Taking inspired action – What does that mean?

The idea that pops in your head, especially while you’re busy doing something else entirely? Go do that. Just leave what you are doing, for now. Finish it later. Of course there are certain things that can’t wait. Like when you’ve prepared a batch of cement. Or when you’re painting or cooking. Or bathing your young kid or something. But other than those things, try listening to the suggestions within you for a while.

Why would I do that?

You might find you’re getting more stuff done in less time. It can help to get productive. Why? Because you’re going with the flow, instead of against it. The thinking, while you do a certain task and at the same time thinking about the next one, influences your energy balance. So if you would rather do something else you start to resent what you currently ‘have to do’. It’s no longer fun. Even if it started out that way. The things you once liked or even loved can become what you dread the most.

When you’re feeling good about what you are doing you will get into a flow state. And before you know it the task is already done. And then you find yourself wondering what to do next. Or you remember the thing that you were doing earlier and continue that.

Because it’s much easier to do a task when you are in a ‘happy state’. Or at least do not judge yourself about what you are supposed to be doing, what went wrong, what took too long, what you neglected to do, the pile of tasks ahead, etc.

So maybe you decide to take a break to enjoy something or someone around you. Enjoy it for a moment. Try to let go of judgment. You can set a time limit if it’s helpful.

Change it up, take inspired action.

When you want try this inspired action you can start by asking yourself questions. Then act on it. Or do the opposite: be quiet, focus on ‘the nothing ‘ then see what comes up. What draws your attention first?

• Don’t discard the idea because it seems ridiculous. Look at it for a moment. Is it something you haven’t done in a while because you were too busy, too distracted?
• Is it something that is very much off topic of what you are doing now?
• Does it remind you of fun times? Can you do something like it again?
• Or does it remind you of sad times? Or maybe even both? Maybe it’s time to let the past come up for a moment, because there might be a message in it. And that doesn’t mean: ‘oh no, not this again, I’m still not over this ‘. No, zoom out! Is it the emotion, the experience, a certain image? Be kind to yourself about this. What would you say to someone else dealing with this? How can you truly process what happened? How do you comfort yourself? Don’t push it away, don’t reject it, but integrate it as a memory. It might be unwanted, but it’s part of your history. You’re not that person anymore. You can comfort yourself from that time. How do you love yourself? Treat yourself kindly. Your inner conversation determines how you deal with this. Whether you deal with it so it can lose its charge. Or whether you repress it in some way to deal with it later. The issue will keep coming back until you’ve dealt with it. How do you know you’re there? It doesn’t feel as heavy, as daunting to think about anymore. You’re okay talking about it. Maybe you can even see some humor in it. You’ll realize it shaped you into who you are right now. What has it taught you about yourself? If there’s something really heavy or traumatic that’s coming up, try to process it. Reach out for professional help if you need it! What is it that still needs to be seen, that needs your attention? You probably need to reassure yourself consciously, for going through such an event.
• Or do you find yourself thinking about something ‘simple‘: like the next meal, that you need to go to the bathroom, or that you would like something to drink? These ‘normal or habitual‘ things can actually help you to get a different perspective on what you were doing before. After a short break you will see what you were doing in a different light.
• What if these distractions are actually helping you to remind yourself of what is important? Or what you had forgotten about for a while?

Some comparisons

• It’s like going into hypnosis. A hypnotist can say to use the sounds or images around you to get a superfocus. Let it help you to get deeper into the place where you might find your answers.
• It’s the same with meditation. When you notice a distraction and you fully focus on that, then you can categorize it for what it is: a sound, a feeling, a memory, something on your to-do list. You acknowledge it and write it down if you need to. Then let it go for now, for possible later use.
• And yes, it works the same with any ideas that come up, while you’re doing some daily task. Use these thoughts to see clearly what you need right now.

How about some answers? Curious?

You want answers? You’re getting frustrated by this subject? You can’t seem to get clear what’s most important right now? Your mind is cluttered?

• Have you asked any questions first?
• Have you been outside in nature lately? To get grounded. Yes, I know, it might seem unbelievable at first. But it works like magic to: soak up some sun, to hug a tree, to swim in a lake, to put your feet in the dirt.
• Are you just doing the things that need to be done, in whatever order that it comes up in? Are you (still) in survival mode? Please don’t judge yourself for it.

You can move out of this by using your curiosity. That’s what really helps the most.

Be curious, without emotional charge if possible. What is it that catches your attention the most now? What can you do for yourself that might help in this? What good can possibly come of all of this? Just be curious. Then the answers will come to you.