How to find motivation

If you’re looking for inspiration, narrow your gaze.

In 1942, Norman Rockwell was inspired by FDR’s Four Freedoms speech and wanted to help the war effort by illustrating them.

After a few months of struggle, Rockwell stumbled upon the perfect inspiration.

One of his Vermont neighbors stood up to say something controversial during a town hall meeting, yet was still met with respect from everyone in attendance.

After replaying the event in a dream, Rockwell woke up in the middle of the night realizing that he had the key to the Four Freedoms drawings:

“Using the perspective of his own experiences, using everyday scenes as his guide.” 

Your next idea or breakthrough is contingent on your ability to be aware.

Awareness is a skill that you need to develop every day.

A few simple examples:

-Go for a walk & count how many squirrels you see

-Notice when someone’s tone doesn’t match their words

-Pay attention to your thoughts & curb negative self-talk

It’s only by focusing on one small idea at a time that you can do your best work.

John Mayer once said that he gets writer's block when he tries to make his songs all-encompassing.

“But if I write a song about something the size of a glass of water and I do it right,” Mayer said, “I notice a week later it's got the universe in it.”

Your breakthroughs aren’t halfway around the world, they’re right where you are.

-At the park.

-In line at the grocery store.

-In bumper-to-bumper traffic.

Life gifts you these moments of extreme boredom so that you can become fully present and gain the inspiration to live beautifully. Yet we forsake these moments the most because it makes us uncomfortable to confront ourselves.

Next time, try to sit with these gaps — these “inconveniences” — and you’ll see that the answers are right where they always are:

Right in front of you.