2010-07-05T10:32:00.001-07:00

When stressed or blocked it is wise to make a change so that we don't stay in that place. Yet, many times we forget some of the simple things that we can do for ourselves, quickly and easily to bring our inspiration back and increase our creativity.

1. If you usually type your first drafts, hand write them. Nothing compares to the feeling the ink melting into the paper and the surge of that creative flow.

2. If you spend too much time at the computer, take a break every hour. Go for a walk or just sit outside in the sun. Even five minutes in a winter sun does wonders for a mood and creativity.

3. Flip through magazines or books. Their colors and ideas will give you sparks and switch your attitude. Blue and green can reduce your stress levels by 30% or more.

4. Add strong smells to the room. Light scented candles around you, visit the fruit isle at the grocery store, or go to a store that is heavily scented. Find an orange or strawberries and smell it. Both will change a mood or create inspiration. Smells awaken your creativity. Smells trigger memories and are a great method to rekindle stories from the past.

5. Go see or rent an inspirational movie. Relaxation time is important. You can even take your notebook and record inspirational phases. Afterwards free write that those phrases bring up from your subconscious.

6. Read a book that stirs you or sparks your creativity. If you prefer, read poetry.

7. Look at bold and bright colors for a few minutes. These change your mood.

8. Talk with a friend about your topic to flesh out ideas and creativity. Record the conversation, with their permission of course, and play it back to hear the little nuances that you might have missed.

9. Write an e-mail to a friend to tell him or her what you want to accomplish. If you are stuck, say so and ask for help.

10. Check in with your vibrational energy and do something to switch it into high gear. Take a shower. Go for a walk. Turn on some music and dance naked for a few minutes.

11. Hire a virtual assistant to do some typing so that you can stay focused on writing. You can fax your writing or dictate it into the computer and send her a voice file for transcription.

12. Go to church for the noon service or whisper a prayer or two. This reconnects your energy with the universe and replenishes what might be missing.

13. Complete an appreciation exercise. Pick something around you, like the telephone, lamp, or pen. Talk to it and tell it how much you appreciate having the electricity to turn it on, the opportunity to write with a tool that has the ink inside, not like a quill, or the softness of the paper you write on. Be grateful for that you have and not what you are missing. Or make a list of "count your blessing" items.

14. Write a personal note to friends or family and tell them how much you love them, appreciate their thoughtfulness, or kindness.

15. Authentic, flat-out, raw laughter frees the psyche and opens the creativity process.

16. Find a setting with lots of trees and flowers and feel nature. If the weather permits, take off your shoes and socks and feel the grass between your toes. Nature has a way of freeing our spirit and renewing our soul.

17. If guilt or a passed incident has captured your mind, write a "Dear Me" letter and ask yourself for forgiveness to loosen it's grip and expand your freedom.

18. Are you use to writing in a quiet place? Find a noisy place to write, like McDonald's or the mall. When your space is noisy you will have to focus harder in order to write with clarity.

19. Go for a quiet leisurely drive, listen to a favorite CD. You can sing out of tune and no one will notice (laughter aloud).

20. Do something nice for someone else that you wouldn't normally do and be a gracious receiver of a hug.

That was exciting, wasn't it? Post this list in a conspicuous place so that it is readily available when you need it, right next to your writing area is best. Do one or two of these daily and keep on writing. Your readers are waiting to read your words.

2010-07-05T10:30:00.000-07:00

When I woke up the following morning, I was fortunate to be alive. My inspiration for being alive was the result of having survived a overnight robbery that spared my life and that of two of my military comrades.

The inspiration behind my motivation was simply the result of having my life spared by a robbery in the night. Shortly after finishing the triathlon training for our team competition in Saint Thomas, United States Virgin Islands, our team went to dinner and then to the condo we were staying in preparing for our competition.

Our watches, rings, cash and special mementos were stolen but the most important thing was left untouched, our lives. Think I am not motivated to live every single day of my life like its the last?

Every since the robbery I have been living my life as if it were the least day of my life. The fact of the matter is, I almost lost my life as a result of a robbery. I am fully persuaded that God covered me and my my military comrades and where it not for our creator, we surely would have been murdered.

Perhaps your situation is not as traumatic as mine, but the reality is your motivation has a direct relationship with the inspiration you have. For example, if you decide to start a business and if its to be successful you must be inspired to deliver services and or products and your level of motivation will be a direct result of inspiration.

Case in point, if you decided to write a book its an exciting period in your life, however when you share it with family and friends, likelihood is they will not be as excited about it as you. Excitement and inspiration can be one and the same, the difference with writing your book is motivation.

Family and friends will not be motivated about your book because its not personal for them. How do I know this?

It happened to me, the minute I shared my happiness about writing a book, my family and friends were not feeling what I was feeling and they expressed it by saying, "You cannot write a book."

Strange is the best word I could come up with because I am excited and happy when a family member and or friend sets out to accomplish a dream. It just goes to show you, what inspires and motivates one person, will likely differ for another.

The bottom line is, inspiration is a catalyst for motivation. Whatever you decide to do in life, be inspired and motivated to see your dreams come to fruition.

My Daily Info