INSPIRE: The Wednesday Word #WednesdayWisdom

INTRO: Today’s word can be nothing short of elusive and yet typically when it comes it comes hard and fast with no real promise of guarantee as to how long it will stay. You can do this to others, others can do this for you and you also need to be able to do it to yourself.

WORD: Inspire (verb)

DEFINITIONS of Inspire:

fill (someone) with the urge or ability to do or feel something, especially to do something creative.
“his passion for romantic literature inspired him to begin writing”
create (a feeling, especially a positive one) in a person.
“their past record does not inspire confidence”
animate someone with (such a feeling).
“he inspired his students with a vision of freedom”
give rise to.
“the movie was successful enough to inspire a sequel”

breathe in (air); inhale.
“they can expand their lungs and inspire enough gas to satisfy oxygen requirements”

SYNONYMS: stimulate, motivate, cause, incline, persuade, encourage, influence, rouse, move, stir, spur (on), goad, energize, galvanize, incite, impel, animate, fire the imagination of, fire with enthusiasm, inspirit, incentivize

ETYMOLOGY of Inspire:

mid-14c., enspiren, “to fill (the mind, heart, etc., with grace, etc.);” also “to prompt or induce (someone to do something),” from Old French enspirer (13c.), from Latin inspirare “blow into, breathe upon,” figuratively “inspire, excite, inflame,” from in- “in” (from PIE root *en “in”) + spirare “to breathe” (see spirit (n.)).

The Latin word was used as a loan-translation of Greek pnein in the Bible. General sense of “influence or animate with an idea or purpose” is from late 14c. Also sometimes used in literal sense in Middle English. Related: Inspires; inspiring.

Inspire: The Wednesday Word ACTION IDEAS:

How do you get inspired? How do you inspire yourself especially when you’re not feeling very inspired? Remember, inspire is a verb. It’s something you do. It’s the doingness that triggers the feeling. If you’re waiting to be inspired it could be a while so maybe try the doing part to get the being thing going on.

Here are three ACTIONS you can take to inspire yourself immediately.

Breathe: it’s the essence of the word and you’re probably not consciously doing it enough. Take a few minutes to put 100% of your attention on breathing. Slow deep inhalation. In through the nose. Pause at the top, 4 seconds. Slow, 6+ second exhale. Repeat. 10 minutes. All the while radiate gratitude for being inspired.
Move: Take action. Do something. Move toward the target. Grant Cardone says, “You won’t get much done if you only grind on the days you feel good.” Action precedes the feeling. Move.
Give: My dear friend Wayne Dyer said that your true purpose will always be found in the service of others. Grant says the fastest way out of a slump is to go help someone else.

So take a few deep breaths, move your ass and go help someone. That’s how you get inspired.