You can inspire others in your everyday life.
Most people don't go through their daily lives thinking of inspiration. We just try to get through our days and get everything done in this digitally dominated, rat race of a life we all lead. However, did you ever stop to think about the difference you might make in the lives of others, if you stopped, just for a second? I know I have recently been trying to be more cognizant of that. One step that you can to start making even the tiniest of differences is learning to think about how to inspire others.
Inspiration comes from all kinds of places. It could be something as small as a few words on a coffee cup or a keychain, or it could be something as big as watching a young person triumph against all the odds. So, if you think of all the times something or someone has inspired you in your hour of need, does it not make sense that it could enrich your own life to figure out how to inspire others in your daily life? I think so. I know I feel a lot better now that I am consciously doing all I can to be a positive, inspirational person to others in a quest to make the world a better place. So, without further ado, here are few good ideas for how you can inspire others, too.
How to Inspire Others to Be Their Best Selves
Inspiring those around you doesn't require years of experience as a motivational speaker. In fact, there are several ways to help you learn how to inspire others. Try these easy steps below.
1. Genuinely Care For The Well-Being Of Others
Daily life is hard. We all know this. You get up, you go to work, you take care of your kids if you have them. You might shout at the driver who cuts you off during rush hour, or come perilously close to snapping at the customer who is rude to you at the call center. We all have terrible days. However, sometimes, it's important to think of those who have terrible lives.
I started to realize that, no matter how hard I have it, there is always someone who has it much worse. This realization came when I moved from a small city in South Carolina to New York. For the first time, I saw true hardship up close and personal, and it was shocking. I saw homeless people sleeping in the subway, with the daily commuters walking right by them as if they didn't exist. I saw children begging on street corners. You get the picture.
In a city with so much richness, there was this invisible population that endured unbelievable suffering. So, I started volunteering at a shelter. No matter how bad my day was, I knew there were folks who had it much worse. It felt good to genuinely care, and to get to know some of these people as human beings, rather than the drain on society they are so often seen as. That was the beginning of my learning how to inspire others.
You might not think that your learning how to inspire others will make much of a difference. It will, though. I guarantee it. Just a few kind words, a dollar's worth of coffee, or maybe an hour of your time can be the most inspirational thing in the world to someone who is in a rough spot. You just might change a life or two - including your own.
2. Challenge The People Around You
Sometimes, inspiration can come from just teaching people to make a bit of a change. If you have a friend who is in a rut, seemingly just drifting through life, perhaps challenge her on how she is doing things. If she comes to you and asks what you think she is doing wrong, tell her. One of the best parts of learning how to inspire others is harnessing that inspiration in order to make their lives better. Even more importantly, this inspiration helps them make their own lives better.
This is a step that is likely best kept to close friends, as casual acquaintances likely would not appreciate such intrusive advice. But, when it comes to the aforementioned friend in a rut, learning how to inspire others can help you as well as her. Perhaps the two of you can embark on a journey together, while doing things such as learning to face your fears together. Or, perhaps, you might want to learn to live intentionally and chart your own desired destinies. Dreams can become realities, and sometimes as you go off on your quest of giving inspiration to others, you just might inspires yourself as well.
3. Have The Courage Of Your Convictions
When learning how to inspire others, one of the best things you can do is to lead by example. When you seek to be an inspiration to others, what better way to do that than to stand for something? Now, plenty of people are against even seeming like they are some kind of activist, and would rather appear neutral on all things hot button. And that is fine. However, when it comes to how to inspire others, there is no better way than to stand up and be heard, no matter what your inspirational cause may be.
A great way to do this is to get involved in your community. Volunteer at a local community center for underprivileged kids, or perhaps a homeless shelter. Go visit nursing homes, and speak with the residents there. Become an advocate for something meaningful in your spare time. You would be surprised that on this quest to learn how to inspire others, you make a very real difference in your community, and you just might get others around you to start sharing your passion. When people see someone standing up for what she believes in, that strength and courage becomes almost contagious.
You don't have to decide what you wish to get involved with right away, either. Try a few things on for size. There are always volunteer opportunities in most cities. Further, as you learn how to inspire others, your activities might even open new doors for you - even in the realm of career opportunities. Remember - the sky's the limit!
4. Make Learning A Lifelong Quest
When we think of learning, often a picture of students sitting in a classroom, dutifully listening to a teacher or professor might come to mind. But, learning should be a lifelong quest. When we think of how to inspire others, we should always think of how they can broaden their minds and hearts, and learn more and more about life. This learning can only help enrich your own life, and the lives of others.
This journey we call life can honestly teach us more than any school ever could. As you go through life, perhaps you have experiences that change the way you think about major things forever. This is actually a good thing. Having the aforementioned courage of your convictions does not have to necessarily mean holding rigidly to beliefs or world views you are not necessarily all that comfortable with anymore. Embrace new knowledge and new ways of doing things. Befriend someone you may never have thought of befriending before. Even just doing things like trying new food or educating yourself on a different culture could help enrich your life. When you looking to learn how to inspire others, find things that will inspire you along the way as well.
5. Listen To Them
On your quest to learn how to inspire others, you will likely meet many new people. As you grow and learn, many of these people will be very different from the person that you are. This is important, because it helps to broaden your own world view, and to get you out of your comfort zone. The most important thing you can do as you make these new connections is to listen to them. In fact, learning how to inspire others is useless if you're unable to hear what others have to say.
Everyone has different life experiences. Said life experiences shape who we were in the past, who are in the present, and who we will become in the future. To that end, you will likely encounter people with vastly different views from those you yourself hold. So, instead of immediately deciding that this person is incompatible as a part of your life, listen to their story. Listen to how they arrived at the viewpoints they hold. You never know - you might learn something. They might learn something. And, in the end, you might wind up cultivating some of the richest friendships you've ever known.
Learning how to inspire others can change your life.
We sincerely hope that you have enjoyed this piece on learning how to inspire others. Hopefully it made you think about reaching out to other people, exiting your comfort zone, and making learning new things and ways of living into a lifelong quest. We have this one life, and a great part of it is helping everyone live their best versions of that life.
If you enjoyed this piece and learning about how to inspire others, please let us know in the comments, and share on social media if you are so inclined. Happy inspiring!
