Instead of dreading Monday mornings, we believe it’s the best time to motivate yourself and set a high tone for the rest of the week. Not only will you be more productive, you’ll also feel more centered and peaceful, no matter what life throws at you.
Whether you’re a creative type (like a photographer or blogger) or do left-brained work (like data processing or accounting), finding inspiration every day is sometimes a challenge, especially when life gets busy or stressful. To help you find inspiration every day, here is a simple 3-step technique that can be used anywhere.
Go inward. When you’re feeling stressed or uninspired, take some “me time”. Ask yourself why you are feeling uninspired, unmotivated, or lacking a sense of direction. Instead of jumping ahead to think about the next step or what you need to do, ask yourself how you’re feeling right now. By doing so, you might realize you’ve been carrying a grudge, holding onto fear, or feeling anxious about the future. By objectively assessing your current state, you gain power over your thoughts and feelings, instead of letting them control you. This is the first step toward releasing unnecessary thoughts and feelings, which frees you from this baggage.
Breathe. Engage your core muscles (which is your abdomen and oblique area) by pulling in your navel to your spine and elongating your back. You can do this in a seated or standing position. Take a deep breath in through the nose, pause for a few seconds, and then deeply exhale through your mouth. Repeat this deep breathing technique 5-10 times, focusing on releasing mental and emotional tension with each exhale. Imagine your stress blowing away with each breath, like a hot air balloon floating up toward the sky.
Clear your mind. With our minds often running a mile a minute, it’s easy to get caught up in the fast-paced world of our brains. To clear our minds, we need to get centered and quiet our racing thoughts. As each thought comes to your mind, acknowledge the thought and then just let it go. Don’t get caught up in internal dialogue. An easy way to be present and to release thoughts is to look around you and focus on your current surroundings. Simple observations help you get out of your head, and into the now, which gives you power.
As you emotionally disconnect with each passing thought, you regain a sense of peace and clarity. It’s in this 3-step process that you were able to re-discover an internal well that spills over with creativity and inspiration.
For more self-help tips and motivational strategies, check out the Personal Growth section on Inspirations & Celebrations.
[Image credits: Shutterstock]
