Inspiration is a lot like perspiration they both take a lot of hard work and concentration to get to the next level. When I am looking for inspiration to get to my 5:30 am spin class 3x a week for the sole purpose of creating a lot of perspiration; I think about how much better I will feel after the class is over not the hard work it will take to get through the class. Sometimes we get caught up in the hard work it takes to get through a job, a project or a workout but we miss that overwhelming feeling of satisfaction at the end of it. Next time you are faced with a big job ask yourself how great am I going to feel when it is all over? Use that as your motivation for inspiration to gain perspiration.
On October 17th my oldest son John got married. It was a beautiful day and a great wedding with such a diverse group of people and we all had a wonderful time! My new daughter Courtney spent 2 years planning the wedding and she did a tremendous job in all aspects of preparation for her special day. She said to me at one point that her sole motivation was in knowing that October 17, 2015 was going to be wonderful for not only her and John but for everyone attending. You see during the planning process Courtney finished her masters as a psychiatric Nurse Practitioner, worked full time, ran in a half marathon and guided young John through the process. You see a Psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioner (PMHNP) “is an advanced practice registered nurse trained to provide a wide range of mental health services to patients and families in a variety of settings.” So clearly Courtney had all the tools and was well trained to plan a wedding. She used preparation and perspiration as inspiration and motivation to plan the perfect day.
We all make choices based on a lot of factors but I truly believe the most overlooked decision making factor is satisfaction. Courtney clearly was inspired by how that day was going to make her friends, family, John and herself feel after it was all over. She even planned a getaway honeymoon to Jamaica so she and John could decompress from the last 6 weeks leading up the wedding. I know Courtney and John inspired me and I am sure they inspired a lot of others along the way.
Looking for inspiration doesn’t also always take perspiration but at times it takes not looking and letting the inspiration find you. Some of my most inspiring moments came to me when I wasn’t even looking for inspiration. I know I am starting to sound like Tony Robbins but it is more like not spending all your time trying to plan your future but living in the present. Mindfulness is a wonderful concept that can be used in many ways to get us through many times of our lives. As Ferris Bueller said “Life moves pretty fast. If you don't stop and look around once in awhile, you could miss it." Inspiration, perspiration and motivation all work together if you just take the time to slow down the chaos in your life and be mindful of what is going on around you.