People make a living by being inspirational speakers. Words have power. We love to hear about great endeavours, of sporting achievements, of how one person reached the peak of their own mountain.
It makes us feel good. But is there any point in being inspired if it is simply a nice feeling followed by doing what we always do? How do we turn this into making magic happen in our own life? How does inspiration turn into that next step that will allow us to make those changes?
It is when inspiration meets aspiration that we start to have something that might turn into action, energy, achievement and change – and the possibility of dreams coming true.
The first step is to acknowledge when something has touched you – when you have been moved, when you look at someone else doing something and feel a stirring of envy, or desire to do that, too. If a friend has run a marathon and you want what they’ve achieved, catch this feeling and recognise that this has accessed something within you that wants to be acknowledged. It doesn’t mean that you will run or compete to the same level as the person who has touched this in you but it does mean that you need to look at what you do want to do.
Next, listen to the words that have moved you. Which are the key words? Write them down, are they different to your normal responses to a challenge? They are likely to be phrases like, ‘I can do’, rather than anything that limits or holds you back.
What do these words say to you? Do you feel any part of you saying something different: ‘No, that’s not for me, that’s for other people’ or ‘I can’t do that’ or ‘That’s an impossibility’. Look at the words that have inspired you, and notice them and start to use them.
Imitation is a powerful way of changing your emotional set point and re-training the neural pathways to possibilities.
Think about how you would live if you knew it was all going to turn out as you hoped (you’d run that sub four hour marathon, or get that job!). Rather than thinking other people are different, think instead, ‘If they can do it, so can I’.
You are unique and you have special gifts so whatever it is you want to do, it will be unique to you. When you stop comparing to others adversely and let go of any self-concept about your performance being ‘good’ or ‘bad’ you will feel the true effect of being inspired. Of literally allowing life to be breathed into your life, and making dreams come true!
Julia Armstrong, is a former international marathon runner, and RF’s roving reporter. Her podcasts can be listened to weekly on
www.runningfreemag.co.uk and you can read her daily blog at
www.runningtolearn.com