Self-Inspiration

Yes.  I know that all inspiration can be said to come from within and not from without.  However, when I talk about self-inspiring thoughts, I am refferring to those things within yourself that you tap into, in order to reach an inspired state.

Several blogs I have done have had to do with being inspired by people, places, nature, etc.  A wonderful sunset, or the ducks playing in the water, a baby laughing and others have the ability to inspire.  True.  Oft times I do not have immediate access to these things.  Sometimes in the lazy boy or laying down in bed I still want to be inspired.   This is when I participate in self-inspiration.

It starts with the desire to be inspired.  Sometimes I don't have that desire.  Let's face it.  And that's OK.  But when I do want new ideas, new vistas, new revelations, new motivations then that is a different story.  Then it begins with a change of thought.

The easiest way to explain changing my thoughts is that I build a thought-vision.  A daydream. 
I create a movie script or short story in my mind.  I place myself in a vision in which I am inspiring others or they are inspiring me.  This can also include visions where I love and am loved by others. 

There are a couple of rules to building this daydream though.  No Negative Thoughts!  No Bad Outcomes!  No Self-Criticism.   Which means, this is a true daydream.  I do not need to justify its contents, or explain it to yourself in any way.  Any never do I say, "Even though this will never happen....." or "This is impossible but....."
The purpose of the daydream is to re-inspire me.  It is to infuse my life with the feeling of being spirit-filled.

For example:

I come back and back to a vision of myself volunteering at a woman's shelter.  I am sitting taking notes, taking and intake, and I hear a joke being told by one of the children.  Suddenly this gurgling laughter wells up inside of me, overflowing in loud guffaws.  I cannot help myself from laughing.  At first there is a silence with the rest of the people there; but from second to second I see the corners of the children's mouths turn up.  A few begin to laugh quietly; and upon seeing that I literally cannot stop myself from laughing, they begin to relax into true laughter.  The mothers and some of the staff start laughing too.  A wave of good-natured humor spreads throughout the room.   I see the sparkles in the children's eyes and the deep relaxed sighs of the women.

It sounds too simple to be somethings that inspires me; but while I was writing the above, I felt so full of inspiration that tears started flowing.  No kidding.  That daydream of bringing joy to them never fails to inspire me that that is my life's purpose.  Helping others.

Another daydream is of me in front of High School and College students, giving a motivational speech.  In it I am talking about the worthiness and value of each and every life.  We talk about the skills and talents each has, and how they are affected and changed when they get to share these with others.  The students give their own stories and I watch as one story from one student inspires another.  The feeling of closeness and understanding among them build and when they relate the very emotional and pain filled moments of their lives, the others reach out and hug and hold, touch and affirm them.   I feel the compassion and empathy from them all.  They quickly go from being strangers to something more. 

Again, it sounds quite simple; and in both cases somewhat ego-centric on my part; but, it has impact.  It inspires me.  The dreams of affecting and being affected in the process of teaching, preaching, praying, laughing, playing and working with people has always inspired. 

The best part about participating in these daydreams is that I can do it at any time.  When I need a motivational boost to when I feel depressed.  The funny thing is though; by going through these daydreams, when I am around nature, the sky, the earth, people, communities, families, friends I find it easier to be inspired by them.  It is as if the inner inspiration primes the pump to experience it outside myself.

Plus, I just like to daydream.