What To Do When Inspiration Is Lacking

We’ve all been there before. Those times when we feel like we are just going through the motions. Maybe we don’t have a real sense of purpose or direction and just feel generally uninspired.

Merriam-Webster defines inspiration as a. a divine influence or action on a person believed to qualify him or her to receive and communicate sacred revelation, b. the action or power of moving the intellect or emotions, and c. the act of influencing or suggesting opinions.

During the early 1980s, Chris Gardner, an American businessman, investor, stockbroker, motivational speaker, author, and philanthropist, struggled with homelessness while raising his toddler son. Will Smith played Chris Gardner in the 2006 motion picture, The Pursuit of Happyness.

I love the quote in the movie when he is talking to his son and says, “Don’t ever let somebody tell you you can’t do something, not even me. Alright? You dream, you gotta protect it. People can’t do something themselves, they wanna tell you you can’t do it. If you want something, go get it. Period.”

We all could use someone like Chris Gardner in our lives; someone telling us to keep going and keep dreaming. But, truth is, we all get stuck sometimes. In case you need help finding your own Chris Gardner, here are a few tips on where to look when inspiration is lacking.

LOOK INSIDE YOUR COMPANY

Sometimes, the stars align, and we work for an incredibly inspirational boss. Perhaps it’s the way she handles uncomfortable situations or the way he carries himself that makes you want to model every career move you make after him or her.

If you’ve been gifted with this rare gift, take advantage and see if he or she will be your mentor. Watch not only how they do their job, but how they treat other people, peers, and customers. Learn from them and take it all in.

Sometimes, it might not even have to be your direct supervisor or manager. If they aren’t inspirational enough, look at other top leaders in your company. Inspiration can be found from any number of people at your company, sometimes it just requires you to look in unorthodox places.

LOOK TO PEOPLE AT OTHER COMPANIES

Even if you don’t have inspirational people at your company, we have nearly unlimited access to people at all levels across all companies.

Social media is a powerful tool for finding inspiration from other business leaders. Platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn give us access like never before. We can experience keynotes and company all-hands that were previously available unless you were an employee. This gives us the opportunity to learn a variety of best practices that we can, in turn, use at our own companies.

Some of the best minds on the planet are incredibly active on social media. Don’t waste this opportunity to find some great sources of inspiration.

LOOK TO FAMILY

Inspiration doesn’t have to come from your career network. Instead, look at your family. Just like your mom or dad inspired you growing up, they can be great inspirations now. Grandparents can also be a wealth of information. In their lifetime, the world has changed significantly, and sometimes inspiration can come from learning how they dealt with that change and real adversity.

But it doesn’t always have to be an older family member. Inspiration can come from the tiniest humans. Children have an innocence about them that is hard to replicate. They remind us what it’s like to laugh, love, and have fun.

I’m personally reminded of a time when my four-year-old niece donated $20 of her own money, which she worked hard to earn, to our charity. Instead of purchasing something for herself, she wanted to give to others who had far less.

If you can’t find inspiration in that, you might want to head to the doctor because you might also not have a heart!

LOOK INSIDE YOURSELF

Finally, on this journey to cure your lack of inspiration, don’t forget about yourself. Perhaps you simply need to take a break from our fast-paced society to recharge. Journaling is a great way to disconnect and gather your thoughts.

Instead of focusing on the negative and your weaknesses, look for the positive things happening in your life and celebrate your strengths. Inspiration might be buried deep within sometimes, but often all you need to do is look inward.

No matter what, being 100% inspired, 100% of the time is unrealistic.

There is something very important to remember when looking at each of these sources of inspiration. Simply looking, thinking, and talking about inspiration is not enough; true inspiration takes action. Action requires energy, and when you are truly inspired, this energy can come from anywhere. Once you feel fully inspired, don’t let it fizzle. It’s a powerful force that can cause great things to happen for you.