So we are on module three getting inspired. And here is a quote by yo yo Ma, then passion is one great force that unleashes creativity. Because if you're passionate about something, then you're more willing to take risks. And that is exactly right. Because when you think about motivation and inspiration, they actually go hand in hand. And when you are inspired, you increase your level of creativity.

Now, he's a cellist and, and I love to play the cello. So I love to listen to his music, because it inspires me, but not just that several different things inspire me. So you should not simply wait for inspiration to find you. You need to get in touch with what you're passionate about right and what inspired you. And by finding ways to increase your inspiration, you will increase your creativity and help find out Motivation you need. So for me, I also love genealogy.

I love researching history. And I love the Civil War antebellum period, and what beautiful task or not even tasks but passion to relate family history to, to the Civil War period, right. And that allowed me to bridge two different worlds but although they're combined, and to see how the civil war that antebellum period affected them, and because of years of research alone, something that was so important about my family, that it actually kind of reflects on who I am to this day. So that is my passion. So when you're able to find what is passionate to you what inspires you it or help you with your creativity. Now in reference introspection.

Now, introspection is the process of self examination, which helps people understand what inspires them. And introspection are introspective individuals are in tune with their feelings, their thoughts and what motivates their behavior and the art of introspection requires it requires you to take the time to question what you want and how you feel. And which is easy to overlook in today's fast paced society, right, because so much is going a mile a minute right which is, is life right is ongoing is fluid is constantly there is no stagnation in technology. There is no stagnation in this digital information that we learn. Everything is that the our fingertips so with so much going on with work and family and things of that matter. It makes it easier for us to get away from our feelings and to get away from what inspires.

So, activities such as journaling and meditation will help keep you anchored facilitate that process of introspection, which is also reflection, right. And once you become aware of your thoughts and feelings, you will, you will be in a better position to increase your creativity and achieve your goals. So how can we do this? Read more. That's, that's one of the things that you can do is read and more. Why?

Because reading stimulates your thinking. And thinking is an important tool to improve on creativity. And when you choose reading material, be sure to include fictional works, because they engage the imagination, okay, so look for stories that you find inspirational and Carve out the time to read them. So before you begin your reading regimen, seven realistic goals because you have to set realistic goals. So, if goals are not realistic, you will not read more. You do not need to carve out hours of reading time because a lot of people do not have that time, especially with life, right?

So simply setting aside 15 minutes a day to read and find your inspiration. There are times when I because I'm so used to reading Civil War books, I have to sometimes go outside of that. I have to go outside of those things, which often, you know, you get used to, but sometimes you have to go outside that sometimes you got to explore. And so for me even reading 15 minutes a day, whether it's the morning, or whether it's the evening, it inspires me and that's how you have to look at it. So more you read, the more you can bring to your imagination, the more you can bring to your imagination, the more you can be inspired, which is a form of creativity, and you need all of those things for creativity. Now, removing the mental block, right?

So you have to remove the mental block because there are times when you have a mental block, your your become stacking, okay? And we don't want to become stacked. So everyone faces mental blocks from time to time and these blocks will prevent focusing. So finding answers to problems, discovering inspiration and achieving goals. So overcoming mental blocks is difficult, but it can be done. If you find yourself block, stop and refocus by doing something distracting.

Consider the following techniques such as, as you can see here, a change of scenery. Sometimes you need to get away, maybe it's 3000 miles away, right? Maybe it's over a neighbor's home, maybe it's to the cafe, maybe whatever will allow you to get out of your norm that often hinders us, or sometimes it's stagnant. Because we're so used to it right? But once you get out of your norm, you're able to create and to explore, and to see new ways of thinking, right. So here are some focus that you can do as far as removing a mental block.

So as you can see, a change of scenery. Meditate, right? Do busy work, busy weathers is genealogy, right? Like, I like to do but not work. Or maybe it's exercise. But you need to find something that's going to stimulate from where you are now, because that's important because if you can't get away from your Normal, then sometimes that is what can hinder you.

So, art inspires art. And art is inspirational and throwing yourself into art will inspire your own creativity, believe it or not, right? So simply exposing yourself to random art is not enough to inspire you. You must find art that speaks to you. Whether you choose photography, sculptor painting, dance, theater, music, or computer graphics, there is something to inspire you, and the art that inspire you. It doesn't need to be directly connected to what you do.

It doesn't at all. Here I am. I am. I am a trainer and educator at heart. But there are some things that I love to do that are outside of my paradigm, because that gets me away. You know, so I love visiting historical mind you So find something, it doesn't have to connect to your profession, but it has to help inspire you.

It has to create that flame within you to make you feel like you're alive, right? So you want to immerse yourself. So you want to find art, you know that that performs to inspire you, right? immerse yourself in, listen to an inspirational song, maybe on the way to work or flip through pictures during lunch breaks, right? But find something that's relevant to art that will get you outside of your norm that will get you outside of what you think things should be. Because now you're challenging yourself.

And that's what you want. You want to be able to challenge yourself to explore and to engage children. That's what they do, they explore and they engage and they in a allows them to get outside of their own little square, right? Well, we have to think that way as well, because we have to have that creative side to us to help us move forward and to develop. So taking time to immerse yourself in art will actually help you find the inspiration you need to think creatively. So here's our first case study.

So Alice had difficulty finding inspiration for her new project. She tried to think creatively, but she was constantly distracted. So a friend suggested that Alice go to the park and try to find some introspection, right. So at first, Alice found the task awkward, but after a few minutes, she realized that she was not happy about the job, and secretly did not want to do it. Additionally, she realized that she had not reached many of her goals in life and viewed herself as a film. So once Alice realized all of this negativity that she brought to the project.

She was able to address her own thoughts and feelings, and then refocus on the task at hand. She was able to present the best project she had ever taught. So what Alice did was she could have easily just said she could have easily just went to look for another job, right? But when she changed her mindset, she began to reevaluate her thought process, she begin to re evaluate and re examine right? self reflection, interesting introspection, right. And that allowed her to realize it wasn't the job itself, but it was how she was interpreting her job and what she should be doing.

So getting outside of her normal, right? Don't same environments. So Being able to get away change of scenery, which we talked about the ability to reevaluate from a different perspective. She began to channel, that positive energy, she began to find inspiration, she became inspired. And because of that, of being inspired, she developed their creativity. And so she was able to create a whole new way of reviewing things or examining, which inspired her to create new solutions to her job.

And that works exactly what we need to do, right? Because we become so stagnant and then mundane and what's going on in our lives, that we never have the ability to take time to re evaluate ourselves to develop this self reflection technique, which will allow us to be inspired and change the way not only how we look at life, but how we do things from that point on. So just as Alice did, when you're able to address your own thoughts and Phyllis feelings, you're able to refocus, you're able to create new ideas, because now you're inspired. And now you're open to change. And now you're open to that creative process. So here's an introspective introspection activity.

So I want you to take a few minutes to answer the following questions. And remember this activity is with the core. So hopefully, you're you have downloaded the sheet. So then that way you can do it at hand. Okay, so here are the questions. So one, describe how you feel about your life.

Right. How do you feel about your life at this point in time? Is it going in the direction that you want it to go? How are you feeling? Next? What do you want to achieve?

Where can you see yourself? Where do you want to do? And how will you get there? Right? What do you want to achieve? Maybe it's a short term goal, right?

Maybe it's a long term goal. But whatever it is, you have to create goals. You have to be able to see yourself outside of yourself. And I know that sounds weird, but it is because in order for you to achieve, you got to be able to imagine and visualize and we're going to get into that module as well. Talking about those elements. Because then when you're able to achieve, you're able to start creating and that What you want to do, you want to create, because if you can't create, you can't take yourself to the next step, whatever that next step may be.

So you want to be able to create and to ask yourself, what do you want to achieve? The next is? What do you think your love your life should be? Right? What do you think about your life? Last time we asked, shoot, how you feel that's different.

That's dealing with emotion. Now thinking is done, of course, what's your thoughts? Right? So how do you think what do you think about your life at this point in time? Are you happy with it? Are you in the point where you're like, hey, just going through the day?

Every this just like Groundhog Day, everything is the same right? Or maybe you feel like I'm where I want to be. I just don't know where to go from here. So wherever you are, in your current environment, what do you think about your life? Right? And then the next lessons?

Are there any thoughts or feelings you're ignored? Be true to yourself? How are you feeling? What are your thoughts? Now this activity that is given to you, this is something it is for you. All of these activities are for you, because I want you to have the hairs on and I want you to think through this as we go through this.

So before you even go to the next module, I want you to complete the activity in here and that's for every module, every module that has an activity, be inspired to complete it. And I would love for you to share via email or through Google Hangouts. Let me know how you're doing. Let me know about your activity and how you're feeling because this is about your thoughts and this is about your feelings and you have to be true to thyself or to their own self be true in order for change to occur, okay. So, we are actually moving on where is the we are at the recap, and here is our synopsis for module three. So, introspection is the process of self examination, which helps people understand what inspires them.

So, you have to be inspired what, only through self reflection, can you start being inspired, but you have to take that first step and I know a lot of people aren't ready to be inspired are to have to deal with that, that self reflection stage but it is important In order for you to move to the next step, right, so everyone faces mental blocks from time to time. And following these techniques to focus such as change of scenery, meditate, read, busy work or exercise will help you get through this. Now art is an inspiration. And throwing yourself into art will inspire your creativity. So find things to do get is wrapped around art, like I mentioned before, whether it's photography, or sculpture or painting or dance or theater, whatever it may be, find time to immerse yourself in, find time to, to get outside of your norm, and find something that will inspire you.

Maybe it's writing poetry, whatever it may be, find time to do it. And reading of course stimulates your thinking because now you're able to create new ideals, because now you're inspired by them. new things right? So that's why I say fictional is always important to read because now it's getting you outside of what your norm your normal thoughts are be. And it's important to to improve your creativity. So, when choosing read material, be sure to include fictional works before you engage your imagination, and at least take 15 minutes a day before passion is one great force that unleashes creativity because if you're passionate about something, then you're more willing to take risk.

Have a good day.