Where Do I Find Inspiration?

...What do you turn to when you feel mundane? How do you lift your spirits when the work stresses you out? How do you get inspired when you feel passionless? What motivates you to strive for perfection?...

Shelly at This Eclectic Life had this link posted for Group Project: Source of Inspiration to write about Inspiration. I took this on as a challenge to myself to answer the questions given. If you are looking for a writing challenge, I encourage you to check out the link.

Inspiration is defined as the process of being mentally stimulated to do or feel something, esp. to do something creative according to the Oxford American Dictionary. In order to really think about this topic of where I turn to for inspiration, it was important for me to fully understand what it meant. After reading the definition and reflecting on the questions posed, I believe that inspiration is an internal choice that we make to express how we feel at any given time.

When I feel mundane, how do I turn that into creativity? Well, I think it's an internal kick that I give myself in one of my endless conversations that go on in my head. How I feel and how I live everyday becomes a result of all the choices that I make. Whether I am happy, sad, active or passive are all decisions that I have made. So when I am feeling mundane, and want to be creative, then I need to figure out what it is that I want to do and then do it. If it's making a beaded necklace, then I might just look through some books or websites for examples of others' work to figure out how to use the beads I have, or I just take out the beads, play with them in patterns and go with it. Same with blogging, I ask myself what is it that I want to share today? Are there other bloggers out there reading my posts who can share the same experiences, or maybe have a comment that makes me smile or think?

When the stresses of work get to me and I am feeling passionless, then I know that I need to make changes in my life. A recent job change has made a world of difference in my life, both physically and mentally. Now that I work with people who appreciate and recognize the job that I do, I am now happier, feeling better about myself and was able to lose 25 pounds. The weight gained in my previous stressful job was symbolic of how I felt going to work and never knowing what kid didn't do their homework, which parent was going to email me with a complaint and which teacher was going to ignore an IEP's accommodation because they didn't think it was important. What inspired me to leave a job with great benefits and the summer off? It was the feeling that I had inside of me that work is not my life and when it affects my life, then I need to change my job. It was exciting to start a new job and what a feeling it is to be happy going to work. Over all, it's a "can do" attitude that lifts my spirits. We all can do much more than we ever give ourselves credit for and what a waste it is for us to accept less.

What motivates my to strive for perfection? My motivation comes from within and is a result of my upbringing. When my parents asked us to do something, it was expected that we do what was asked and to do it well. The expectation was that we would get the job done and that has extended into my life. Whatever I do, I always look to see what more I can do to help others. Overall, in answering the questions, my inspiration comes from within. It's the choices that I make that drives my creativity. Whether it's blogging, working, hobbies, cooking or choosing books to read, they are all choices that I make based on my feelings. It could never be said that I like to be told what to do. Tell me I can't do something and I will prove to you that I can!

Group Writing Project: Source of Inspiration Blog