Inspiration for a joyful and creative life

This is a great time to think about the things that bring you comfort and joy.

As the year comes to a close and the scent of cinnamon and cloves drift through the air, it’s a wonderful time for reflection.

What were some of your best moments and days this year?

Taking some time out from the hustle and bustle of the holidays to think about what’s working well and what next year could bring can really start things off right.

“The life that I have chosen gives me my full hours of enjoyment.” – Winslow Homer

What truly delights you? Here is an important question to ponder. What small things can you do to bring more delight into your life this coming year?

This isn’t an exercise in making resolutions that will soon be forgotten. This is about taking a little time to think about what rejuvenates and restores you, about what makes you happy.

When you bring awareness to the forefront and repeat the same question, your brain and heart continue to work on the answers even when you’re not consciously aware of it.

A great way to remember to ask yourself this question or any other is to write it on a piece of paper or post it note and put it in a couple of places so you’ll see it throughout the day. Also keep some paper or a journal handy to write down answers as they come to you.

You know when you are in the shower or driving and suddenly you get an insight or idea that seems to just “pop” into your head? That’s your subconscious at work. Sometimes the answers may surprise you.

I know I’ve fallen into the trap many times of thinking I’ll be happy when this or that happens or if I could just get this or that done, things would be better.

But the truth of the matter is things can be better now. You can work on your goals and aspirations without sacrificing today for tomorrow.

So I hope you’ll join me in this journey of discovery so that your life is filled with more comfort and joy and all that you deserve.

Imagine if joy was your job.  What if it was your responsibility to find happiness in your business and personal life wherever you could?

“There is no duty we so much underrate as the duty of being happy.” Robert Louis Stevenson

What kind of difference would that make for you and the people around you?

There may be times when you feel like there is nothing joyful about your life let alone your job.  But don’t you owe it to yourself and the people around you to pay attention to what brightens your day, what puts a spring in your step?

How could you make things more enjoyable?  What if you made a game of taking routine tasks and added a twist to make them more pleasing?

Even if you can’t be the head Joymaster in your work, you can find dozens of ways to make life more fun at home and work.  And if you are lucky enough to have an entrepreneurial spirit, you can make choices to define your own job and put a priority on joy.

Your ongoing responsibility as Joymaster of your life is to be aware of everything that you are grateful for, everything that puts a smile on your face, and everything that makes your heart skip a beat (in a good way).

I love hearing stories about janitors, school bus drivers, and others who show genuine delight in what they are doing and their enthusiasm becomes contagious.  They remind us that how we do something really does make a difference.

If you choose joy as your job, what might you do differently?

Photo by Nan-Leah Mick

I think it’s important to keep your well filled and to purposely surround yourself with things that inspire you on a daily basis.

Inspiration can take many forms. It can be something you see, read, eat, touch, dream, or think. It can be a person, place, or thing.

Notice the things that light you up, excite you, make you happy to be alive, or stir something deeper in you.

As an artist and a creativity coach, I find inspiration everywhere. I’m inspired by learning new things, the creativity all around us, and people doing what they love.

Fall is my favorite season. I love the way the brilliant colors of orange and gold leaves shimmer in the breeze against a clear blue sky, the hint of a chill in the air, and anything pumpkin.

I invite you to make yourself a list of the things that bring you joy and inspire you.

Big and little things alike – your children or grandchildren, your favorite fuzzy slippers, a hot cup of coffee or tea on a cold day, a nap, a painting, a poem or a walk in the park.

As you add to the list, think about how you can surround yourself with a good dose of daily inspiration.

Please add a comment on what you might do to keep inspired.