Discover what inspires you
What a beautiful time of year it is out in nature. Just this weekend I have seen clusters of snowdrops everywhere, bright yellow daffodils displaying their cheery heads, pink and blue hyacinths wafting wonderful perfumes, crocuses adorning grassy banks and little blue tits, great tits and long tailed tits flitting around the bird feeders.
We even had a beautiful sunny Saturday! Evidence of new life is everywhere and the promise of Spring is in the air. Such joys of nature can really begin to lift our spirits after long, dark and damp wintery days.
One of the problems with feeling low or stressed is that it can occupy a great amount of time and energy as we try to think of ways to resolve what’s troubling us. How often do we just wind up going round and round in the same circles in our minds?!
A helpful tool at these points is to find an exit route to break the cycle. How? you might ask? There are many techniques we can use and one of my personal favourites is to actively seek inspiration.
What do I mean by inspiration? Things that move us, make us feel happy, creative, alive, motivated, in touch with something big and beautiful outside of our daily awareness.. and encourage us to engage with the world by getting out there and doing something differently.
The word inspiration has been described as being ‘in spirit’ or divinely influenced and certainly in those moments of feeling inspired we seem to allow another energy to interrupt the negative thought cycle and open us up to a different and more helpful state of mind.
Who or what might you seek for inspiration?
Here are my top 5 tips to get you started:
1. Pioneers – people who bring something of great value into the world to the benefit of others. It may come from living through a challenge or simply a passion but they make a life changing contribution to the world and we invariably can learn a great deal from them. Two great examples that come to mind are:
Louise Hay known as one of the founders of the self-help movement. Through Louise’s healing techniques and positive philosophy, millions have learned how to create more of what they want in their lives, including more wellness in their bodies, minds, and spirits. Louise also founded Hay House a publishing company who publish self help, inspirational and transformational books and products and set up live and online events to enable the world access to a myriad of authors and speakers.
Then of course we have our very own Alfred Vogel. Alfred Vogel was many things, a pioneer in natural health, a naturopath, a nutritional therapist, a tireless researcher, a gifted communicator and a passionate explorer. He was the first to practice what he preached, eating an unrefined and simple diet, skiing well into his nineties and relishing the work that he loved and the company of people he worked with.
2. Volunteers and those who raise money for valuable causes by undertaking an adventure, creating an event, working in charity shops, donating money etc. Close to our head office in Scotland is Hessilhead Wildlife sanctuary, caring for Scotland’s sick, injured and orphaned animals. They posted a very endearing story recently about a 7 year old girl who instead of asking for presents for herself for her birthday asked friends and family to donate money to Hessilhead instead. She raised £97!
Our Sales Manager, Sarah, is tireless in her own work and dedication to charity. It must run in her family as her sister, Rebecca, started a 1,050 miles trek all the way around Wales on 1st March to raise money for Shelter Cymru
3. Creativity – whatever medium an artist may use for their work (paint, textiles, glass, wood, metals, flowers, crystals etc) they add beauty, colour and vibrancy to our lives in their creation of visual delight and may even tempt us to try our hand. Some of my favourites are:
Jane E Hall, Cloth of Nature
John Wakefield
Claire Johnson
4. The words of wisdom and humble acts of spiritual people who display integrity and leadership from a place of humility and simplicity can be guides to helping us think in new ways e.g.
Mahatma Gandhi – ‘ You must be the change you wish to see in the world.’
Mother Teresa – ‘Not all of us can do great things. But we can do small things with great love.”
St Francis of Assisi – “All the darkness in the world cannot extinguish the light of a single candle
5. The beauty of the natural world. Who amongst us has not felt the power and sense of connection of being out in special places in nature. We all have our favourites. They may be close by or overseas but the way we feel when we think of them tends to linger. One thought and we are back in our mind’s eye. Close to home? All the better, as we can visit frequently.
A bluebell wood in Spring
The Grand Canyon
Vogel’s clinic in Teufen
Still looking for ideas?
One of my favourite authors, Cheryl Richardson who writes extensively about self care, has a page on her website that may just help.
There are so many people, places and things out there just waiting to be discovered which can help change the way we view the world. In this day and age of modern technology the world is literally our oyster and inspiration is everywhere we look if we are open to receive.
Do share with us your top inspirational tips!
