noun: someone or something that gives you ideas; a sudden good idea; someone that people admire or want to be like; the act of breathing in, or a single breath in
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The inspiration for today’s inspirational post is – perhaps unsurprisingly – inspiration. Broad by nature, inspiration can strike anybody at any time and can be caused by anything or anyone. Yet, it is also remarkably inconsistent.
A pearl of (subjective) wisdom can inspire someone to change their life completely, while their best friend may think the idea utter twaddle. An apple falling from a tree is just that to most people. To Sir Isaac Newton, it provided the inspiration for significant scientific advances. What strikes one person as simply a nice view can provide the inspiration for an entire fictional world!
What I find the most baffling and beautiful of all is when inspiration strikes seemingly out of nowhere. Another famous, relatively recent example is JK Rowling’s claim that Harry Potter just wandered into her mind on a train. But what about the things we take for granted?
What was the inspiration behind the wheel? What inspired people to mill flour and bake bread? And let’s not forget that inspiration is not confined to creations and discoveries…
It almost seems like an everyday occurrence for a person or their achievements to be called “inspirational” (at least if you watch T.V), but surely that must be hyperbole? Don’t get me wrong, I am not contesting that it’s reasonable for people with serious illnesses or disabilities doing charity runs to be described as inspirational. But there can’t really be that many inspirational people, otherwise we’d all be inspired, wouldn’t we? Here’s a thought: what if we are all inspired every day and simply aren’t aware of it?
We are all connected – not just in the great circle of life. And the subconscious mind is an incredibly powerful thing. We are affected by those around us to a greater or lesser extent, whether we like it or not. Even when we choose to do the opposite of what someone else does, have they not inspired us to do so? Inspiration is not limited to mimicry. Nor is it limited to the grandiose. We are inspired to learn, to explore, to play, to grow. I put it to you that without inspiration we would do nothing at all. Tiredness is your muse: your inspiration for going to bed. Hunger inspires you to eat. A half price offer can be your inspiration to buy your wife flowers!
In my opinion, inspiration’s inherent value cannot be overstated. As I mentioned earlier, inspiration is necessary to do anything, and as such goes hand in hand with motivation. But it also holds a deep connection to imagination, allowing us to see possibilities rather than be constrained by reality. What can be more precious than that which enables freedom and choice? Or conversely, what could be worse than a world of monotony, without variety or change? A world where we lack the confidence to do anything without asking first – whether we seek the counsel of a person or AI – a world where we all do the exact same things, the exact same way.
Thank you, dear reader, for staying with me while I put pen to paper (or finger to keyboard) each week. I hope you find some inspiration in these ridiculous ramblings: just be careful not to think too much. Mustn’t drive ourselves round the twist, must we?
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