How Inspiration Spurs Action
September 3, 2021
«Inspiration - the alcohol-free intoxication» is how the German writer Alexander Otto Weber aptly described it. I can only agree with that. Many times in my life, at an unexpected moment, I had a flash of inspiration – usually in the form of a visual image – that would not let me go. The inspiration felt like a «non-alcoholic intoxication» and spurred me to action.
Speaking of alcohol: as a chemist, I like to compare inspiration with alcoholic fermentation. You take a few suggestions, give them time to unfold, occupy yourself with something else and do not even think about the topic anymore. And suddenly the ideas bubble up.
My Three Most Important Sources of Inspiration
How do you find inspiration? Since everyone is unique, I cannot answer this question for you. Instead, I will share my favorite sources of inspiration.
Source of inspiration #1: Enter uncharted territory and shake your brain awake!
These three situations gave me a lasting boost:
At the age of 19, I moved away from home to study and realize my dream. In my family, which was dominated by craftsmen and merchants, I was the first to take this path, and no one understood why I chose chemistry. Making the leap to independence was no walk in the park at first, but it broadened my horizons tremendously and made me look at life from a completely different perspective.
After almost 20 years in the natural sciences, I finally immersed myself in the world of personal development and coaching in 2011: from developing molecules to developing people. This change of direction opened up a whole new world for me, which fills me with great joy to this day. And instead of chemistry articles, I now enthusiastically read books about brain research and positive psychology.
The year 2021 again stands for pure inspiration: After almost 30 years as an employee in various leadership positions, I started my own business at the age of 57. It is indescribable how much this change inspires me to learn new things and grow beyond my previous limits.
My conclusion: Break out of your routine if you would like to see the world with new eyes again. Embark on unfamiliar territory and try something that you have never done before. Immerse yourself in a new environment or surround yourself with people who think differently than you do. Encountering unfamiliar thoughts and approaches will shake up your own thinking and stimulate new ideas beyond familiar conventions.
Source of inspiration # 2: Leisure is a breeding ground for inspiration
The dictionary describes leisure as «free time and inner peace to do something that corresponds to one's interests». This definition is an excellent illustration of the situations in which I experience leisure: in music, snowshoeing or hiking in the mountains, cooking, developing new concepts, yoga and meditation. Hours of silence and leisure are an important breeding ground for inspiration and fresh ideas for me. They help me to center and recalibrate myself. And it is precisely in these moments of relaxation and concentration that new things are born.
My conclusion: build hours of leisure into your life on a regular basis and experience how you can refuel good thoughts and find inspiration. Leisure time gives you the opportunity to pause and reflect: What is important to you in life? What kind of life do you want to lead? Who you want to be?
Source of inspiration # 3: Surround yourself with people who serve as a model!
Even as a child, I was inspired and spurred on by people who stood up powerfully and unflinchingly for what was close to their hearts – even against the resistance of those around them. My grandmother, my grandfather and my music teacher were role models for me. They showed me that it is in my own hands to shape my circumstances through my behavior and action and encouraged me to realize my dreams.
Later in life, people from various cultures and with different approaches to life were a tremendous source of inspiration for me. Moving abroad – first to Switzerland and later to the USA – and dealing with customers and clients from all over the world had a strong influence on my thinking and actions.
Today, I am once again following the principle of «learning from the model» in building my own business. I surround myself with people who have already achieved what I am striving for. I study their behavior, try and adapt their ideas, learn from their failures, and thus develop my own style. This mix of self-reflection and observation of others accelerates my learning process immensely.
My conclusion: i) Actively look for people who embody what you aspire to. ii) Find out what qualities you particularly value in them. Role models embody something we want for ourselves. iii) Adapt what you learn to your personality and integrate it into your behavior. Most importantly, do it your way!
About the Risks and Side Effects of Inspiration
Finally, an important note: if you follow other people's inspiration, you can share in their success. This is a delightful experience if it spurs you to write your own story, start your own project, articulate your vision, or do something for your health.
My bottom line: do not confuse inspiration with the feeling of having accomplished something or done something for yourself. No book or post will make your life more stress-free or fulfilling if you do not follow up your newly acquired knowledge with action or change your habits. Use the inspiration and put it into your own ideas right away. That's exactly what the «non-alcoholic intoxication» is for!
