It can be a radical act to search for inspiration.
The word radical has multiple meanings. Present day, it often denotes an extreme change, but it originally derives from the Latin word, radicalis, relating to “roots,” according to the Merriam-Webster dictionary. Inspiration is defined as “the action or power of moving the intellect or emotions.”
When we put the two together, radical inspiration becomes a phrase that encourages us to explore areas in our lives that are ripe for change or movement. It’s about finding the things, big and small, that really light us up. Stopping. Noticing them. Letting them sink in. Radical inspiration can change us at our roots.
As we enter the transition from winter to spring, there can be a lot of cold, wet, or dreary days. Inspiration sometimes feels as elusive as the sunshine hiding behind the clouds. But even then, the sun hangs in the sky – bright and warm, despite its distance. And like the sun, bright spots and inspiration are always there, if we remember how to look for them.
Radical Inspiration for Positive Change
Sometimes, the pursuit of inspiration can feel impossible (or even selfish), because the world we live in is so unsettled. It might seem unfair to seek inspiration while others live in fear, war, and poverty. We want to be useful, engaged, and aware; but how helpful can we be when we’re running on empty and filled with our own rage, fear, or cynicism?
Now more than ever, remaining soft, open, and inspired is a radical act. It is too easy to stay dialed in to the events of the world. Taking a pause is harder. Finding hope is harder still. If we want to stand for anything with conviction, we must first ensure we have the strength to withstand what’s ahead.
Take a moment to think of a political, religious, or even fictional hero. In many cases, before these heroes go into battle, give a speech, or lead a revolution, they take time to rest and reflect. They find a peaceful spot, free themselves of distractions, and allow their thoughts to flow as they prepare to take action for meaningful change. Just like our heroes, we are more useful to the world when we are well-rested and our minds are sharp.
The big picture today is still the same. Humanity has recovered from wars, recessions, pandemics, and natural disasters. In every instance of great devastation, we can also find stories of hope and inspiration. If we cannot see them now, it may just be time to take a step back and shift focus.
How to Take a Pause
With all the distractions, electronics, hustle culture, and political turmoil in the world, taking a pause is a radical act of mental self-care.
Give yourself one day. An intentionally open day – free of obligations, distractions, or guilt. Cancel your plans (or plan ahead by blocking a day off) and power down the distractions. Remind yourself to let go of worry; there are very few circumstances when the world will not carry forward without your attention.
Are you afraid? The idea of doing nothing can stir up fears – boredom, loneliness, falling behind, or being forced to face the thoughts and feelings you’ve pushed aside. Those feelings and experiences are temporary, and even necessary, to find inspiration on the other side.
Understand that boredom leads to mind-wandering. What if you just allowed yourself to follow those thoughts for a while? See where they take you. Exhale the tension from your body and settle into the quiet, and even doldrum day. Create space for new perspectives or just processing time. This is how we heal our nervous systems.
Build “nothing days” into your calendar the same way you might schedule a doctor appointment, therapy session, or a massage. Leaving space in our plans, to-do lists, and resolutions allows us to remain open to possibility, spontaneity, and inspiration.
Seek Pockets of Radical Inspiration Around You
What if becoming radically inspired simply means waking up each day willing to look for small glimmers of hope? Perhaps, inspiration is that pocket of warmth where we sit with a loved one, a pet, or a cup of coffee. Could it be enough that each day is blessed with one small moment of gratitude for your life because you have slowed down the pace enough to notice it? What a radical act.
What if we started seeking out other pockets of radical inspiration daily, and everywhere? As you go about your day, notice the moments that make you want to stop and linger awhile. Are there people in your life whose stories inspire you? What have they overcome to get where they are today?
The people and places that spark your interest are ripe for inspiration. Take mental note of everything that brings you joy, energy, or purpose. Ask yourself why these things light a spark within you. When we slow down our movements and open up our minds, we can find the roots of inspiration in our lives.
Become Radically Inspired by Your Past
To become radically inspired, we can also revisit our own history, focusing on heroes and hope rather than ruminating on regrets.
Given enough time, we tend to have perspective, knowledge, and insight that our past-selves lacked. Many of our personal failures, setbacks, and even heartbreaks become great lessons and unexpected gifts. That doesn’t mean we would wish to relive them or wouldn’t change them if given the chance, but we can often see a great deal of growth in hindsight. Give yourself a moment to marvel at everything you have withstood and overcome.
Life can at times seem senseless and even hopeless. It is not always fair and almost never easy. Still, when we look back mindfully and intentionally, we can start to see patterns and meaning unravel. In therapy, this process is sometimes called a life review.
In a life review, therapists help clients walk through their life chronologically. They mine for moments of gold – happy childhood memories, big accomplishments, and life lessons. They also pause and reflect on the painful and traumatic memories. The goal here is to reframe these challenges into something worthwhile. Oftentimes, patterns and themes emerge. Clients come away with a deeper sense of connection to their values – a through line that carried them forward, often without conscious awareness.
In therapy, a life review is usually done with clients in their later years. However, it can be beneficial to reflect on our lives at any age. By looking back, we can gain greater clarity on how we want to move forward.
Radical Inspiration for the Future
We can spend a lifetime looking back, but history is meaningless unless we choose to learn from it. Perhaps, by looking back at both world events and events from our own lives, we can find hope, inspiration, and moments that changed everything.
But what if we do not find that hope or inspiration? Does it mean it does not exist? Well, if history has anything to say about it, it simply means we’re in the middle of living it. We may just be at the precipice of change. The good news is, we have a big hand in writing our own future. How do you want the story to end? If you knew everything would work out, what would you do right now?
A Note on Radical Inspiration
Hope, optimism, and inspiration are not always easy to come by. Many mental health disorders can prevent us from experiencing these emotions. We all deserve to wake up feeling grateful to be alive and hopeful for the future. If you don’t, a mental health professional can help. Sometimes, our first act of inspiration comes from reaching out to others.
Olivia Lynn Schnur
