Unlocking the Magic of Inspiration and Encouragement
What is the importance of inspiration and encouragement, dear reader?
I experience highs and lows every week. I may wake up with optimism flowing through me like a drug. Nothing can stop me! Yet that very evening, I may feel lower than dirt.
What causes these extremes? I do not think that I suffer a mental deficiency, yet I fail to hold on to that optimism that I so strongly felt that morning.
It could be the many disappointments I experience throughout the day. The little things that build up and drown my optimism.
My Grandpa once told me to take a small and big rock. Place the big rock on the ground and walk a few feet away. Then, place the small rock on the ground and lie beside it. Now, look at both stones. Which one looks bigger?
The small one does! The small rock is obstructing your view of the bigger one.
Often, the small things obstruct our view of the bigger things in life. We have to choose to look past the small things and see the bigger picture.
Even though I understood the lesson, I still struggle with it today. Nearly 30 years later.
When the small things are blinding me, I look for inspiration and encouragement. I can find that from my friends and family. My wife is an excellent source of encouragement. Yet, they can not always be there in the moment.
So, I have different songs, books, and podcasts that I like to listen to that do the trick.
Here are some of my go-to sources of inspiration and encouragement. I do not get any compensation for the following recommendations other than the satisfaction of knowing that they may bless you.
Tim Ferris is my number-one go-to for encouragement. He has dedicated his life to helping others achieve their maximum potential. I listen to his podcast every week. A recent episode that I loved was The Power of a Stolen Snickers episode #715 with guest Chris Beresford-Hill.
A book that has inspired me never to give up is Let's Go (So We Can Get Back) by Jeff Tweedy. Jeff is the lead singer and songwriter of my second favorite band, Wilco. Their music has gotten me through many tough times. Here is a sample of their music.
Another book that encouraged and made me laugh till I peed just a little is Paddle Your Own Canoe: One Man's Fundamentals for Delicious Living by author, actor, and fellow woodworker Nick Offerman. This book is filled with down-to-earth wisdom from a man who has genuinely lived his best life.
