The first of the year is the time many of us strive to improve our lives in some way. As well-intentioned as we may be, our resolutions usually last a few days — or, if we’re being honest more like 72 hours.
Maybe that’s why someone declared January 2 the official Inspiration and Motivation Day – to remind us to look for inspiration and motivation every day, and not just January 1.
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When I’m feeling stuck, unmotivated or uninspired, it’s usually because my mind is overwhelmed with fears of what could go wrong. Or my “To-Do” List is longer than the number of hours in the day. Or unexpected chaos changes my plans. When these things happen, I can find myself scrambling for inspiration and motivation.
So, to ring in 2019, I’d like to share 19 of my inspiration and motivation Go-To’s that help me get re-focused, stay motivated and feel inspired 365 days of the year – or at least most days.
“Man plans, God laughs.” – Yiddish Proverb
We all have the Murphy’s Law Days when nothing goes as planned or as we hoped it would. When these moments happen, this quote runs through my mind, makes me smile and reminds me that some days life is simply a plot twist.
Walking
When I feel stuck, taking my dog Tater for a walk clears my mind and gets my body moving. This makes it easier to be creative, set priorities, and find solutions.
Chat with My Positive Posse
It’s believed that we become the collective sum of the 6 people we spend the most time with. It’s important for those people to be positive and realistically supportive of our goals, aspirations and dreams. When I need to brainstorm or I need a cheerleader, I want to chat with someone that’s in what I call my “positive posse.” Their insights and wisdom always help me figure out what to do next.
Upbeat Music
It’s scientifically proven that upbeat music creates happy brain endorphins. So, when I need some positive mojo, a few of my go-to songs include Roar by Katy Perry, I Gotta a Feeling by Black Eyed Peas, and Happy by Pharrell Williams. And yes, I’ve been known to sing along and dance when I’m listening—that’s half the fun.
Gentle Yoga
Yoga allows me to stretch out the tension held in my muscles and allows me to still my mind in the midst of noise and chatter. I prefer a gentle style class that focuses on deliberate, slow movements and breathing, instead of the classes with the instructors reminding me that I’m stronger than I think, while I try to keep up with rapidly changing postures designed to get me to sweat.
Doing Something New
Routines often keep us seeing and thinking about things the same way. When we do something new, we leave our comfort zones and open the doors for new ideas and inspiration.
Organizing a Closet, Drawer or Cabinet
I believe that the energy around us is important. When the things around us get cluttered, it can stifle our energy flow. So, when I feel stuck, cleaning out and organizing even a drawer or closet can get my flow moving again.
Writing My To Do List
Every evening – preferably a couple of hours before I go to sleep – I write my next day’s “To-Do” list. I even star the 3 – 5 must-do items if the list has more than that on it. This helps me sleep because those things aren’t floating in my mind—they are safely on paper.
Decorating Cookies
Cookie decorating is my creative outlet. It’s fun, messy and lets me express myself. Oh, and it tastes good, too.
Monthly Book Club
The monthly book club I host will start its fifth year this month. Although everyone reads the same book, many times we all have different thoughts and ideas about the characters and story. This reminds me that, even when we have common experiences, we can still have different perspectives.
“Well Behaved Women Rarely Make History”
Some people consider me to be opinionated, idealistic and free-spirited. This quote reminds me that those traits aren’t bad at all. In fact, if you want to make a change – like making the world a happier place – these things may even be required traits.
Meeting New People
Meeting new people allows us to learn new things. Different people have different experiences, ideas and perceptions than we do. And, when we take the time to listen and learn from others, we also learn a little more about ourselves.
Make Someone Smile
When I’m in a funk, the quickest way to lift my spirits is to make someone else smile. It doesn’t have to be something big. In fact, it can be something as simple as sharing one of the Society Pass-It-On Cards, interacting with someone on social media or helping someone with their own “To-Do” List.
Having Written
Between my columns for the Secret Society of Happy People, emails for Happier @ Work subscribers, social media posts and that perpetually in-progress book, I write a lot. Blank pages still terrify me. However, after I’ve written if I read something I wrote, if I like it and don’t realize I wrote it – it makes me smile. To me that usually means I think the content is solid.
Motivational Speaking
Anytime I’m blessed to have an audience of ears – from a few to many – it energizes, motivates and inspires me to help them find a little more happiness.
Learning Something New
It’s scientifically proven that when we learn something new it makes us happier – and for me, happiness means motivated and inspired. Fortunately, it’s easy to learn something new each day if we try.
Jigsaw Puzzles
When I’m writing and trying to find the perfect words, working a jigsaw puzzle helps flex my mind muscles—and ultimately helps me find the right words. Even when I’m not writing, puzzles still help my mind slow down so I can focus on what needs to be done next.
Naps
When my day allows for it a 30-minute power nap after lunch, it recharges my batters for the afternoon shift. Sometimes things from our pre-school days are worth repeating in our adult days.
“Here is a test to find whether your mission on earth is finished: If you’re alive, it isn’t.” ~ Richard Bach
I remind myself of this quote when I’m going through multiple stressed, chaotic, annoyed or unhappy moments. If I’m still here, God has something for me to do or learn.
I hope some of my inspirations and motivations will inspire and motivate you throughout the new year. If you know someone else who could use a little inspiration or motivation please share this post.
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What are some of your motivation and inspiration Go-To’s? Feel free to share in the comments below! You never know who will be inspired and motivated by the things that inspire and motivate you!
Written by Pamela Gail
Pamela Gail Johnson founded the Society of Happy People in 1998.
The Society is grounded on Pamela’s four key Practical Happiness Principles:
Pamela identified 31 Types of Happiness that are on the SOHP App Happiness Counter to make it easier to recognize moments of happiness.
Pamela also plans and organizes the Society of Happy People's annual happiness celebrations:
She's also a speaker, trainer, and author.
A few of her personal smile starters include her monthly book club, yoga, traveling and meeting new happy people.
This is such a great list! I do some of these things already. You’ve inspired me to try some new things! Thanks Pamela Gail!!