams. First and foremost, I credit my family and friends that motivate me each and every day; however, there are other sources of inspiration that give me that extra boost. Whether it’s people that have been there and done that or visual exercises I do to remind me of my long-term goals, these are all immensely helpful in keeping me excited for what’s to come.
- Game changing people – On social media, I follow a handful of entrepreneurs I admire to keep me inspired. These people all had to start somewhere (often from nowhere) and it’s a great reminder to keep persisting and dig deep. Mentorship would also be a great source of inspiration here as well as we often choose mentors that we aspire to be like. Richard Branson writes, “My professional inspiration has no separation from my personal inspiration: it is people who will stop at nothing to make a positive difference to other people’s lives,” Branson writes. “I am fortunate to come across quite a few of these game-changing people, and the desire to help (and keep up with them!) is what drives me.”
- Vision Boards – This is one of my favorite activities ever since college, and if nothing else, it’s a clarifying exercise in what’s important. What exactly is a vision board? According to a Huffington Post article, a vision board is all about “Creating a sacred space that displays what you want. When you create a vision board and place it in a space where you see it often, you essentially end up doing short visualization exercises throughout the day.” I was so hesitant to share my vision board (in fact, it was something I almost wanted to hide from my family!). It showcases my dream of being an entrepreneur, the best mom and wife I can be, and things that just get to the core of my happiness (like snow-capped mountains). I was hung up for awhile on cutting out magazine articles, etc. but this year I did a digital board and it was AWESOME. Not only did it save time, but I was really able to focus on images that inspired me. Pinterest, Google, etc. were all great resources for building the board I wanted for 2020.
- Past Achievements – According to A Conscious Rethink, “Past achievements can serve as a reminder and a springboard for what you can accomplish in your present and future. Nothing worthwhile is easy. There are so many things that started off as just small ideas that were built on over the course of time. Reflection can be an important reminder that there are still great things ahead for you in your life.” Sounding cliche, it is easy to get stuck on how far you have to go before acknowledging how far you’ve come. Taking a minute to pause and reflect can inspire you to think bigger and broader.
What sources of inspiration are your favorites? I’ve only listed a few but could go on forever. I hope you are able to find some of these new and useful and would love to hear your thoughts.
Take care and be well,
Emree