“Inspiration exists, but it has to find you working.”

Pablo Picasso

I’ve been feeling like I’ve been searching for something to do recently. Feeling like I want to do something different. Take on a new challenge. Change things up.

I’ve been feeling like I want to grow and develop and learn and try new things. I think I’ve been feeling this way for well over a year. Ok, maybe two years. Maybe since my kids started getting older and more independent (sigh).

When I started feeling this way a couple of years ago, I decided to start learning about different things: read about different topics, listen to some different podcasts, and take some workshops.

It was awesome. I felt my brain power increase and we were able to make some significant changes in our life that will be beneficial in the long run. We have spent the past couple of years working towards some new goals we set regarding investing and real estate. While we still have far to go to achieve all our goals, and we are still committed to achieving them, it’s definitely a marathon we are running and our approach now that we’ve set some things up, is to be slow and steady.

Which means I’m back to being a touch restless!

And then that means I’m back to reading about different topics, listening to different podcasts, and taking some workshops.

I love how these periods of growth not only help me in developing new ideas, they help me in becoming better at what I am doing now. So many new things I have learned I have been able to put into practice as my role as a therapist, and I find the new growth helps me move forward and keep going (especially in an area that can be somewhat emotionally draining).

However, my favourite part of doing this new work, is the inspiration that I do receive when I’m doing it. That’s why when I came across this quote, it rang so true: inspiration finds you when you are working – not sitting around doing nothing – or even worse, sitting around complaining how bored you are.

You need to get out there and do something different: read, listen, write, talk! Throw yourself into a new hobby, research a new topic, dig deeper in a subject you know something about, rekindle an old passion. Then share these experiences. I think that is also key. I’m blessed to have some people in my life who are also constantly trying to grow and develop and it’s so helpful to feed off their energy and motivation.

So if you are stuck: get to work. Inspiration will come knocking. But get off the couch and answer the door.