This post has been a long time coming. I’ve been thinking about it, writing and rewriting it in my head for weeks now. It’s sort of been my mantra or we can say an affirmation that has been with me for some time.

I stay inspired to inspire.

One of the biggest reasons I decided to start the journey of becoming a yoga teacher was to inspire others. What the practice has done for me and my life in just three short years is remarkable. So if I can share that with just a sliver of people on this earth, well then my life has a purpose right?

The thing is, sometimes staying inspired is hard. It doesn’t just happen, it takes work. It takes commitment, it takes dedication, and most importantly it takes the will to want to stay inspired.

Life gets busy and monotonous very easily. It gets stressful and challenging. Work, chores, making dinner, cleaning the house, raking the leaves, taking the dog to the vet, running the kids all around town (or so I’ve heard), oh yeah and work!

Sometimes it can seem impossible to make time for yourself which is why it is SO important to make the choice that you must. One of my favorite quotes is by Rumi, “what you seek is seeking you.” What you put out in to the world will reflect back on you. This has been in the forefront of my mind lately and is what has helped me to stay inspired.

A few ways I stay inspired:

Surround yourself with like minded people. Surround yourself with people who inspire YOU. This may seem like a no brainer but how often do we surround ourselves with people who just bring us down?

Spend time with yourself. Whether it’s 5 minutes in the morning or 60 minutes on your yoga mat. Take time to get to know yourself, your desires, your strengths and weaknesses. Getting to know yourself can be your best teacher.

Get outside. There is so much extra “noise” in our lives today. It’s amazing how much better I feel when I put down the iPhone, step outside, and take a deep breath of fresh air. As a human being we are a part of nature, yet we get so far away from it sometimes.

Read. I really need to make more time in my life for this one. There are /were so many profound writers in this world who have shared their ideas on paper. Ideas and words of wisdom that must be passed on generation to generation. I found a great list that I want to tackle on Mind Body.

Write! Jotting down your thoughts can be so therapeutic. It can also just simply help you get clear on how you’re feeling. I dare you to open a notebook and just write. Write whatever comes out, without judgement, without thinking too much. It may surprise you.

How do you stay inspired?