Stratejoy Manifesto Part 1: Let the Inspiration Spark

[Welcome to a 4 part Blog Post on the philosophy behind Stratejoy.  We’ll hit Inspiration, Clarity, Accountability & Camaraderie over the next 2 weeks. Stay tuned & if you like–share with a friend or two!]

First a nod, a salute & whooping cheer for the inspirational speech delivered today.

“In reaffirming the greatness of our nation, we understand that greatness is never a given. It must be earned. Our journey has never been one of short-cuts or settling for less. It has not been the path for the faint-hearted — for those who prefer leisure over work, or seek only the pleasures of riches and fame. Rather, it has been the risk-takers, the doers, the makers of things — some celebrated but more often men and women obscure in their labor, who have carried us up the long, rugged path towards prosperity and freedom.”  -President Barack Obama

Are you ready to be that risk-taker?  That doer? To earn your greatness in the world?

First step:  Get Inspired

Before you can start any new task, especially one as grand as designing and living an authentic life, you’ll need a whole suitcase full of inspiration & motivation to carry you through.  These emotions are what give you the kick in the butt to get started, keep you going when the going gets tough & remind you why you’re striving.

Sometimes the inspiration or motivation to begin this journey is negative.  You are “moving away” from an ill matched career, a life that doesn’t feel like you anymore, an unhealthy relationship, or simple boredom.  Negative motivation can be powerful.  It’s where I started…

I knew I didn’t want to return to the day to day that I’d been living before I left on my trip.  I’d felt lost, stifled, like I was losing my sparkle.  My motivation to start designing a new life started simply with the sense of “I don’t know what my best life looks like, but I know it’s not that.  And there’s no way in heck I’m going to settle.”

Sometimes the inspiration for doing some serious happiness work is positive.  It’s something you desire intrinsically: you’re craving more joy, more love, or more simplicity in your life and you’re ready to put some effort towards making changes.  Perhaps you’ve got a role model who is living  a life you desire or perhaps you’re buoyed by dreams of a vision to give back, make better, or spread your wings.  Whatever the motivation may be, when it’s positive, it moves you toward the life you desire.

This is where I’m currently situated in my own journey.  I’ve made changes & forward movement that have resulted in some significant gains in authenticity and happiness.  And I want more!

Second step: Tips & Tactics

So, I’ve recommended you get inspired.  Now, how are you supposed to do that?  First, figure out if you’re more in a frame of negative or positive motivation towards creating your best life.

Negative
If you’re in a crisis, a period of blah, or feeling lost– capitalize on those icky feelings.  Write about how much you hate your current reality, have yourself a good cry about how your life got off track, or whine about how you just don’t know what to do.   Wallow in it.  Make it big, bad & ugly.

Once you’re thoroughly soaking in the negative juju, you must next realize that you control your reality. This step is vital!  You cannot skip it!  Say to yourself, “I don’t want to live my life like this!  And I don’t have to!”   Then, it’s time to get off your ass and do something instead of complaining, putting up with it, or pretending everything is fine.

Positive
If you’re feeling dreamy about happy endings, find yourself reading personal discovery blogs or have recently started making some changes in your schedule & habits– you’re already on the positive train!  Surround yourself with friends who look on the bright side, make a colorful vision board, read more about your heroes, dance around to girl power music, smile at strangers & visualize all your dreams coming true.

Think hard about all the amazing things you can accomplish when your head & heart are aligned and the energy is flowing. Write lists of the companies you’ll create, the magazine covers you’ll grace, the names of your future children.  Let yourself relish in optimism about your future.

You may have days or moments of both types of motivation.  You feel up, you feel down, you feel dizzy… That’s completely normal.  As long as that bundle of emotions are inspiring you to stand up and do something!

And I realize your next question is, “Stand up and do what?”  Good question, ace. “What” is definitely the next step.  Hold that thought until the next blog when I talk about Clarity.

Third step:  Staying Inspired

I’ll be the first to admit it.  It’s hard to stay inspired day in and day out.  But one of the best ways to do it is to inspire someone else to create an authentically happy life!

Inspiring a friend, sister, colleague, or neighbor through your words or actions is an exciting transfer of energy for both of you. Fireworks go off, smiles creep across doubting faces & something you’ve said resonates.  It sticks.  It makes a difference.  It’s a pretty thrilling exchange.

I was lucky enough to get the chance to do this last week when I spoke about “Happiness” in front of 200 women at the Girl Power Hour event in Seattle.  I dig the look of awe that comes across a woman’s face when she allows herself to imagine a life that is meaningful, joyful and on her own terms. She’s thinking big!  She’s tackling the world!  She’s a loving, fiery, take no prisoners, cupcake baking, marathon racing goddess!  And then, wahoo, we’re both inspired.

What else can you do to keep yourself in a place of Inspiration?

• Read biographies or blogs about cool women doing cool things
• Go somewhere that makes you feel awe: nature, a concert, the local market all work for me
• Talk, question, exchange ideas with someone who has completely different views about life
• Listen to music that moves you.

(Now, I realize this music mix erases any sort of indie street cred I may wish to possess, but I’m being straight with you- these songs inspire me.  Some are peppy, some are dark, but all have pushed me at different times to go further, dream bigger & face the unknown.)

Inspiration is the first step on the Stratejoy journey. Before any forward movement occurs, you need to get to the spot where you feel completely and utterly inspired to do something big!  And yes, designing a life that is authentic & joyful & meaningful is definitely something big.

Are you feeling it yet?

photo credit: aussiegall