"Do we not all agree to call rapid thought and noble impulse by the name of inspiration?"
George Eliot
In my writer's heart, I know I need inspiration as much as I need my next breath. If I'm copywriting, I'll often start off with searching for a quote to set the tone of the piece of writing. As an NLP Practitioner, it's not enough to say to a client "I know you can change, you can get yourself out of this rut." Part of it involves showing the client a new vision of themselves, with the changes they've made already installed, the other is making that vision so desirable that they are propelled into it.
I stopped watching the news on the television and I will occasionally scan media websites to keep myself partially informed, but no more than that. I find it completely uninspiring. I could tell you that if I launched the BBC News Page or the Guardian and scanned the stories I will find: somewhere, someone has committed more atrocities against their fellow human beings; the economy is up shit creek without a paddle; there's a sex scandal involving a politician; the government is saying we can't afford these necessary things...and paying for something really silly.
I don't watch the news because I find myself losing all faith in humanity. And it contradicts what I know in my heart to be true: The World is not going to Hell in a Handbasket. I believe in the innate goodness of people. I believe in their ability to be kind, to be caring and to be loving. I hold on to this belief as much as I hold on to the belief that the sun will rise for me tomorrow.
Perhaps that makes me a dippy-hippy, an idealist, a fool. I'm okay with that. I know these things to be true because I've experienced them. I have had first hand experience of kindness, caring and loving behaviour from the people around me and also complete strangers. It has been these experiences which have inspired me to change my behaviours. It has been these experiences that have inspired me to inspire other people that these things are also true for them.
The basis of NLP is modelling. That is, the founders of NLP tracked down and bugged the heck out of successful people from a wide variety of different disciplines and backgrounds. They studied their behaviours, they looked in minute detail at the way these people organised their thoughts and actions and then they set out to teach other people to do the same.
In that same way, I know how much the role of inspiration has to play in inciting personal change. I know this, because I've experienced it. I am not a personal development guru. I am a person who has had to work really hard for my peace of mind. The issues I faced up to are not unique to me (though some of it is). Here's the thing: if I can do it, then there's no reason why other people can't do it too.
To this end, I am in the early stages of planning an Event for the end of October. I want to gather together a range of diverse speakers, who will share their thoughts and experiences to the audience to inspire and to motivate. On the back of that, I'll be gathering together all kinds of groovy practitioners to put on workshops so that people can experience these things for themselves. So they'll be inspired and motivated to do something different, so they'll realise there are resources available to help. They are not alone. And that the Life they are dreaming of, is theirs if they want it and work for it.
That's the Plan.
Watch this space!
