What inspires you?  What motivates you to get up off the couch and do the thing?  What moves you to try something you’ve never done before, go somewhere you’ve never been or talk to someone you admire from afar? What does it take?

Looking back on the most courageous decisions or actions in my life, I was spurred by the excitement of the unknown while being absolutely terrified.  I took that step without knowing where my foot was going to land.  Do you remember the scene in the Indiana Jones movie, the Last Crusade?  He had to get to the other size of a seemingly impossible chasm.  His internal struggle with fear and the unknown was apparent.  He knew a leap of faith was his only option but he had to take that first step.  After nail-biting anticipation, he extends his foot outward over the seemingly bottomless abyss, teetering in midair.  Then it lands on solid ground.  Sigh of relief.  Once across, he then throws a handful of sand and pebbles to make the “invisible” bridge visible.  Perhaps, he realizes that those behind him don’t have what it takes to brave the leap of faith.

Have you taken that leap of faith recently?  What inspired you to step out, teetering before landing that first foot?  A young family member has recently purchased a home out of state without having a job or friends in the vicinity.  HUGE leap of faith! Another family member recently chose to quit working to seek greater life – health and family – balance.  ENORMOUS step of faith!  A friend has longed to take another leap but has approached the process with a different tactic.  She is a meticulous planner, logical, super intellectual, beautiful inside and out – so many incredible qualities.  She, however, is stuck on the edge of that chasm, unable to take that final step.  All the planning, anticipation of possible outcomes, seeking advice has yet to bring her the Shangri-La she’s looking for. Has fear kept her from an incredible next chapter?  Is it inspiration that motivates us to take chances?

Which happens first?  Are we motivated and then look for inspiration to put the wheels in motion?  Or does inspiration need a boost of motivation to make it happen?  Do the two operate independently of the other?  Check out the post, Motivation. Timing is everything.  How do you choose the right time?  How do you know the right time?  For me, timing is rooted in faith.  I can choose my timing or I can wait for God’s timing.  This isn’t a weird, religious ritualistic thing.  It is a cool, faith, Jesus believer thing.   If you are a follower of Christ, discerning your timing versus God’s timing is real.  Before being a believer, I made many wrong choices based on my wants at the time.  Think of the character in Willy Wonka, Veruca Salt.  “I want it and I want it NOW!”  We all know what her selfish, greedy nature got her! How many times have we forced things to happen with less than desirable outcomes?

Inspiration comes from all around us.  It can be in the people we know, the songs we hear, nature we interact with or from places we go.  Inspiration spurs music to be composed, homes to be remodeled, trips to be taken, stories to be written.  Inspiration can even push us beyond our daily comfort.  It can help us get healthier, move more or reach out to aid others.  Partnered with motivation, we can be unstoppable.

If we take that spark of inspiration and begin to do the work, and our timing is right, the pieces will begin to fall into place.  It may require effort but results will follow.  If we start the process to develop our inspiration into reality and we hit roadblock after roadblock, then, perhaps, our timing is out of sync.  Seek wisdom, pray, find moments in the quiet to determine next steps.  With spiritual guidance, confirmation will come and confidence to take that leap of faith into new adventures will follow.