How is 2021?  Ready to make some changes either in your professional or personal life?  Want to collaborate with others to inspire yourself more? Here are little samplings of some topics to spark your passion and strike your fancy.  You may just find your inspirational match!

S –     Self confidence

M –   Mindfulness

O –    Outlets for creativity

L –     Laughter

D –    Dreams

E –     Empowerment of each other and ourselves

R –     Risk/Rewards

Self Confidence:

• Get a couple of friends or colleagues together either in person or over Zoom and discuss observations of each other. Do a 360 of each other.  What do you think I’m great at?  What might I need a little work on?  Be honest, authentic and transparent
• Journal their remarks to contemplate later

Mindfulness:

• Listen to music. Pick a song you’ve never heard.  Close your eyes and block out all other sounds – journal “how it affected me”
• Discuss with others everyday experiences that we take for granted such as running water, mail delivery, etc.

Creative Outlets:

• When do you feel the most creative? What are you doing? (journal) Most people say in the shower, exercising, having conversations, etc. Where are you when you get you’re a-ha moments?
• How might you make this behavior a habit? Make an action plan!

Laughter:

• What/Who makes you laugh? What can you do to laugh every day? It brings such great energy!  Laughter strengthens your immune system, boosts mood, diminishes pain, and protects you from the damaging effects of stress. Nothing works faster or more dependably to bring your mind and body back into balance than a good laugh. Humor lightens your burdens, inspires hope, connects you to others, and keeps you grounded, focused, and alert
• Debrief (capture in journal)

Dreams:

• Dream building – what is a dream you have for the next year? (capture in journal)
• Share your dream with others and capture clues from them – “How Might I….?” Others will have ideas you haven’t even begun to think of!

Empowerment:

• When have you felt empowered? When have you empowered others?
• What’s your POW in EmPOWerment? List out in your journal.  What are your Positives?  What are Opportunities for you?  And…
• How might you create a “WOW” factor that sets you apart?

Risk/Reward:

• Journal about when you’ve taken a risk (whether successful or not)
• List what’s stopping you from accomplishing your dream, now ask yourself a provocative “What If?” and then capture “Imagine a world where these barriers did not exist. What might that look like?”

Now, create a mantra:

• I am…
• I can…
• I will…

Time to go SMOLDER and get these flames started!!  Light it up, baby!

#gert#