This reminds me of my mother. She has always believed in magic. And so do I.

Today’s inspiration:

Note: I found this via Pinterest so I can not attribute it to the rightful creator.
If you know of them, please leave a comment so that I can give credit. It is lovely.

Where do  you go for inspiration?

When circumstances have beaten you down and you are drained emotionally, physically, spritually and mentally… what do you do? How do you fill your tank back up?

Me? I go to nature.

In fact, it is 5:00 in the morning and I am sitting on my porch writing this blog. The birds are announcing the day with vigor. The air is warm and inviting. My soul feels full.

I am inspired.

Nature does it for me. When I see a blooming flower or a forest begging to be explored, I am filled with creative energy.

We all have periods in our lives when we feel indifferent or confined by our circumstances. When your every day is filled with the same routine (kids to be fed, bills to pay, commitments to honor) it can be difficult to feel inspired.

Four Simple Tips To Help You Find Your Inspiration:

1. Reach out - Pick up the phone and schedule lunch, dinner, coffee, or a catch-up conversation with a friend or mentor  who you admire and has great energy. Feed off of their spirit.

2. Bring on the affirmations -  Your happiness (and success) in life is determined by the thoughts you cultivate in your subconscious mind. Positive affirmations are powerful statements that  create positive subconscious thoughts.  For 30 days focus on affirmations of happiness, abundance and prosperity.  Many experts assert that it takes  21 days to make a perceptible change in your mental image. Use affirmations frequently and you will soon find yourself in a completely new state of mind.

3. Lose yourself – Books are your friend. When I am in a funk I find that my best course of action is to lose myself in the written word. Depending on my mood, I’ll either reach for a book in the self-help/motivational genre or a fictional one that I can completely immerse myself in. I’ve found renewed energy as a result of the most unexpected storylines.

4. Get Physical – Get out and move! Go for a walk. Hit the trails. Get on your bike. Clear your head. I am always amazed at the phenomenal ideas that present themselves after I get moving and get physical.

Where do YOU go for inspiration? What fills YOUR soul? I’d love to hear!

I recently stumbled upon some profound instructions for life from a gentleman (Michael Catt) that used to be a minister in a youth camp. His rules for the teens at that attended were simple:

1. Be where you are supposed to be, when you are supposed to be there, doing what you are supposed to be doing.
2. When in doubt, don’t.

Simple and yet extremely complex.

It got me thinking – Am I where I am supposed to be?  Am I doing what I am supposed to be doing when I am  supposed to?  Maybe physically I am, but mentally (at least lately) NOTSOMUCH.

How many times have you personally taken work home with you? Do you find yourself mentally checked out when you are with your family? Perhaps you, like me, are too busy creating your to-do list for the next day. Or maybe thinking about an email you need to send or a deadline you have to meet? Or multi-tasking every minute of every day like a mad man?

Such a sin to waste precious moments with the ones that you love by not being where you are supposed to be.

I’m really trying hard to be cognizant of what I am supposed to be doing at all times. I’m not always successful but I am finding that when I do,  each moment is that much more rewarding.

This is the second post filled with uplifting advice from women across the internet. These two posts (the first of which can be found here) are dedicated to my 16 year old niece Kelsi and are indeed relevant to any teenage girl navigating her way through life. (I must say, however, that I find great inspiration in these words myself and I am almost 40.)

Enjoy…

“The hardest lesson I had to learn as a young woman was to be true to myself. Too many times I let a boyfriend or a co-worker, or a so-called friend tell me what to think about a specific topic or situation and I didn’t want to rock the boat and so I would agree. Too many times I was a follower and not a leader. Too many times I didn’t listen to the truth I held inside me and respect myself enough to live it.” - Sunday

“Dwell in possibility” -  Emily Dickinson …  I love that three words holds so much meaning–stop and really think–and think hard–about what you can do, what the future holds, and what your place in that future is.

And I cannot help but share one of the very first things I ever memorized, aside from the Hail Mary and Our Father, of course. . .
May the road rise to meet you,
May the wind be always at your back,
May the rain fall soft upon your fields,
the sun shine warm upon your face,
And until we meet again, may God hold you in the palm of His hand. – Amy

“More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope…” (Romans 5: 3-4) Know that when you are faced with adversity, you are being refined and perfected for the task which you were purposed. Take all hardship and suffering with the mindset that it is readying you for what great task lies ahead. Know that you will come out of your trials with a brilliance that a life of ease could never produce. You will shine and the world will see the fruits of your perseverance.” - Kadi

“Be who you are and say what you feel because those who mind don’t matter and those who matter don’t mind.”  (Dr. Suess) – Mary

“Nothing beats a failure but a try.” My mother ingrained this in me at a young age and did not accept me giving up on myself under any circumstance. I had to complete everything I started and I have to say I am a better person because I’ve listened to her advice.” – Renee

“Remember that in any relationship – either with a boy or a female friend – YOU always hold the power. YOU control whether someone is worthy of the pleasure of your company. YOU get to decide whether they are worth your time. You are the gatekeeper. YOU are priceless. - Jessica

“I remember reading a quote once that said, “”Wherever you go, there you are.” For some reason, the notion really hit home with me. I was struck by the fact that the only constant in my life would be ME, so I better become a person that I could be proud of. Life changes, friends change and people come and go. But, you? You are in your life forever, and the most important thing about it.” - Jill

Amazing words from amazing women. Thank you all!