“Happiness radiates like the fragrance from a flower and draws all good things towards you.” ~ Maharishi Mahesh Yogi
Are you living with inspiration, the fragrance of life that draws all good things toward you?
It’s hard to imagine any of us living long without at least some amount of inspiration. We can think of it as the inhaling of our breath, the expansion of our lungs, the very process that keeps our body functioning every moment of the day.
However, inspiration is so much more. It’s the rarefied and sometimes elusive element that keeps our spirit alive.
If you’ve ever suffered from depression or visited places where despair and desperation reign, you can appreciate the power and role of inspiration. Inspiration brings an ethereal, yet tangible, presence to our awareness and moves us forward, upward and into a better space.
My husband recently decided to drive to Sarasota, Florida where we could take in the sights, sounds and fragrances of the city’s downtown market. While there, we enjoyed live calypso music, sampled flavors from several food stands and I got in my latest dog fix, hugging friendly canines and chatting with proud owners about their beloved pets. The flowers in the above photo captured the pleasant essence of the morning.
The car drive took us only about an hour and downtown parking was free, but the feeling derived from that street market was priceless – and inspirational, too.
Recognizing Inspiring Moments
I’m reminded of being awakened by a similarly inspired moment over 20 years ago.
It was another weekend morning, but back then I was a stay-at-home mom with a toddler. Much of my time was spent cooking in the kitchen, wiping up dog slobber and occasionally strapping my daughter into the baby seat behind me so we could bike around our local suburban neighborhoods.
That morning, we were all out front with the garage doors open to early sunshine and the first hints of fall crispness in the air. My husband alternated between lifting weights, reading the newspaper and sweeping out the garage. Meanwhile, our daughter rolled around the cobble stoned driveway on her Big Wheel as our playful boxer Henri laid pleasantly on the front lawn. Henri liked keeping a guarded eye on Kaley, as if she were her personal charge.
With cup of coffee in hand, I stood somewhere between the garage and the driveway, taking in the sunshine, fresh air and especially the moment.
“Jimmy,” I suddenly noted, “do you realize what a wonderful life we have?”
“We’re doing nothing out of the ordinary, but I feel like heaven has descended upon us. No amount of money could buy the peace I feel right now.”
It was an inspired slice in time connecting me with a sublime sense of equanimity. Posited against a decade of infertility and an often stressful former corporate career, my thought provided me with a deep sense of appreciation. Though firmly grounded to the pavement, my spirit felt elevated, even elated.
There’s nothing more uplifting than touching upon atmospheres that brighten our mind, expand our soul or enrich our senses. However encountered, they remind us that we can hope for more or experience something better.
The Magic of Inspiration
Inspiration is a highly creative and even magical word. In addition to arousing wonderful emotions, it has the capacity to lift us beyond dilemmas, move us toward solutions and even provide us with divine guidance.
We can all find ways to step into places and spaces of inspiration. Sometimes, we can join in where it already exists. At other times, we can serve as active creators of inspiration for ourselves and others, too.
Tune in here to Podcast 105: Living in Inspiration.
Wishing you all good things that inspiration can bring!
Maura Sweeney is an International Speaker on Influence, Leadership and Emotional Intelligence
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