Aspiring to Inspire

Inspiration! What is it? What does it mean to you?

Do you find yourself looking for it in friends, family, sports or arts figures, in your environment, in social media, etc? Or do you find opportunities to inspire others?

Consider for a moment your influence and response to inspiration and its role in your life. Take a couple of minutes and write about it. If you'd like post some of your thoughts here on our blog, feel free to do so.

Thanks.

Journal Thursday

Every year around this time many people consider their New Year's resolution. We usually want so much to reach our goal and we are in the mood for some changes. Then, after a few days, or a few tries, or a few thoughts to get going we somehow get bogged down with other things in life and stop pursuing our resolution. How can we break this streak of not resolving what we set out to do?

In this journal exercise, write out and set out to

1. Determine what one thing that must change in your life that you are willing to set out and do
2. Identify at least 3 activities that you would be willing to stop doing for at least 21 days in order to meet your change
   
3. List in priority from 1-4 (with 1 being the most important) the one thing that must change, and these 3 activities you are considering to stop
4. If your one thing that must change is not # 1, then you are not ready to make the change and you must weigh your decision carefully to determine if it is needed and what will make it top priority for change in your life
5. If it is #1, then you are ready to set out a path for change.
6. Of the 3 activities you will stop, pick one that the new change will replace.
   
7. Replace it with the one thing you are changing
8. In the change keep SMART change in view

• S- Keep it simple and yet specific (Does it stretch me, is it worthwhile to do?)
  
• M-Keep it measurable (Can I measure in a tangible way the steps toward change?)
  
• A-Keep it able to be completed (can I see myself able to meet this change?)
  
• R-Keep it realistic to you (Is it within my ability, control to do?)
  
• T-Keep it time-limited (Will I see results in a realistic time frame? Example: 1-3 weeks, 1-3 months, 3-6 months, one year)
  

Tell at least 1-3 close friends, family, or co-workers of the one thing you are setting out to change
Ask at least 1 of them to check in with you daily or every other day or weekly as to how you are doing with this change...one to be accountable to for your change.

REMEMBER: YOU CAN DO IT!

Journal Thursday

Consider a time in your life when you were offensive or not the best of friends to a close friend, spouse or family member. Take a moment and journal your experience.

Now ask yourself, "Have I made things right with this person? If so, how is my relationship with him/her since that time? If not, what would I like to do with the unresolved matter?"

If you have no way of contacting this person and things are not resolved, take a moment and journal your thoughts and feelings about the relationship and determine what you'd like to say to him/her to resolve the matter for you.

Journal Thursday

Today's journal is about reflections. This is the month many students graduate from school and there is always much talk about "the future". However, taking time to reflect on all the milestone, hard work, dedication, and goals achieved are of great importance. If you are a graduate, have graduated in the past, are anticipating graduation, or have had a milestone achieved, please take a moment and journal about your milestone. Reflect on the key points mentioned above. Feel free to share the struggles, joy, pain, and victory of your milestone/s with others.

Journal Thursday

Once upon a time in a land far far away....

Today's journal entry is about creative fantasy. Either pick one of your favorite fairy tales and write about what you like most about it or write your own fairy tale. Discover or consider the who...what...when...where...how of the story as you write out your entry.

Time To Face It

You have stalled long enough...put it off until something else could be put in its place. Now, it is all that is left...it's facing you. What is it? What is this perplexing annoyance? What is the one thing that keeps popping up in your life that you avoid? Push away? Despise? Pretend it does not exist? Deny?

Take the time to...

1. Gather your resources
2. Look beyond yourself to trusted friend/s, family, mentor/s, spiritual leader/s, God
   
3. Seek counsel
4. Find strength in others who have faced "it"
5. Define your "it" in order to gain a clear vision of what must be done
   
6. Devise a plan of action toward your desired outcome
   
7. Take the first step
8. Don't give up...stay strong with the strength of momentum, your resources, the strength of others
9. Realize others can and many times do find strength in your willingness to face your "it"
10. Smile as you share your struggles, hurts, and victories along the way
11. Review your progress, your plan, those who you have helped
12. Be an encouragement, an inspiration to others who are needing to face their "it"

Journal Thursday

Using your imagination, take on the persona of a favorite cartoon character. Journal about your day today from his/her point of view.