Who or what inspires you to success?
Inspiration is the spark that encourages us to follow a particular path. Thinking back there is often a moment, or a person who lit that spark. Even if success in the traditional sense of money or recognition seems far away. The initial spark is about finding meaning and resonance for something you want to do, to be or to have.
Who inspired you to keep going before you reached success? Or who inspired you to have a go at a particular activity? It is usually someone further along that you find you relate to, or who provides encouragement. Or you find what they do is fascinating.
There is a lot of anxiety in the world
As a responsible adult we cannot live in a world of romantic fantasy but need to know what is going on. But equally there is the wish to resist being dragged down and make the situation more extreme through of our own response. Stress and anxiety is harmful to the body if it persists, and can make us less resourceful.
Success can sometimes be measured as the ability to stay calm, particularly in a stressful situation. Having an activity that will help you to stay calm is extremely helpful. Many gardeners including Monty Don acknowledge that being out in the fresh air, and getting hands dirty in the soil is a powerful antidote to stress and anxiety. Being in water and in the sea is a whole body experience which can have a similarly beneficial effect. And the benefits of a big loving hug have been known for a long time! Any warm interaction with another is highly beneficial. Brene Brown recommends calling a friend as the first activity if you feel low.
Personally I find being in nature, or even looking at a beautiful landscape a really good way to become calm. Ideally with some rounded hills and perhaps a glimmer of water. Simply looking at it helps enormously. And the variety of the seasons keep any view endlessly fascinating: snow in winter, the bright green of spring, sunlight and shade of summer and of course the vibrant yellows and browns of autumn.
But best of all is connecting with those I love. With my grandchildren there are always fascinating conversations about noticing the smallest things, and lots of hugs, and with my family generally the feeling of being completely at ease. These times iron out the wrinkles so that I can face the necessary risk taking and fear of failure which is part of success.
Inspiration from books and authors
We often hear about writers who decided to write after loving a particular childhood book, or receiving a letter back from an author. George R R Martin (author of A Game of Thrones) acknowledges he was inspired by J R R Tolkein and re-reads the Lord of the Rings series every few years. .
Authors including Margaret Atwood and J K Rowling have said that they were inspired by the character of Jo March in “Little Women” by Louisa May Alcott. Jo was a trailblazer because she thought that women could be professional writers. Greta Gerwig who loved the book as a child, wanted the film she directed to be close to the author’s intentions. Rather than a literal interpretation “nailed to the floor” she included an ending that was not possible when the book was published in the 1860s. Read more in this interview.
Acting skill and personal ethics have a lasting effect
Many actors have acknowledged the influence of Marlon Brando – Jack Nicholson said his performance in “On the Waterfront” had profound impact when he watched the film as a child. Martin Sheen and Paul Newman were inspired by his work but also by his ethics of inclusion. Marlon Brando refused to accept an Oscar for his part in The Godfather in 1973 and instead was represented by a Native American activist.
Marlon Brando in The Godfather
Who or what inspires you?
Themes often recur and inspire artists over the years. One of the best-loved examples is probably Paul Cezanne who painted the view to Mont Saint Victoire not once or twice but sixty times. I remember the photograph of the painting I saw when I was a teenager definitely inspired me. His saying that everything in nature could be reduced to the basic geometric form of the sphere the cone, the cube and the cylinder fascinated me. I still love art that includes elements of this, and was impressed again recently by seeing the painting in an exhibition at the Tate.
Looking at what inspires or inspired you can be revealing. There may be elements waiting to be discovered that you simply didn’t notice. When these become clearer you may discover more meaning in your work. What inspired you at an early age may have influenced your values and your preoccupations more than you realised.
If you write down what has inspired you or how one person has been inspired you have a chance to inspire others.
Add your ideas in the comments – they could help us all!
