When you think of inspiration, what is the
first thought that comes to your head?
Is it Malala Yousafzi and her story?
Perhaps it is Usain Bolt?
Or maybe it might be a fictional character…
According
to the Oxford Dictionaries, inspiration is …
1)
The process of being mentally
stimulated to do or feel something, especially to do something creative:
"Helen
had one of her flashes of inspiration"
ingenuity · imagination · imaginativeness · originality · individuality · artistry · expressiveness · creative power ·
creative talent · creative skill · genius · insight · vision · wit · finesse · flair · brilliance · sophistication
§ the
quality of being inspired:
"a
rare moment of inspiration in an otherwise dull display"
§ 2) A person or thing that
inspires:
"he
is an inspiration to everyone"
encouragement · influence · muse · goad · spur · lift · boost · incentive · incitement · impulse · catalyst · example · model · guiding light · shot in the arm · afflatus
§ divine
influence, especially that supposed to have led to the writing of the Bible.
3) A sudden brilliant or
timely idea:
"then
I had an inspiration"
4) The drawing in of
breath; inhalation.
"crackling
sounds are heard in the stethoscope on inspiration"
Most
of us commonly refer to inspiration as number 2 (a person or thing that
inspires), but really it is much more.
I
believe that we need inspiration in our everyday lives to help us strive
towards our goals and live to our full potential. The fourth meaning of
inspiration is to inhale breath, to breathe fresh air. Oxygen is a necessity,
in the same way it is important to inhale fresh ideas that inspire us and
exhale the ideas that don’t. These ideas
support our creativity and mental stimulation, just as oxygen plays it is own
important roles in our body. Our inspiration shapes our personality and leads
us to our personal goals.
This
is what inspiration means to me – it’s a way of life!
