You sit and stare blankly at your computer screen, you hear rain drops pelting the pavement and find your mind circling around this central idea that consists of laying in your bed tucked neatly under the covers as you watch Hulu, or Netflix, whichever your preference may be. School may be dragging as the excitement of the first month has come to a close, work may be exhausting as you sit and become tired of the same routine you've clearly grown accustomed to. So how do you find inspiration? How does one decide to get up from their bed besides just "doing it", as Shai Labeouf might say.
Here are a few things I have started to do, that may or may not work for you: but there's no harm in trying right?
1. YouTube
YouTube is an amazing way to find things you like or inspirational videos: whether it ranges from watching Markiplier play video games, Alisha Marie talk about makeup, or Nikki Phillipi talk about life in general: the options are endless, and it's kind of like stealing. It's like therapy, for free. The thing that's so inspirational about YouTubers is they truly love and enjoy what they are doing. They take time out of their days to connect with each of their viewers and to show they may be known as "YouTube Famous" but they are still real people who deal with the same problems we all do, every day.
What makes them even more significant? They try to help those watching, they want to make a positive impact and help everyone that they can. The truth is, most YouTubers: have an enormous heart, and aren't afraid to dream.
2. Podcasts, what?
Sounds boring, right? Who could possibly enjoy sitting and listening to someone drone on and on? Yet, they are insanely popular, why? They are excruciatingly inspirational, relatable, and real.
Originally, when I heard of Podcasts I assumed they were all elder white males droning on and on about life and history. Things I couldn't see myself relating to. In hindsight, I couldn't have been more wrong. There's a Podcast for everything: relationship advice, health and fitness, mental health, spirituality, equity, and even comedy. The best part? Subscriptions are 100% free. Can we say hello to another form of therapy? Podcasts have done nothing for me but help reflect on my actions as a human being, my life and situations I have been presented with and I feel I've been exposed to so much. They are truly amazing.
3. Deep Conversation
As humans, young adults, adolescents in our society we tend to talk about temporary things and focus on materialistic things (although we may or may not be materialistic). Society tells us to focus on these things and not to dwell beneath the surface for too long, or the conversations we have may not be "accurate" for the settings we may be in. As a result, they come out late at 3 am, half awake while sleeping over at your best friends house.
Have one awake. Talk about issues you normally wouldn't discuss and see how your ideas bounce back and forth with your friend, see how deep the conversation gets and how alike and different you are, reflect on this conversation. There's nothing to lose, right? See how quickly you become inspired, whether it was from your friend, or something you've spoken about in the moment yourself. After all, you come up with some pretty amazing things yourself.
4. Take a Walk
With no direction, grab your keys and reconnect yourself with nature. If it's raining? Bring an umbrella. If it's snowing? Stay warm. Get your boots. Take a walk with your mind that you've been silencing, see something new. Learn to love your surroundings again, take notice of things you may have never seen before. Become present. Stop worrying about the past, or future stress that may be heading your way with work or school. Be present with yourself, maybe see things that inspire you: a waterfall, an old vacation spot, find something that you can visit and forget the temporary stresses of the world.
5. The Most Important One: Listen to Yourself.
Who better to find that inner drive from than yourself? All of these options are simply steps to get your inner self started. Each and every option I listed are just things to help tune in to who I am as a person minus all the bullshit of society weighing on my shoulders. Minus all of the traditionally expectations, all of the hate, all of the drama. Just you.
You are your biggest accomplishment, you are your biggest inspiration, you are you. By definition, Goodness you are amazing in each and every way.
Forget societal expectations, choose yourself.
Love yourself.
