I am nothing if not excited. That is just me.
What makes me excited?
mornings on a hazy and still lake, old art, being in a big city, being in the country, neon, stripes, sparkle (but mostly in design, not on my clothes), the smell of books, black coffee, white sheets, big windows
Why does this matter?
Unlike the hobby/interest type things that make us passionate–these are the things that spark an uptick in our heart rate and our peace at the same time. They are the things that give you a visceral feeling, that make you come alive for a moment. You love the smell, you feel the texture, you adore the view. These may be things like a cup of tea or a good book. These bits of excitement are sensory…they get your blood pumping.
What do I do with this information?
Plan how to get bits of this into your life. People often call seeking out this excitement “looking for inspiration”. I don’t see inspiration as an idea being sparked, but more motivation being sparked. Spending the day in the city, wearing great clothes, drinking coffee, and speaking with thought leaders in a given field will make me feel like I can do anything–that kind of day inspires me. The smells that are unique to city-life, the feeling you get when you feel good in your clothes, a good cup of coffee that never ends, and interacting with people on the verge…nothing better. It gets my blood pumping, because it connects to my senses in a way that motivates my imagination, my will, and my spirit.
When I can identify the triggers that get me going, I can create times of inspiration rather than waiting and looking for inspiration.
For more posts in this series, check out The Passion Proposition.