Now, back to the point at hand—the scariest part of failure. When we abandon the confines of “life as usual,” we leap, hoping that we will fly and garner the awe of those watching from the valley as we soar. But what happens if we don’t fly?

What most people aren’t prepared for is how to cope with the reality of hitting the ground. It’s not pretty—definitely not the fairy tale story that has been growing for years in your mind. And once you’re there on the ground, it hurts… a lot. Your ego is bruised. More than that, your ability to dream and act on your dreams becomes painfully difficult. You no longer wear rose-colored glasses. Leaping becomes harder because you’ve lost your childlike naiveté.

So what do you do? How do you begin to tell your tale and cultivate hope for the future? You realize that you can’t rewind your life. You can either hit pause or play. While hitting pause is a powerful part of the healing process, at some point, you need to begin hitting the play button more than the pause button. To do this, there is one thought that has helped me along the way: you have nothing to lose. Failing (especially failing BIG) provides you with a sense of freedom that you can never gain by playing it safe. It’s this freedom that separates you from those who never leap. It’s this freedom that you will one day tell about in your tale. It’s this freedom of knowing how to get back up after hitting the ground that will allow you to soar far higher than you ever imagined possible.

This is your tale, are you ready to tell it? Begin by hitting play.

—

image: artsyville

PS Have you entered the incredible journaling e-course giveaway? It’s my favorite giveaway so far and ends this Friday (Sep 23rd).

PPS I realize the topic of failure is difficult to discuss in a public forum. But it’s my hope to begin to open up the dialogue around this very real/scary topic so that we realize (we = myself included) we are never alone on our journey. I would love to know if this topic is something you like reading about—you can let me know in the comments or via email/twitter. I am truly grateful for your support.

Related posts:

1. How to Embrace Uncertainty and Cultivate Inner Peace
2. What Are You Waiting For? 4 Steps to Begin Taking Bold Action
3. Does Your Past Dictate Your Future?

What would you write to someone about to start a new journey in their life? I would love for you to share your own guidepost(s)!

I am delighted to share with you a few tips or helpful lessons I’ve learned over the past 26 years. Many of these tips serve as guideposts for me as I continue to struggle and wonder through different phases of life. I hope that some resonate with you as you begin to navigate this magical new phase of your own life.

With love,

Carolyn

18 Guideposts for Your Personal Journey

1. It’s okay to struggle, it’s okay to wear (and own) your imperfections, and to fall flat on your face – as long as you keep reaching out for support and maintaining the courage to put one foot in front of the other.
2. Actions speak louder than words.
3. Learn to say no as much as you say yes. Less is more. Replace “Could I do more?” with “Would I like to do more?”.
4. Mistakes are powerful gifts. Don’t leave the lessons within them concealed – gently unwrap a mistake to gain the wisdom within its rough exterior.
5. Ask why before you ask how. Intention is required to create your compass.
6. Action deflates fear – always.
7. Recycle. Don’t fix what’s not broken. Reuse what’s worked before.
8. Trust your intuition. Resist second-guessing.
9. “Success” cannot be defined by others or even put into the hands of others for evaluation. If left unguarded, your success could be taken away at any moment. If you equate success with your intrinsic worth (even subconsciously), then you will be left broken apart.
10. Be more proactive and less reactive – to better align your reality with your vision.
11. Attempting to avoid negative events and situations proves an exercise in futility – negative things happen to everyone. However, adversity can often provide an opportunity to strengthen character, deepen emotional fortitude, and increase your overall sense of self and self-worth. These life lessons can only come when you decide to channel through difficult circumstances while relying on the gift of embracing self-empowerment.
12. Time and energy are not equal. Improve their interaction by learning their unique characteristics.
13. Don’t get stuck within the details. Whisper to yourself the words of Terri St. Cloud: She could never go back and make some of the details pretty. All she could do was move forward and make the whole beautiful.
14. Remember to breathe.
15. By acknowledging when you don’t know the answers and shed light on your vulnerabilities, you are creating space for your authentic self to live wholeheartedly and courageously. We learn the most about ourselves from the moments in which we let down our guard and admit, “I don’t know all the answers. I am uncertain and that’s okay. How can I transform this experience from one of self-doubt to one of self-compassion?”
16. When the journey gets tough, remember the words of Margaret Thatcher: You may have to fight a battle more than once to win it.
17. Gratitude is the greatest gift you can give to another human being.
18. Greatness is never achieved. It is something you must intrinsically bestow upon yourself.

image: pinterest via weheartit

Related posts:

1. The Journey
2. A New Journey Unfolds
3. If You Could Eliminate One Word from Your Brain Forever

It’s pretty gloomy in New England this time of year. It feels like darkness has completely overpowered natural sunshine. While I could dwell on the negative aspects of winter, I am shifting my mindset this season. Everyday, I have committed to doing at least one thing that brings me joy. In order for this to actually work, I created a little list to reference when it’s time for my daily dose of joy. It’s simple, fun, and has a tremendous influence on my general wellbeing.

This little list of 50 items includes some of my personal “joy” favorites. EnJOY!

1. Smile.

2. Write a thank-you note to yourself (on your best stationery, of course).

3. Venture outside for a five-minute walk.

4. Indulge in a delicious piece of chocolate (or hot chocolate with lots of marshmallows!).

5. Find a piece of jewelry you haven’t worn in awhile – feels just like vintage shopping!

6. Pick fresh flowers or send yourself a little bouquet of favorite flowers.

7.  Laugh – Visit a funny blog, watch a movie, or spend time with someone who makes you laugh.

8. Find serenity at a favorite local spot (ex. a park, a lake, a coffee shop, a little nook in your house or office).

9. Take one action towards a goal or dream.

10. Hit the pause button and spend five-minutes alone – allow your mind to become quiet.

11. Bake a favorite treat with a family member or friend — or bake alone and surprise someone special with yummy treats.

12. Discover an uplifting and fun song – something new.

13. Slow down and enjoy a long brunch.

14. Try a new fitness class.

15. Indulge in watching tv or reading a magazine – guilt free!

16. Declare a vacation day – write it BIG on your calendar so you get to anticipate this upcoming personal time (a vacation day can fall on the weekend).

17. Do a good deed — help someone else find joy.

18. Treat yourself to a favorite cup of coffee or tea – enjoy the flavors and activate your senses.

19. Be goofy! Dance around your room to your favorite music.

20. Explore the inspirational and joyful blog, Kind Over Matter.

21. Draw for fun.

22. Get rid of two items in your physical environment that make you feel negative.

23. Bite into a piece of fresh fruit.

24. Wear a color that makes you feel confident and joyful!

25. Write down three things that you are grateful for.

26. Call a supportive friend – or reconnect with someone you haven’t spoken to in awhile.

27. Watch the sunset from a beautiful location.

28. Discover something new.

29. Start a book that you’ve been meaning to read.

30. Begin a fun DIY project.

31. Frame a photo of a favorite memory.

32. Take five deep breaths and stretch.

33. Browse books at your local book store (may I suggest one book in particular, Perseverance).

34. Interview yourself (sounds foolish, but can be oh so fun!).

35. Try a new recipe.

36. Learn something new (ex. a new hobby or craft).

37. Redesign (use what you already own to redesign your space) an area of your office or home.

38. Write a thoughtful comment on a personal blog you read (comments mean the world to me – hint hint!).

39. Create a list of 10 things you love about your significant other – surprise him/her with the list.

40. Look on the bright side.

41. Take a short, relaxing nap. Wake up rejuvenated.

42. Ask for support from those you trust with a problem – solving a problem definitely adds joy to the day.

43. Disconnect for lunch – close your door, turn off the computer and blackberry, and simply enjoy a peaceful lunch break.

44. Search for a hidden treasure on Ebay or Etsy.

45. Write a hope note and leave it for someone to find.

46. Connect with your fellow tweeters. Send a tweet with a joyful message.

47. Donate one item (or your time) to a local charity.

48. Create a collage (or browse the outstanding galleries) on Polyvore.

49. Create a list of 10 things that make you happy – your own personal “joy” list.

50. Make a commitment to do at least one thing per day that adds joy to your life.

Related posts:

1. 34 Ways to Enjoy the Winter Days
2. 8 Ways to Steal “Me” Time
3. 30 Ways to De-Stress Now

You Don’t Have To Know

… all the answers

… what comes next

… what to do

… how to be the best

… why you’re not the best

… how to solve the problem

… what to say

… how to help

… why it has happened

… what others think

… how to do the right thing

… what the life change means

… why someone said that to you

… why someone hasn’t said something

… how to be brave

… how you will get through it

You don’t have to know.

Take life one moment at a time. One baby step after another.

You know how to persevere – and you will.

image by Lauren Strom

Related posts:

1. Perseverance: Book Video Trailer!
2. Pure Bliss: Images to Make You Smile (and lovely giveaway)
3. Determined

The difference between what we do, and what we are capable of doing, would solve most of the world’s problems.” -Mahatma Gandhi

During a recent conversation, someone (I’ll maintain this person’s anonymity!) told me, “The odds are not in your favor.” I was appalled when I heard the statement, especially because the person was referring to the success of something very important to me. The individual could not understand why the remark upset me as much as it did.

After the conversation, I couldn’t stop thinking about the meaning behind the statement. The other person thought it was simply a pronouncement of fact, and it may well be, but to me, it’s a declaration that lacks any kind of hope and any of the power found in perseverance.

I’ve learned repeatedly from the world of childhood cancer that the odds are often not in your favor; however, the strongest and happiest children and families I have known chose not to focus on those odds. They had nothing to gain by doing so. Instead, they shifted their focus to what was in their favor. Often, that was the beauty of the moment and the unwavering belief that one must never stop living because of a storm. Life doesn’t wait for us.

Life is a journey that can never be defined by odds. We—not others—choose how we live our lives. If we decide to believe in ourselves, then nothing can diminish our potential.

The statement the person made, while hurtful at the time, helped me appreciate yet again the fuel that drives my passion to create a completely unique life journey. The fuel: believing that anything is possible, the excitement to disprove “the odds” and do things that others say can’t be done. The strength I gain from that fuel drives me to expect the unexpected, to know the unknown, and to make possible the impossible. Without this mindset, dreams remain unreachable…and a life without dreams is barren.

The odds will always exist, but we won’t. So take what is in your favor and chase those dreams. As you begin, take this fact away with you: it’s time for YOU to soar!

Related posts:

1. 3 Essential Ingredients for Creating Unconventional Success
2. The Journey
3. How to Begin to Cultivate Hope After Failing

Publishing Perseverance has been the most difficult experience. I still can’t even grasp the reality of everything. Days are blurring together and I feel utterly confused about everything.

Or so I thought.

I realized that the perfectionist in me only perceives two distinct points: start and finish. Anything in between these two points gets mushed into one pile for further analysis. Yet, when I step back, I am much more aware of “my life” than the perfectionist within me realizes. And reality is scary! Confusion is a much easier state to brush off and explain to others. Fear takes a lot more effort and courage to overcome.

The reality of Perseverance’s release is not what I imagined. As a result, “publish” has not become a word or action that I am gravitating towards. I’m afraid. I put everything within me into Perseverance – my heart, my youth – so much was sacrificed. I was naive and allowed its success (or lack thereof) to translate into my personal success (all 24 years). I understand that mistake now, but that doesn’t erase the experience. In order to change the way I perceive myself, I need to make really difficult changes. These changes challenge how I live and my next steps. And that leads me right into the safety net of confusion.

My heart is writing this post and I am going to hit “publish.” I know where I am right now and I am not going to allow confusion or fear to stop me from moving forward — and making changes.

A little phrase that serves as my anchor: I believe in you.

Whisper these four words to yourself. Take a deep breath. Listen to your heart. Believe in YOU.

{image: studio mela on etsy}

Related posts:

1. 18 Guideposts for Your Personal Journey
2. When You Don’t Have All The Answers
3. Loss Love Life: A New Project Sheds Light on the Transformative Power of Loss

Peace. It does not mean to be in a place where there is no trouble, no noise, or hard work. It means to be in the midst of all these things and still be calm in your heart.”

- Unknown

In our fast-paced, multitasking, day-to-day lives, we often find ourselves adrift in chaos. I have a lot on my plate (plates, really), and I know full well that I’m certainly not the only one!

Within this chaos, finding our inner calm is just as important—actually more so—than completing our next task. It allows us to recharge and breathe just a bit easier. It’s incredible what just five minutes of serenity can do for your energy level and mental state.

Begin this week by using a special power—the ability to find serenity amidst chaos—and watch as the beauty of the week unfolds around you. The following is a brief menu of serenity options from which you can choose. By all means, indulge yourself this week!

1. Breathe. Those seven letters can instantly trigger a calming response. Just close your eyes, take a deep breath, count to three, and release. Repeat as necessary.

2. Rock Out. Take a quick four-minute break from your work to listen to your favorite song. You’ll probably find that it will calm you down, pump you up, or bring back great memories. Regardless of the genre, give yourself a moment to enjoy the music that will transport you to a place of pure happiness.

3. Uni-task. Yes, you read that right. Instead of believing in the mantra of more is better, allow yourself to focus on each task at hand, one at a time. This will allow you to de-clutter the other tasks that are taunting you from the periphery of your mind.

4. Step away. Let me guess, you’re staring at a screen just now, right? The television screen, the computer screen, and even the smartphone screen have become the interfaces with which we interact most often. When you’re piling on the work and begin to feel overwhelmed, take a step away, or simply turn your chair around for a minute or two. When you do, you’ll instantly regain the clarity you need to continue.

5. Stop! Think about…things. Placing yourself on autopilot does little more than cloud your mind. Instead, take a minute to organize your thoughts and tasks. This way, as you embark on that checklist, you’ll have a clearer vision of your day. After all, improved clarity brings about greater focus—so watch as you execute all of your tasks.

6. Take a Fresh Air Break. When you feel that you’re being pulled in every direction or that you’re stuck in a certain project, take a minute to walk outside and breathe in the fresh air. This will help you reconnect briefly with nature (even if you’re in the middle of a hot city). More importantly, it can help you get back to work with a revitalized attitude.

7. Read. If you’re in the middle of working, prompt your brain to switch gears by reading something new and interesting. This is a great way to continue the learning process with a broader scope. If you’re at home and everyday stresses are getting to you, reading can be a great way to relax. The images and emotions your brain conjures up simply by reading words will certainly be a welcome method of restoring yourself.

8. Reconnect. When life’s chaotic journey begins to get too far under your skin, it’s important to take a step back and reconnect with someone you’ve met along the way. We are greater than the sum of our experiences, and these include the relationships and interactions that have propelled us to where we are today. Simply pick up the phone to learn how someone else is doing and what they are up to in their own lives. A reminder of the memories will be an added bonus.

9. Stretch. Flexing those muscles and moving your body around is a great way to relieve some of the tension being built up in your muscles. Stretching helps you to continue marching on and allows you to reject the manifestation of any stress—literally and figuratively.

10. Laugh. It’s the most important of all medicines, and taking a minute to laugh with others or even at yourself will definitely reinvigorate your mind and soul. Adopting a lighthearted approach to the chaos that surrounds you will help you return to a tranquil place.

11. Create a Serenity Trigger. No matter how you deal with those chaotic moments in your life, create a serenity trigger that will help you find a peaceful place whenever the need arises. My serenity trigger is an image of a beautiful flower blooming within a simple mason jar. When I visualize it, it reminds me to take a few minutes away from what I’m doing to find serenity amidst the chaos.

All of these actions represent different ways of approaching the same problem. We feel stressed because of the palpable chaos around us. When we do, then it’s time for us to find our place of serenity and return to it over and over again.

What is your serenity trigger? How do you find serenity amidst chaos?

Related posts:

1. Create a Serenity Trigger
2. Monday Inspiration: Finding Calm in Chaos
3. 17 Ways to Keep it Simple

We gain strength, and courage, and confidence by each experience in which we really stop to look fear in the face… we must do that which we think we cannot.

- Eleanor Roosevelt

What allows some people to eclipse the realm of the possible? Are they really the exceptional ones, or is there more to the equation than mere luck?

Unconventional success redefines what we consider possible—it’s success that has not yet been defined by others. Essentially, it means paving a path through unchartered territory.

Over the past ten years, I have followed my personal vision, which has led me into uncharted territory on many occasions. Only recently have I begun to share my life with the world and to my surprise, I have been flooded with questions. People want to know more about the secrets behind what I’ve achieved. Reflecting on this question, I believe there are three essential ingredients in overcoming the mental barriers that prevent us from achieving unconventional success.

1. Focus on “What” not “How”

Success is not the key to happiness. Happiness is the key to success. If you love what you are doing, you will be successful.
-Herman Cain

The first step in achieving anything is defining your vision. As a start, begin with this powerful question: “What do I want?” At this point, the “how” doesn’t matter since worrying about it only weakens your mental aptitude. Sometimes the question of “what” is easy to answer while at other times doing so is next to impossible. After all, the answer can be buried in guilt and other rationalizations of what you believe you should be doing. So it’s critical to focus on your inner knowledge and filter through the extrinsic variety; after all, you want the clearest mindset you can have.

Four years ago, for example, I decided that I wanted to write a book that would change the world. I knew what I wanted, and that knowledge was a tremendously powerful feeling. So I knew the what: I wanted “to write a book,” and I knew the why: because I wanted “to change the world.” Talk about lofty goals to write down on a to-do list! But I focused on the goal instead of becoming mired in the intricate details about how I would actually accomplish it. In fact, I never purchased a book about writing, publishing, or any related how-to guide. Now, I realize that my omission was key among the reasons I was able to focus relentlessly and fearlessly on such a grand goal—I didn’t care about the “how.” Instead, I believed passionately that I would achieve my goal.

2. Have the Courage to Redefine “How”

Courage is the art of being the only one who knows you’re scared to death.
- Early Wilson

Once you have a vision of what you want, the next ingredient you’ll need is courage. Courage is associated with bravery and overcoming fear, and in order to find that courage, we must give ourselves permission to choose a different path, to be unconventional. In his blog post, Permission to Think Big, Alex Shalman discusses how we need to create a mindset for success:

Most of our decisions in life are based on whether or not we can give ourselves permission to tackle the big things. Whether or not we give ourselves permission is based on the amount of courage and self-esteem that we possess…Remember, if you’re going to listen to conventional wisdom, and follow everyone else’s advice, then you’re probably going to get the same results as everyone else. If you decide that’s not good enough for you anymore, make your own rules.

Now that is what I call powerful advice! Essentially, Alex is suggesting that you write your own playbook, and I couldn’t agree more.

When deciding “how” to write a book that would change the world, I realized that I needed to create the playbook Alex was writing about. When I decided that failure was not the outcome I was looking for, I also realized that I was willing to make tremendous sacrifices to create that unconventional success. But in doing so, I had to reach the lowest point in my life before I could learn the real quality of perseverance. After all, how could I persevere on a path that no one had ever taken before? Nevertheless, I resolved to answer the question and didn’t let anything stop me.

3. Choose to Persevere

Nothing in the world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent. The slogan, “Press on,” has solved and always will solve the problems of the human race.
- Calvin Coolidge

What does it mean, “to persevere?” Soon enough, that “what” of writing the book that will change the world will be realized (i.e., in less than three weeks!). Rather than feeling as if our lives are filled with mountains of negativity, we must replace them with hope that is fueled by perseverance. To achieve any type of success—conventional or otherwise—you must have hope that you will succeed. That means going through the good and bad times without losing that valuable perspective on hope and possibility. In short, it’s a little thing I like to call Perseverance.

I’ve decided to end this post with the words of Alex Oden, a two-time brain cancer survivor, college student, close friend, and one of the twenty individuals featured in Perseverance.

The most important thing in life: hope. Hope is the most empowering feeling a person can possess. As long as there is hope, there is a reason to keep living. As I have said before, life is a gift; we only get one chance at it. If there is a possibility for success, no matter how small, then there is hope. Life is too precious to give up hope.

Future Directions

Throughout history, individuals have redefined what we recognize as the realm of the possible. In my next post, I will focus on modern-day pioneers who can open your eyes to an entire world of possibilities. Then, we’ll look at how you can take these three key ingredients, combine them with the examples given by these pioneers, and create your own unconventional success. I’m giving you a glimpse at what it takes to do what you want to do, regardless of the myriad obstacles you’ll encounter. Of course, if you think it’s easy, you’re in for a BIG wake up call! To be fair, I won’t hold anything back. You’ll learn everything it takes to push you to where you want to go. Then, you’ll need to decide for yourself if the sacrifices are worth the journey. I certainly wouldn’t give up a single moment of what I’ve done, since without having encountered the struggles or making the sacrifices, I would not be living authentically. Today, I can say wholeheartedly that I am living my dream.

Are you excited? I hope so! Remember, nothing is required other than a willingness to reach deep inside yourself to find the strength you need to follow your dreams.

—

Join me on the incredible journey of Perseverance. Sign up to receive the first e-newsletter to learn what’s happening behind the scenes!

Related posts:

1. 10 Inspirational People Who Have Redefined the Road to Success (Part Two)
2. How Important is Your Mind-Set?
3. 10 Inspirational People Who Have Redefined the Road to Success (Part One)

How often do you think to yourself, “I really need more to do?”

It is natural for most passionate people to fill their buckets with a bit too much at some point in their lives. Well, since it’s natural, does that mean we should just push forward and ignore our current state? Our rational selves would likely answer, “No!” So intellectually, we know we should be doing less. Still, that knowledge doesn’t translate easily into change.

Personally, I justify doing “too much” because I feel I have no other options. Soon enough, I become stuck in a cycle, thinking that I simply have to deal with the pressure and get through that particular episode. Of course, thoughts like those leave me feeling pretty defeated. Add to those the opposing thoughts of “I really am doing too much,” and you’ve created a pretty strong opposing team. Why? Because none of these thoughts give you any insight into how you can turn that knowledge into change; that is, without moving to a deserted island with no Internet service. Unfortunately, that’s not really an option for me right now.

Negativity feeds negativity, which leaves one with precious little internal strength. Because of that conundrum, we’re often left feeling helpless and continue doing “too much” just because we don’t know what else to do.

An Alternative Perspective

A quote by Robert Holden offers us a different way to consider our options:

As we become even more strongly addicted to the pursuit of happiness, we are in no way prepared for happiness when it arrives.

Will you let the pursuit of what you’re doing (which is almost always too much) conceal your ability to enjoy life and the fruits of your work? Well, if you value internal happiness, you won’t let this happen. So how do you create the space you need and room enough to breathe without dropping everything?

The Hardest Part

Many times, I’ve resisted thinking about this question by responding quickly, “I don’t have a clue!” In reality, however, we know exactly what we must do. It’s just a struggle to actually do it.

Answer these questions as honestly as you can.

-> Why are you doing too much? In other words, what are the goals of this work?
-> What can you sacrifice to create the breathing room you need?

Then comes the hard part; actually making the required sacrifice.

Is it worth it? Well, that’s for you to decide. For me, the answer is a resounding, “Yes!”

—

Each week, I post on Psychology Today and the Huffington Post. To read the most recent posts, please click the links below. I greatly appreciate your support!
Huffington Post – 10 Ways to Nourish Your Inner Zen: Part Two
Psychology Today – How to Take on a Daunting Project

Related posts:

1. 3 Essential Ingredients for Creating Unconventional Success
2. 11 Ways to Find Serenity Amidst Chaos
3. How to Recharge and Get Motivated

… image via kristybee on etsy …

Do you have tools that you rely on for inspiration? Whether you want to write a private journal entry or a public blog post, how do you get inspired?

While waiting for that moment of creative genius to hit and for this blog post to spill onto paper, I became aware of “inspiration mode.” I never consciously realized this mode before today. I think this mode is actually pretty common. It’s the lull filled with things that make you happy – make you feel creative and inspired – and of course, make you feel ready to conquer the world!

I had planned to write about something a bit more structured today: inspiration boards. I won’t be talking about “inspiration boards” directly today, but I want to talk about “inspiration” in general, which is a great introduction to the topic of inspiration boards. I suppose this is a more natural beginning for a series of posts on inspiration boards. In order to begin discussing the broad topic of inspiration boards, one must have a good handle on general inspiration, which differs for each individual. So today, I am going to discuss 10 sources of inspiration that I personally use over and over again.

• • •

The Basics:
What is inspiration?
(Noun) The process of being mentally stimulated to do or feel something, especially to do something creative. [Oxford American Dictionary]
Ponder this question, what does inspiration mean to you?
Need some help: check out this great online resource – Creative Something: Inspiring your Creativity. One Idea at a Time.

I define inspiration in terms of the energy I get from a source. Is it positive or negative? Is it creative energy? Is it motivating… and so on? That is how I start. What do I gravitate towards (rather than away)? What do I enjoy and feel almost guilty for doing? It’s in these sources that I typically feel less cognitive strain and more creative thinking. It feels good. It feels fun. It doesn’t feel like work!

• • •

While, sitting, waiting, and wishing…

1)    Music. Quick Burst of Inspiration.
Create short playlists (about 5 songs) that you can listen to for a quick burst of inspiration. You may want to create different types of playlists for different types of inspiration. Do you need a song that makes you feel like writing, like working out, like focusing… and so on. Create a playlist that lasts approximately 15 minutes that you have ready to listen to whenever needed.

I am loving Susannah Conway’s playlists on her blog, Ink on my Fingers.

2)    Quotes. Words that Define your Mood.

Quotes are a fantastic source of inspiration; in particular, quotes that you refer to over and over again – the ones that are memorized and repeated multiple times a day. I usually find quotes organically while reading a book or an article. They jump out at me. I usually relate with the feeling that the quote describes or feel inspired by the words themselves.   And then they stick. If you tend to love quotes, but don’t have a way of keeping track of them see below for a few ideas.

• Write quotes in a little journal or notebook — designate an entire notebook to quotes or just a few pages of your daily planning notebook. It doesn’t need to be super organized — just nice to have them in one spot to locate later.
• Put quotes up on an inspiration board. I put up my most frequently used quotes.
• Store quotes in text documents according to different categories (e.g., books, moods, or any other categorization method).
• Store quotes in an old-fashioned Rolodex. I recently started to do this and love the flexibility of having this paper method. I jot down new quotes on a little piece of paper and add them into my file. The Rolodex I use is super cute, which makes it more approachable (rather than a paper system that I will quickly abandon).

3)    Photos. Images that tell a Breathtaking Story.

… “Posy” by Susannah Conway (2008) …

Photography is a beautiful source of inspiration – looking at photos and/or taking your own photos. I find wonderful photographs through flickr and etsy. My favorite photographs are by Susannah Conway. Susannah writes, “Each of my photographs is my attempt to unravel the world around me, to see the beauty in all things.”   Other incredible photographers with online portfolios to browse: Alicia Bock, Jennifer Causey, Yvette Inufio, Honeytree, and of course, Danielle Anthony!

You can look at photos online and/or order prints from individual photographers to create your own inspiring collection.

4)    Journaling. Otherwise known as Writing Therapy.
I recently started keeping a personal journal. I didn’t realize the therapeutic benefits of journaling until I started my own. I typically journal before I go to sleep about whatever is on my mind at the time. Some of my best ideas are jotted down in that journal. It’s where I keep those random ideas for “someday.” Little diagrams of how I see an idea evolving or the steps needed to make an idea concrete. I stick magazine clippings into it as well – so it’s a whole big journal of personal thoughts and ideas that have sparked creative energy within me.

5)    An Inspiration Board. Make me Happy!

… image of my first inspiration board, Make Me Happy! …

This inspiration board is on the wall above my desk. It was my *first* inspiration board. It sat for about a month with a single post-it note in the center that says: Make Me Happy! I wanted a board that “made me happy.” And so that is how I started — my first creative venture. I’m starting my third inspiration board now on a different theme: A Beautiful Ripple Effect! I’m having a ton of fun brainstorming ideas for it and creating different projects. It’s a blank canvas and a wonderful source of inspiration. I also create mini inspiration boards for my mini personal organizer — love the idea of a portable inspiration board! It contains quotes, images, thoughts, and goals.

6)   Books. A Treasury of Inspiring Words.

I have a collection of about 15 books that I keep in my office all together. I have read these books multiple times and refer to them over and over again for inspiration. I have them close by and can always find exactly what I need in one of them. Some of the books include: I Thought it was Just Me (but it isn’t) by Brene Brown, Ordinary Sparkling Moments by Christine Mason Miller, The Organized and Inspired Scrapbooker by Aby Garvey, The Power of Less by Leo Babauta, Domino: The Book of Decorating, Presentation Zen: Simple Ideas on Presentation Design and Delivery by Garr Reynolds, Mindfulness by Ellen Langer and other inspiring reads.

7)  Blogs by Inspiring Bloggers/Writers. Simple Bites of Inspiration.

I may be biased, but I find blogs to be a great source of inspiration. In particular, I love blogs with a personal touch — typos, humor, less than perfect grammar, real world examples, and so on. Sometimes I need a blog with very few words (eye candy blogs), but most of the time I’m looking for inspiring articles to give me that creative edge. Reading a blog article is much more than just reading — you are given the key to a community of other readers interested in the same material. Within the comments, you can often find even more inspiration and community chit chat.

Some of my favorite blogs include: When I Grow Up, UpUp Creative, Decor8, Real Simple: Simply Stated, Treasuring, Made by Girl, Creative Thursday, Christine Mason Miller, Makeunder My Life, Annechovie, Creative Organizing, Melissa Loves, Ink on my Fingers, Ordinary Courage, Think Simple Now, Write to Done, and Zen Habits.

8)    Anything Family. And that includes Ben and Lila Rose!

Just thinking about my family and how much we love each other leaves me feeling incredibly happy, creative (and inspired)! I’m also inspired by how much each member of my family has done — from the little stuff to the really really big stuff. I’m proud of my mom, my dad, my sister, and my brother. We are all so different yet so driven to reach our dreams. Whenever I feel like something is too big for me to do, I think about what my parents did on their own. I know their story — and I know that at the end of the day being parents was their top priority. They taught me that you can do it all. It’s hard, but it’s possible. I could ramble on and on about them — that’s what it feels like (for me) to be inspired.

9)    A Beautiful Ripple Effect. Inspiration grows stronger as it is linked from one individual to another.

How can I describe this source of inspiration without the quote by Christine Mason Miller — not possible! I think I share this quote about every other post or so — have you memorized it yet?

10)  Care. Commit. Change.® Inspired by others who care about a cause and commit to creating change.

Which artists are committed to creating change? Who inspires me? Well, I created an event just to answer this question! And it began TODAY!!! So exciting!! We already have 700 applicants for our scholarship program this year – which is the largest applicant pool we’ve had ever – and probably the largest applicant pool for college scholarships for young adult cancer survivors (anywhere) so we are hoping that this online auction will help us support these individuals in their quest to go to college.

Why support young adult cancer survivors when everyone is feeling the strain of the economy? Take that strain being felt by everyone and multiply it by at least 10. And that is what is felt by young adult cancer survivors, many are hundreds of thousands of dollars in medical debt. College is not a possibility — ever. We are changing that through our college scholarship program and by providing *hope* that people (like you and me) believe in them. Should the cost of surviving cancer be the loss of a college education? Absolutely not. Help me — Help them. The auction will end on Friday April 24th. 100% of every dollar donated (every dollar used to purchase an item in this auction) will go directly towards a college scholarship for a young adult cancer survivor. [Update: Auction is complete. Thank you!]

Related posts:

1. Are You Pinterested?
2. Monday Inspiration
3. Pen & Paper: 13 Books for Journaling Inspiration