THE VALUE OF LEADING AN INSPIRED LIFE
Do you want more success in life? Do you want to feel more fulfilled? Happier? More confident? Do you want your life to have more meaning and purpose? Do you want to increase the quality of your life?
Then read on…
because those are the ultimate rewards of leading an inspired life and they are meant for you.
The best part is that anyone, anywhere, anytime and under any circumstances can lead an inspired life. If you’re reading this, then you were born with the necessary equipment. It doesn’t require any particular set of actions on your part. It doesn’t require that you follow any religious tradition or ascribe to an ideology. It doesn’t require you to hold a certain position in society, have a particular set of educational credentials, acquire a fortune or become famous. You can lead an inspired life right now. Whether you are young or old. Employed or unemployed. You don’t have to wait for it or become it. You can BE an inspired life right now. Regardless of past failures. Even if your current situation looks bleak and dire. Even if you consider yourself to be an ordinary person with an ordinary life (which is true of most of us anyway!). You can be an inspired life. How can that be true? Well, think about it…
We’re inspired when we tap into the wellspring of our essential nature — those qualities that are our birthright. Qualities like: Resilience, Caring, Dedication, Forgiveness, Compassion, Determination, Sharing, Understanding, Kindness and Acceptance. We’re inspired when we exercise our capacity to grow as human beings. We’re inspired when we face a challenge and meet it. We’re inspired when we make a mistake and learn from it. We’re inspired when we hurt someone, feel remorse and determine to do better in the future. We’re inspired when we have to dig down deep to recover from a tragedy. We’re inspired by success and by failure. By pain as well as by joy.
Every day I see ordinary people living through extraordinary circumstances. A friend of mine is helping her daughter and son-in-law raise their twin babies who were born prematurely and, as a result, have had many heartbreaking health problems and multiple surgeries. Everyone involved in this tragedy and triumph is an inspiration demonstrating every quality listed above — the babies, the parents, grandparents, doctors, nurses, friends…the list goes on and on! Every day I see news stories about ordinary people donating time, energy, money and other resources to help others in need of food, clothing, shelter, employment, social justice or other assistance. Every day I see ordinary people working to clean up the environment, conserve resources and make their communities better, healthier, safer places to live. Every day I’m inspired by ordinary acts of kindness and generosity — a smile from a stranger, a kind word in the check-out line at the grocery, a cheerful wave from a fellow driver who lets me into the flow of traffic on the freeway, a coworker who helps me out on a project or asks me how my day is going…the list goes on and on. Do you see it too?
The value of recognizing this truth that the source of inspiration is within us and all around us — it is in fact the essence of life itself — is that we can then cultivate it and experience it more fully. As we see it clearly, we become consciously inspired every day. Our lives become full and rich with inspirational moments that nurture and nourish us! How does that help us become more successful? Take a look at the lives of successful people (whatever your definition of success is…) and you’ll see that one or more of those qualities are the hallmarks of their lives. A foundation that keeps them going through difficulties and setbacks. A source of energy and resourcefulness they draw on in good times and in bad.
THE IMPORTANCE OF LEADING CONSCIOUSLY INSPIRED LIVES NOW
We live in chaotic, tumultuous times full of economic uncertainty, environmental concerns, global conflicts and tragedies that affect millions of people. Many, even those who outwardly appear to be in a secure position, feel anxious about their jobs, finances, health, children and future. These are times of global change that present many threats and challenges. But also opportunity. Leading a consciously inspired life enables us to see — and seize! — those opportunities. To survive and thrive, we must lead inspired lives now. We must be inspired and we must inspire others. Here’s a quote from His Holiness The Dalai Lama in a speech he gave in 1992 on the importance of Universal Responsibility (there’s a link at the end of this article for the full text):
…because of the lessons we have begun to learn, the next century will be friendlier, more harmonious, and less harmful. Compassion, the seeds of peace will be able to flourish. I am very hopeful. At the same time, I believe that every individual has a responsibility to help guide our global family in the right direction. Good wishes alone are not enough; we have to assume responsibility. Large human movements spring from individual human initiatives.
The century he’s talking about is the one we live in now! To live in a more harmonious world, a healthier world, a world grounded in human rights and where we function as environmental stewards for the good of all, we need to contribute now — each in our own way. The Dalai Lama is talking about leading an inspired life.
It isn’t about doing something BIG and GREAT. Most of us aren’t going to be world leaders, head up big corporations or start our own foundation. In fact, our BIG dreams can get in the way of leading an inspired life if we don’t really have the talents or the financial resources to realize them. We’re likely to become discouraged and despairing if we aren’t grounded in the reality of what we have the capacity to realistically accomplish. And that doesn’t make us inspired or inspirational. Most of us are here to contribute by leading ordinary lives — and that’s wonderful! Most of us are going to work at ordinary jobs — and that’s perfect! We’re here to be good, decent, hardworking people who have jobs and families. We’re here to care about our neighbors and our communities. That’s it and that’s the beauty of it.
To lead an inspired life, all I need to do is be the best ME that I can be! And we start by looking at who we are being every day, right now. And where we can be more of the qualities that define and create an inspirational life. Leading an inspired life isn’t difficult but it might require a change of habits. It might require a change in the way you think and the way you talk. Check out this short list:
Do you focus on the negative (for example, thinking of yourself as unlovable or dwelling on your mistakes and failures)?
Do you focus only the bad things in your life and overlook the good?
Do you gossip about others (yes, that is a form of negativity!)?
Do you see doom and gloom everywhere? And spread it?
Then you’re not likely to feel inspired or to be a source of inspiration to others (except those who are inspired NOT to be like you!). It’s possible to be both realistic and optimistic. In fact, it’s vital to your health, as many medical studies have shown. People who are optimistic are healthier, HAPPIER, recover from illnesses and surgery faster and live longer, more productive lives. Isn’t that what you want?
How do cultivate an inspired life?
Dwell on the positive elements of your life. Think about people who’ve loved you, helped you and supported you over the course of your life so far.
Be grateful for your talents, skills and abilities. What do you take for granted that you do well?
Be grateful for the experiences that have shaped your life and made you who you are today.
Think about what’s working in your life and what you can build on.
Look for the good in yourself and in others (yes, especially those you don’t like!).
Look for ways to help others and to be of service (hint: you can be of service just by giving someone a smile or a kind word).
Begin each day by affirming that you’re glad to be alive!
Does those seem too small or too easy to make a difference? Do them, consciously and consistently, EVERY DAY for one month. Work at it. Dedicate yourself to it. And don’t beat up on yourself when you forget! Just start again. See the difference for yourself. That’s the only way you’ll know how powerful it is to lead an inspired life — and how it grows from the smallest seeds that we sow each day.
Are you leading an inspired life? I’d love to hear about it! Do you have questions about how to lead an inspired life? I’d love to hear those too. Let’s practice together…sharing and caring is the only way.
Here’s the link to the Dalai Lama’s speech: http://www.dalailama.com/messages/environment/global-environment
Peace and Joy,
Pamela
