Ivy Keating's Blog - Posts Tagged "inspiration"
J.O.Y.
Today, I was inconvenienced. I had to wait to pick someone up, and there was no parking. I pulled down a side street and sent a text message - 'I'm here...'.
As I waited, I started to get annoyed. I like taking photos of nature for my social media. So, to pass the time, I drove slowly down the block. Just yards down the road I discovered a lovely stream, a quaint bridge, and a large lake with rock features and ducks - who knew?
My bad mood lifted! It made me think how negative emotions can obstruct our ability to reach our goals, but there are things we can do to lift our spirits. Here are three ways to move on with J.O.Y..
'J' is for 'justify' your feelings. We all have suffered disappointments. Tell yourself it's okay to feel upset, sad, or any other way.
'O' is for 'options'. Help yourself move away from negative feelings by thinking about 1 or 2 things you can do to change the situation. Even making a small list can help you realize things can change.
'Y' is for 'you', as in 'you can do it'. When we feel vulnerable it's harder to act. If you can think about the options you have and make a small start you will move yourself on to feeling better.
**I wish everyone Happy Holidays and the skills to keep that happiness all year round! **
As I waited, I started to get annoyed. I like taking photos of nature for my social media. So, to pass the time, I drove slowly down the block. Just yards down the road I discovered a lovely stream, a quaint bridge, and a large lake with rock features and ducks - who knew?
My bad mood lifted! It made me think how negative emotions can obstruct our ability to reach our goals, but there are things we can do to lift our spirits. Here are three ways to move on with J.O.Y..
'J' is for 'justify' your feelings. We all have suffered disappointments. Tell yourself it's okay to feel upset, sad, or any other way.
'O' is for 'options'. Help yourself move away from negative feelings by thinking about 1 or 2 things you can do to change the situation. Even making a small list can help you realize things can change.
'Y' is for 'you', as in 'you can do it'. When we feel vulnerable it's harder to act. If you can think about the options you have and make a small start you will move yourself on to feeling better.
**I wish everyone Happy Holidays and the skills to keep that happiness all year round! **
After the Inspiration
The first stage of a project is often the most exciting. But, how many times do we set out to accomplish something and then abandon what we started? After the inspiration, what enables us to reach our goals?
For those that enjoy writing, one of the best moments is the moment of inspiration: when an idea comes to you that you must explore. It can be as simple as a thought. This is what happened to me when I wrote 'Camouflage'. I looked into a forest near my home and wondered, 'what's out there that we haven't discovered', and from that moment, I was gripped with a story.
But goals like writing a book are often difficult to accomplish. Before the energy that comes with inspiration starts to diminish, we must channel some of it into 'focus' and 'commitment'.
Focus has to do with the direction you take. If you have an overall idea of what is required to reach your goal, stay 'focused' on just the next step and you will get there. Put blinders on. Don't get caught up in where you are or how much further you have to go. It's easy to get overwhelmed and abandon a goal if you loose your focus.
Commitment has to do with the time you spend actively pursuing your goal. In the example of writing a book, it will take thousands of hours to complete your work. Sticking to a schedule or committing to a certain number of hours regularly is the only way the task will get done.
Draw upon the energy of what inspires you. It will certainly motivate you to start a project, but it will take focus and commitment to keep the momentum going.
For those that enjoy writing, one of the best moments is the moment of inspiration: when an idea comes to you that you must explore. It can be as simple as a thought. This is what happened to me when I wrote 'Camouflage'. I looked into a forest near my home and wondered, 'what's out there that we haven't discovered', and from that moment, I was gripped with a story.
But goals like writing a book are often difficult to accomplish. Before the energy that comes with inspiration starts to diminish, we must channel some of it into 'focus' and 'commitment'.
Focus has to do with the direction you take. If you have an overall idea of what is required to reach your goal, stay 'focused' on just the next step and you will get there. Put blinders on. Don't get caught up in where you are or how much further you have to go. It's easy to get overwhelmed and abandon a goal if you loose your focus.
Commitment has to do with the time you spend actively pursuing your goal. In the example of writing a book, it will take thousands of hours to complete your work. Sticking to a schedule or committing to a certain number of hours regularly is the only way the task will get done.
Draw upon the energy of what inspires you. It will certainly motivate you to start a project, but it will take focus and commitment to keep the momentum going.
