When did inspiration - the most natural experience in the world - become such a rare commodity? By John Marshall Roberts
As a writer and speaker on the topic of inspiration, I get more than my share of funny looks. "Oh god. Another wannabe guru peddling easy answers to tough questions." seems to be the non-verbal gist, usually said discreetly from behind world-weary eyes adorning an otherwise sweet and polite social face. As a generally polite fellow myself, I usually say nothing. But I notice. And I wonder...
When did this happen? When did people who could inspire others become relegated to the ranks of magicians and snake-oil salesmen? When did our mistrust of our own deeper nature harden into a cynical shell protecting us from even those who would earnestly seek to contribute to our well-being?
I don't know about you, but I've never met a cynical, smug baby. Nope. Cynicism is learned. Inspiration, on the other hand...well, that's beyond learning. Inspiration is what happens when we unlearn, when we let our guard down and experience the moment, fully and completely, exactly as it is, without the need for justifications, polish, or spin.
Don't believe me? That's fine. But answer me this:
Have you ever fallen madly in love? Have you ever had an amazing conversation that kept you up for until ungodly hours, without a need for food or sleep? Has a brilliant piece of music ever moved you to tears? Have you ever felt transported by the eloquence of a gifted orator? Have you ever felt ineffably connected to a stranger in a moment of crisis? Have you ever been entranced by the timeless charms of a chubby baby?
These are just a few faces of inspiration. It's infinite—in fact, it's the literal experience of infinity, of that unbounded experiential dimension that each of us carries innate. Socially, it is the recognition that we share this infinite something with each other. Is it hard to imagine that you could incorporate this sort of experience into your everyday life as a duty-bound adult? Yes, perhaps—but that doesn't mean it's impossible. Not only is it possible, but it's necessary and it's inevitable.
We live in a mind-blowing time where a critical mass of people are becoming disenchanted with the old ways, and are actively seeking new ways, or contexts, for living. We seem to be collectively unwilling to continue pretending as though there is nothing more to us than just a temporary body and a pleasure-seeking mind. We seem to be craving something deeper and more sustainable, not just in terms of our outer environment, but also our inner environments. We seem to be ready to reclaim our birthright—the natural state of inspiration that all those years of forcing and persuading bred right out of us.
As we move forward, we'll learn that our biggest barrier to reclaiming this higher ground and seizing this opportunity rests not in the world outside us, but in our inner willingness to let go of the cynicism that we've accrued to protect ourselves from an apparently dangerous, threatening world. Martin Luther King's "fierce urgency of now" is but the recognition that we are bigger than our piddling fears, and are finally willing to yield to a deeper voice that knows the way. This voice is inspiration, and whenever we meet we either share it or lose it together.
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John Marshall Roberts is an author, speaker, and communications strategist for a variety of sustainable and socially conscious clients. His new book, "Igniting Inspiration: A Persuasion Manual for Visionaries," is available here. Find more information on his blog.
This article first appeared on CTN Green.
via | sustainable life media
