Well, it’s been a couple years since my last blog post, and a lot has happened in that time, the telling of which I will save for a later date. Instead, what I’d like to focus on now is a new series I’m beginning today titled Surrounding Yourself With Excellence.
So, without further ado…
Surrounding Yourself with Excellence: Inspiration
The last weekend in January, I attended the writing seminar Write Here, Write Now in Seattle for the second year in a row. For eight hours, I was in a room with over one hundred other writers, all of us listening to mini-lessons by published authors, engaging in six 45-minute writing blocks, and socializing in the interim.
Those days spent at Write Here, Write Now were two of the most inspirational days of my life. Finally, for the first time outside of a university, I found I was surrounded by those I can confidently call My People.
I’ve never felt anything like it.
And it was invigorating.
Between the energy of so many minds at work, the nearly audible hum of creativity all around , and the enriching stimulation of the authors’ mini lectures, I felt both more elevated spiritually and grounded practically than I had in a very long time. Both years, the seminar came at a time when I needed that sort of inspiration most–the sort that can only come from being surrounded by people who genuinely understand a monumental aspect of you like no one else can.
From the experience, I want to pass on five things I learned regarding the role of Inspiration in the pursuit of excellence:
1. Write what you know.
“Write what you know” means speaking in your own voice (or in your own medium) about your own experiences and what you have learned from them.
The same goes for any other form of creative expression.
Don’t try to write what you think others want to hear. Humans respond most strongly to authenticity, to organic language spoken from the heart, and they will be able to tell if you’re pandering. Just be honest, and allow others to come to you of their own accord and relate how they will. Your honesty will speak for itself.
In other words, if you speak your truth, others will automatically engage.
2. Don’t let the idea of “success” guide your endeavors.
Say what you need to say or do what you need to do because you need to say or do it, not because you’re trying to be famous, to make money, or to meet the love of your life.
Practice your art because of that burning desire in your gut which can only be quelled through creative expression, and which must be released, communicated, transferred.
It’s wonderful to want to make a positive impact through your art, but just make sure you’re doing so with a spirit of giving, and not one of self-seeking motivation.
In other words, do whatever you do because you want to, and do it for yourself–not for anyone else.
3. Do what it takes to activate the positive pursuit of your goals.
It’s important to immerse yourself in atmospheres that actively encourage the cultivation of meaningful interactions and experiences, such that you can consistently enter new stages of growth and learning.
If you take the initiative and work up the courage to place yourself in situations that intimidate you–networking events, coffee with a successful businessperson, applying for a job that seems out of your league, or even asking someone out–those situations will help you in two ways:
1.) They will challenge you, forcing you to evolve, to strengthen, and to rise up, and
2.) they will show you that you’re capable of more than you think, and thereby boost your confidence.
But if you never push yourself, if you never take the leap to achieve your goals, you’re allowing fear to be the captain of your life, which is neither fear’s role nor fear’s responsibility. Only you are in charge of your life; only you hold the key to your own success.
In other words, actively put yourself in situations that push and encourage you to fulfill your ambitions–and perhaps even to dream up a few new ones.
4. Surround yourself with a community that is walking a similar path as your own.
Not only will the community help hold you accountable when you struggle with boredom, discontent, distractions, or even emotional crises, but by just having them there, their passive energy will act as a catalyst, triggering your creativity by mere extension.
Their successes and passion will motivate you, their positive energy uplift and encourage you, and their failures will remind you that you’re not alone. Not only that, but there is strength in the solidarity of a group of different humans all engaging in similar pursuits, or with similar motivations–and that strength will awaken your inspiration to life.
In other words, creativity sharpens creativity. Be around others you want to learn from, who make you feel inspired, and creativity will ignite.
5. Excellence does not mean perfection.
You’re not perfect, and you’re never going to be. It’s important to set goals for yourself, and to make discipline your practice such that you can meet those goals–but failure on some level or another is an inevitability, and it’s important to internalize that it’s completely okay to mess up.
One of the most beautiful aspects of humanity is our ability to persevere despite all perceived ruin, and to do so not merely to survive, but to thrive. So surround yourself with people who are going to build you up. There are enough people in the world who are going to tell you no, that you can’t, that you’re not good enough, or who will question your motives, your desires, or your passions.
Don’t let them.
Cultivate an internal confidence that will allow you to stand firm in your truth, and then surround yourself with those who will hold you up when you can no longer do so for yourself.
In other words, surround yourself with people who will lift you up on their shoulders when the bar is set too high out of reach–and likewise, be open and willing to do the same for them. Remember, you’re Their People just as much as they are Yours.
To wrap things up, Elizabeth Gilbert, one of my personal heroes, has a book called Big Magic in which she beautifully details how to rid yourself of fear so as to live up to your full creative potential. If you are facing any sort of barriers preventing you from fulfilling your passions, or even if you’d simply love an engrossing, intelligent, heartfelt, and extremely inspirational book, I highly recommend you take a look at Big Magic.
Until next time, remember–speak your truth, walk in integrity, engage in life deliberately, find Your People, and have grace for yourself.
In Other Words 