Life Is A Giant Puzzle... My Top 3 Avenues For Inspiration

Inspiration. It's everywhere. It can be found in the Twitter feed we scroll through, in the billboards we drive by, in the places we travel to near and far, in the latest fashion trends, in the music we listen to, in our daily interactions.. and on and on it goes. With our eyes open and our head lifted as we move from place to place and not buried in our phones instead (GUILTY), there is so much in the world that, if given a chance, could spark an idea, a motion, a different perspective, or a new beginning. Before I ramble and theorize TOO much in the beginning here, I will share with you where I discover my inspiration and use it to propel myself forward on this path called 'life.'

1. Through Adversity

Adversity? Really, Jen? Your #1 is adversity? Yes, yes I know, you were probably anticipating that I was going to start off with something more aesthetically pleasing like sunsets... but I truly believe that if you look close enough, there is an undiscovered beauty, a blessing in disguise, in every single challenge we are faced with - large and small. When life gets too comfortable, we begin to take things for granted until our monotonous routine gets shaken up from an unexpected occurrence. Adversity, for me, has always been viewed as "opportunity." Opportunity to learn more about myself, to experience growth and to gain new perspective. Challenges are only scattered puzzle pieces in the grand scheme of everything - the finished puzzle. We may struggle until we figure out where exactly the pieces go and how exactly to make them fit just right in the larger picture. But (hang with me here, here we go), once the challenge is over and the puzzle is complete, often times we can reflect back on those struggling times where the pieces did not fit together perfectly at first and we can identify those times as key moments in our life that led us to where we are and who we are today. Certain challenges had to occur in our life to open up doors to where we needed to go; where we needed to be... even if we did not realize it at the time! Whether it is through my own adversities, or witnessing the adversities of others, I always try to frame them as "opportunities" to learn, to grow, to better myself and realize that in doing so, I am exactly where I am supposed to be (hard times and all) and that it is only preparing me for where I am supposed to go and what I am supposed to accomplish. And THAT is where the beauty lies in adversity; THAT is my inspiration.

2. Through Interactions with People

When you think about it, the world is a giant library. In 2017, with books and articles at the touch of a finger on a phone, we no longer always have to travel to a library to have access to those mediums of knowledge. So, I have concluded that the world is one giant library filled with "breathing books"... PEOPLE! Yes, people. Your colleagues, your family, your friends and a stranger you just held the door open for before walking into Macy's at the mall. Every single person knows something that you do not. Listen to them. Learn from them. Hear their story. No past is ever the same just as no future will ever be either. Everyone on this planet has a different story to proclaim and different lessons to teach - all of which have shaped the author into who they are today. For me, hearing the stories of others, what they've experienced and how it has shaped them into the person that they are today, is one of the greatest and most influential forms of inspiration. Take time to listen to the people around you and to their wisdom, their past, their aspirations - things that are not found in the number of followers you have on social media!

3. Quotes

I will finish up my list with 'quotes.' Quotes can be a very powerful form of inspiration because they have a tendency to potentially be worded so perfectly that they make you ask yourself: "Why didn't I come up with that quote? That explains EXACTLY how I feel!" When that lightbulb moment goes off, you know you've found inspiration in the words you have just read. Sometimes quotes find us when we need them the most - whether we go looking for them or not. They provide perspective that we thought could never possibly exist; insight that we may not have been able to conclude on our own. They provide guidance or direction on how to live life (Mother Teresa quotes in a nut-shell). However, my lifelong, most favorite quote in the entire galaxy is this:

"Let all that you do be done in love." (1 Corinthians 16:14).

If I ever were to get a tattoo, this would definitely be it - that is how much I LOVE this quote. But, for now, this quote is tattooed on my heart and that certainly trumps all. In its beautiful simplistic fashion, it provides a way of proceeding... do everything in love. And that right there, is lifelong inspiration.

So, you see, inspiration can be found everywhere - in tangible things and in intangible things. In the worst of times and in the best of times. In scrolling newsfeeds and in human conversation. In black and white text and in colorful sunsets (of course I had to add those in here somewhere!). Wherever you seek inspiration, seek it with all of your heart, with open eyes and a mind that is never too narrow enough for new perspectives and ideas to infiltrate it. Inspiration is all around you... but most importantly, my friend, it lies within you. Remember that. I challenge you all to two tasks tomorrow:

- Find something that inspires you

- Be an inspiration to someone (this may never be able to be measured, but even the smallest act of kindness can have the most impactful impression on one's life)

Tomorrow is a new day... inspiration awaits.