Inspiration, passion.....where did they go?

Love how Vicky offers perspective on selfcare and re-inspiring one's self. 

 
Doesn't take much in this busy world to wake up one day feeling helpless, hopeless and overwhelmed. There's no way you feel inspired about anything. You might even start having fantasies of selling your business and doing something else. Not that you know what that is - but it sounds good.
Running on empty.... feeling uninspired.....that's no place to be creative from.
Are you ready to play a bigger game? One fueled by passion?

7 Tips for reinstalling inspiration on YOUR hard drive:
1. Just say no: this is one of the biggest challenges for my clients. He might be upset. She might not want to be friends if I say no. I've already agreed to do it. I'm the only one who can do it. They're expecting me.
The world might stop and I'll be all alone living on the streets with no-one to love me. Our stories are just like that - a little crazy sometimes.
One of my clients had agreed to attend a dinner to support a sick friend but as the time got closer she realized she was feeling a lot of anxiety because she had so much to do before a trip abroad. She knew she would sit there at the dinner not wanting to be there and feeling stressed. But it was really hard to cancel, fearing letting her friend down, not to mention messing up the numbers at the six-person dinner party. However, she did cancel. She honored herself, and her sick friend and the others understood. In fact she was probably a good role model for her friend - teaching her it's OK to honor yourself before wearing yourself so ragged you become sick.
Lesson: if it's not right for you, it's not right for the other person either (whether they realize that or not). Listen to your heart and make space for inspiration. My client is journaling more than ever right now - even as she prepares for her journey. Honor yourself and everyone benefits.
Take a look at your calendar - nothing is written in stone. What would give you a sense of relief if you dropped it?
2. Clear your head: now you've said no to a few things and freed up some space. Here are some ways to clear your head.
Morning pages - from Julia Cameron in The Artist's Way: write 3 pages of stream of consciousness writing each morning. Don't think, don't edit. Write anything at all for 3 pages - then I like to tear them up and put them in the recycling - don't need that junk any more.
Take a shower - a great way to clear any stuck energy that might have got attached to you. 'Wash those cooties off' as one of my clients says.

3. Take a renewal day: my all time favorite. Whether it's a whole day or part of a day, this is time for you to do whatever you'd like to do - no work, no computer, no 'shoulds' - which includes housework and anything on your to-do list!
This is time to lie about reading fiction if that takes your fancy - a great thing to do in the middle of a workday by the way - it's such a no-no! (Or is it just me?) The whole point of a renewal day is that you take the pressure off. You can mess around and day-dream and do nothing productive if you wish. Except that you will be doing something productive - you'll be renewing yourself. And sometimes it doesn't take long.
Perhaps there is a creative project you'd just love to mess around with - something purely for you. This is how you honor yourself.
4. Declutter - couldn't leave that out: what's bugging you? Have a pile of stuff in your trunk you've been chauffeuring around town for a while? On a day like this it's good to do something that takes you away from your workspace and into fresh air.
5. Change your environment: this is powerful. If you work at h'ome, there is probably no place there where you can really get away from your work. My favorite escapes are:
cafe days - I've given up trying to figure out how come these fairly noisy environments work for me but they do. Sitting there with my cup of herb tea, watching people, reading, journaling, they're a font of inspiration. And no-one can contact me!
Living on the river as I now do is wonderful, and sometimes being by the sea with all those negative ions blowing in your hair..... you can't beat it.
Anywhere away from your computer and the temptation to check emails. Added bonus, in moving away, you get to move your body which is always good for shifting energy.
Travel - I love travelling, and being somewhere different is endlessly inspiring for me. A chance to try on a new way of being - especially if you go somewhere people don't know you. New sights, new visual stimulation, new experiences - even if you just journey to the next town.

6. Step into nature: Eckhart Tolle in The New Earth talks of being in nature and just being. He recommends we resist the temptation to name things. Try this - look at a tree or a flower and don't name it - even as a tree or flower. Just be with the wonder of this form that's appeared with all the different parts of it creating a pattern. It's incredibly relaxing and wondrous. I tried it!
7. Detox your body: this will do wonders for you. Everything is connected. The food you put in your body creates who you are. And it's easy to get off track in a busy life. A detox is a great way to give your body a rest and allow it to do its healing work. There are many different detoxes out there and there's no need to go without food either. My current favorite is a raw food detox - eat nothing but raw fruit and vegetables for 7 days. This is great if you're feeling a bit fuzzy and unclear. Honor yourself by finding one that feels right for you and check with your health care provider. Spring is the very best time to do a detox - and that's about now!
Give yourself what you need. You probably have a pretty good idea what supports you in feeling passionate and inspired and full of ease. Even if you're not feeling burnt out, install some of these tips in your life and you'll stay away from that slippery slope. Feeling helpless, hopeless and overwhelmed really is not that attractive......or inspiring.
And living an inspired, passion filled life ensures you're living your purpose, doing what you're here to do.
How do you honor yourself? Come on over to my blog to tell me.
©2010 All Rights Reserved - Vicky White