Inspiration - Motivation

Thought For Tuesday…

Never let others project their sense of limited ability on you. The greater part of society and school rob us big time. We are made to feel that our abilities are limited and the continued reinforcement of these limitations erodes our creative confidence.

Every single one of us is born with incredible imagination, intelligence, and intuition, but when we are untrained to tap into these powers they simply shrivel and die.

As adults, many of us are lugging around the baggage of all the ‘you can’t and ‘limiting mindset’ that we acquired in childhood. Due to these habits that we learned growing up, constant settling, avoidance of risk, and learned helplessness become a norm.  Most people settle to such an extent that they believe that ‘this is as good as it gets and can’t be better.’ They are contented trudging along the treadmill of a mediocre life,  barely breaking any sweat and never getting anywhere.

Your fear must never be the fear of being different but the fear of settling for mediocrity.

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Travel

Use Travel To Inspire Your Inner Writer

Travel is the perfect way to experience new cultures and will have an impact on all of your senses; making it the perfect way to inspire the writer in you. Traveling can also provide new environments to enjoy what you’re currently reading; so maybe it’s time to book some flights and get out there to experience new parts of the world. The following are some ideas for those with wanderlust and will help eager writers to understand how travel can improve your work.


Travel, Airplane, flight, flying, adventure, sky

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Where To Go

When traveling overseas; think about the destination and how it differs from your current situation. Experiencing anywhere new is a positive thing; however, a contrasting culture and environment to what you’re used to will have a more significant impact on your senses and thoughts, than a similar destination to where you live. Therefore, it’s the perfect time to be adventurous with your travel choices and pick somewhere that you’ve never imagined before.

You might currently reside in the suburbs, or a busy part of a town or city, and these places can be great sources of inspiration for writers; however, they can also busy your mind and cloud it a little making it a challenge for fresh thoughts to come through. Therefore, you might want to consider a natural environment, with breathtaking views to clear your mind and allow a new train of thought to inspire your next (or current) piece. Writer’s block can often be cured by a change of scene and access to new sights, smells, and sounds. You don’t have to get on a plane to get out there and experience the great outdoors either; the US has some awe-inspiring national parks, you can take a look here: http://travel.usnews.com/rankings/best-national-parks-in-the-usa/ for some inspiration on where to head.

Consider traveling north or south of your climate; you could be craving a warm glow on your skin, or perhaps you need some cool, crisp air to refresh you and give you the ideas you need. California and its many coastal areas can provide a space that’s as busy or as peaceful as you need; consider hiring a car there and driving along a coastal route, as you never know who or what you may see along the way. Heading up towards Canada could provide you will the impressive Niagara Falls; the perfect setting for your next thriller, mystery, or romance novel. Or perhaps a lodge in a mountainous region and some forest trees is the kind of peace and quiet you need to get you best ideas.

If you do decide to travel overseas; there are a wealth of places around the world that will enlighten and inspire your next writing project. Asia is a vibrant continent; jam-packed with different cultures, history, terrains, and characters. Think about exploring the overwhelmingly busy areas of India, before contrasting the expedition with a trek in its environments of natural beauty. Southeast areas of Asia with provide you with historical temples, alongside modern architecture and the latest in technology. Do your research, and you’ll be able to find some deals on accommodation and travel expenses; be cautious when it comes to finding cash quickly for travel, and plan your finances accordingly, so you’ll have peace of mind throughout your trip. Ensure that you have enough contingency in your account back home; you never know, you mind end up staying longer than expected if the writing process is a success.

 

Wanderlust, Hiking, Rock climbing, Exercising, Nature, Adventure

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What To Do

Once you’ve landed in your inspirational new destination; it’s time to explore with your notebook, pen, and camera. Try and get off the beaten track; find places to sit and soak in your surroundings and note down what you feel, hear, and see. Think about your genre of writing and how a story, or factual piece, would flow in your current environment and begin to fill out characters and plots.

Talking to the local residents is the perfect chance to get a rounded insight into life there; ask questions about the history and their way of life. Record everything you learn and always be ready to write something down or capture something that you find exciting, or unusual. If you’re captivated by a story or situation; the chances are that someone else would be too, so ensure you take all the information you gather back home with you.

Enjoy any local cuisine and eat where the locals would; you’ll get a better sense of the place if you steer clear of every tourist hotspot and you’ll only enhance your experience. Most of all; travel with your eyes and mind open, don’t put too much pressure or focus on what you produce regarding your writing, and the ideas will start to flow when you least expect it.

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Blog

5 Empowering Ways to Use Your Voice Today.

5 Empowering Ways Use Voice, Spoken Word, Power, Inspire, Make Difference, Social Media, Tips

The Power in Your Voice

Do you believe that your voice has power and that it could make a difference?

Your voice is the most important tool that you have. A lot of power lies in your words and communication and the failure to use your voice, to Your Life Speak especially in today’s world is a waste. It’s essential to find ways of expressing ourselves as unique people with our own personal styles and experiences.

There are many ways that you could amplify your voice to enhance your creativity and explore the possibilities that lie before you in the Spoken word.

We may not all be gifted with the decibel to sing but we can talk and literally inspire and influence others with our words. The power to shape your own image lies with you and you have to find and embrace the voice that is completely yours.

Here are 5 easy ideas on how you can use the spoken word today: READ More

Midnight motivation and musings

Midnight Motivations and Musings.

Inspiring quotes, hold on, motivation, life, success

Sometimes we are so down that we wonder when it would all end. When would our climb through the valley get to the mountain top?

The truth is that all that time spent at the bottom helps you to develop the muscles that will take you to the top and when you do get to the top, you appreciate the climb far more.

Hold on tight to your rope whatever bottom you may be climbing out from. It may happen sooner than you think.

Jacqueline

Dubai · The Daily Post

Let it Glow

When I saw the prompt ‘shine’ for The Daily Post, two thoughts automatically came to my mind, one in the manner of a song and the other a quote.

‘This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine,

this little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine,

this little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine,

let it shine, let it shine, let it shine.

When you put off someone’s candle, yours ain’t going to shine brighter.

This tells me that we should be the shining examples that we would love to see in others. We should be the bright inspiration that uplifts others. We should be builders and not destroyers. Our actions and words build, encourages and uplifts.

For things that shine, I find dark nights not only mystical but equally magical as artificial light pierces pitch black nights, lending mystery to them and making the night less terrifying.

 

 —

Humor - Bellyful of laughter · Personal story

Yippee! Yes I Can! – Personal

Today, I am thankful for the fact that I passed my Karate-do grading test, graduating from novice white to yellow belt. Yes!

As an overweight mom in her early forties, I found every reason under the blue sky to discourage myself from taking Karate classes – I used my age, my weight, time and every excusable excuse – but the desire in me was stronger than my excuses.picsart_09-21-05-08-501

I felt that I would be out of place and yes I’m still out of place – the only mama in the crowd of young children and men.

I told myself that my painful knees wouldn’t take it and would probably break.

Somedays, I felt too lazy to go for the night class and each day I had a class, I literally had to ask for the grace to survive it and I bought knee braces.

I knew within me that sticking to it was not going to be easy, but it would be far more empowering as against standing by the sidelines and watching others.

My children encouraged me and became my private coach at home even as I bungled all my moves 🙂

Yes, I burst into tears when I did my test and passed my katas to the cheer of everyone around – I can get emotional.

No, I didn’t tear my dojo pants as I feared I would and made sure I wore nice unmentionables just in case 😉

My heart felt full last night when I received my grading certificate.

I don’t care that I might be the elephant in the house entertaining others with my trundling moves, but you know what, I said I would do it, I had to ask for grace each day to do it and I did it 🙂

I’m sharing this post to encourage those who have things they want to do, but for some excuses are not able to.

Each day grace and gratitude take me higher; get your thankful suit on.

There are several gratitude/thankful platforms in the blogosphere that you can tune into and get your ithankful going on. I can’t express in words the enormity of Joy and fulfillment that comes from having a heart of gratitude. Please check out Maria’s blog, Colline’s blog and Bernadette’s for thankful/gratitude challenges.

© Jacqueline Oby-Ikocha


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Featured Blogs

Featured Posts 118 – Share your post links.

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‘PLEASE KEEP SENDING IN THE LINKS.’ 

Today’s featured blogs posts are:

Monday scenery: Great photos that make you want to wander and see things 🙂

Aerial antics: A hilarious recount on an aerial yoga attempt. I would like to give this a try, that’s if the hammock or string or whatever does not collapse under my hefty portion 😉

Small steps up mountains: All you need each day are baby steps and before you know it, you are going full throttle.

TMI: How much information is too much or too much opinion? Is the deluge of digital information robbing us of the good old habits of credible research work?

What is it? Can you figure this out? Let me know if you know what the answer is.

Do step in and show some love.

‘Do you want more eyes on your words?’

Well then, add your LINK INTO THIS LOOP.

Comments are disabled here to keep the loop tidy. Any comments or link you want to send can be added through the link in the post.

Thank you for your understanding and regards.

‘We create a cohesive community when we come together. 

P.S. Did you get to the blog party? Here’s the link. You can check out lots of other bloggers.


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I hear the reverberations of the magic that’s hidden within.

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