Have you ever had those moments when you were just not sure of your next step on your life or career path? When I have those moments (which are quite often), I use Inspired Action.
Inspired Action, to me, is when you allow inspiration to show you the way toward your next choice or goal. There is no trying or forcing an idea to come to you. There is not even any research or digging to find an answer. There is only inspiration.
Inspiration from what you are already reading (in books, magazines and on the web), what you are already watching (videos, Netflix), what you are already talking about (with colleagues, family and friends).
Inspired action can come from your internal sense of “readiness” for something new, some next step on your journey. You may have heard the term “when the student is ready the teacher will appear”
Here is an example of how I personally have used inspired action.
Several years ago I was on a break from my volunteer board work having just come off a board role of 5 years with a women’s business group. When I began to have the “itch” to join another board, I had no idea which one. I did some research, attended some things but nothing felt right.
I chose to stop “trying” to find the next thing and just waited for inspiration to hit. One day I received an email from a coaching colleague I had not seen in a while inviting me to the next event the group she belonged to was having, just to catch up with her. When I arrived (it was the Coach Federation Raleigh chapter Cutting Edge Conversation event), I felt immediately “at home” with these people in the room and energized by the conversation we were having.
At the end of the meeting, the colleague that had invited me announced to the group that they were seeking volunteers to join their board. I knew this was no coincidence and took the inspired action to make this new commitment. What is interesting about this is that I had attended events from this group in the past, but never felt the desire to join the group, this time was different.
How to take Inspired Action
- Let go of trying to find answers
- Live your life, doing things you already enjoy
- Notice when something catches your attention, sparks your interest or gets you thinking.
- Pay attention to ease – often inspired action feels easy, sort of like a “no brainer”
- Take Action. Once inspiration hits, take a small step forward (or a giant leap). Depending on what has inspired you, your step may be to have that conversation, research that career OR it could be a full commitment (like my joining the ICF board)
What if inspiration not coming? You can give it a nudge by
- Having more conversations. Invite a friend over you have not seen in a while, throw a party, or attend an event you have been meaning to
- Start researching something you have had your eye on and see where it leads you
- Read something out of the ordinary for you. Could be a book someone recommended, a different magazine at your dentist office, or a blog someone recommended
- Overall – get out of your comfort zone. Doing, being and experiencing something slightly (or greatly) different than your norm.