Expert advice for anyone who needs to find inspiration

Who never woke up with ~the left foot~ and found themselves unmotivated and uninspired to perform the most diverse tasks, right? However, one cannot give up: it is necessary to have strategies to find sources that are capable of stimulate creativity🇧🇷

In general, there is no mathematical formula for finding inspiration, it varies from person to person. “There are those who like calmer activities to let their ideas flow, such as meditating, reading, listening to music or even relaxing. There are also those who prefer more hectic situations, such as exchanging ideas with friends or meetings”, exemplifies José Roberto Marques, master coach and president of the Brazilian Institute of Coaching (IBC).

Precisely because of this, the possibilities of what can be used as source of inspiration: stories of overcoming difficulties, volunteer work, religious activities, moments of leisure and relaxation, meditation, nature, arts, music, meetings, courses, training, lectures, physical activities, entertainment, internet – and these are just some of the options.

“Being next to someone really brilliant, a good example that stimulates and favors the creative environment and the non-repression of mistakes; talk about the problem with someone who has little or no knowledge of the subject to come up with completely new and unprejudiced ideas; look for inspiration in places with similar problems; sleep thinking about the problem so that the subconscious is working while the conscious rests; and letting go of the problem and doing something completely different to clear your mind can help. It is worth mentioning, however, that inspiration also depends on some factors, such as the emotional state, lived experiences and technical knowledge, among others”, emphasizes Leylah Macluf, director of BBold Consulting, a company focused on coaching and consulting in organizational development.

However, when one is feeling exhausted, rest is essential. That’s because inspiration isn’t forced, it doesn’t happen as it should when you’re overloaded. “It is important to carry out an activity that escapes the conventional, to change the focus and let the ideas flow. This can be done in several ways: vacations, a trip, a different weekend, an interesting read, a movie, a meeting with friends or a walk with your pet, for example”, guides José Roberto. “The best thing is to take some time off and, when you come back, try to look at the problem from another angle, with another perspective. Question yourself and then, as you reflect, inspiration will come”, comments Leylah.

So, looking for help in the other can be useful, But self-awareness is key, because it will bring the clarity of what pleases and is good for you, showing, consequently, what inspires you. “That’s the only way you’ll know if you need a quiet moment or a more hectic one. We need to be connected with what we do, as well as what motivates us to do that”, concludes the IBC president.