Calm down, I don’t actually mean that. I treasure my readers very much, and I’d be rather upset if I triggered some sort of self-immolation trend. What I AM talking about, however, is that inner sense of inspiration. You probably know what I’m talking about. In every office, or any other workplace for that matter, there is that one individual who has a light in his eyes. He or she tackles his work with a consistent sense of enthusiasm that leaves you wondering if you’re in the presence of aliens. Fear not, they’re still human. The only difference is that they’ve found something that ignites their passions. And if they can do it, so can you.

A campfire analogy would probably work best here. It takes some effort to start a campfire, but with the correct spark and a receptive bunch of kindling, you can get a good fire going. After that it’s just a matter of minor maintenance, and that fire will keep you warm without much effort on your part. Similarly, all you need to build up a long-term, consistent sense of motivation in yourself is three things.

1. The spark – do something that inspires you
2. The kindling – be open-minded about changes that happen in your life
3. The maintenance

The Spark

This is actually the easiest part of the whole thing. Doing something different, even if it’s a minor thing, opens your life up for changes that you could have never imagined. True, there are stories of people who suddenly quit their successful jobs to become artists or to work in the mountains, but don’t let that fool you; even small actions can bring big changes. Here are a few things that you can try:

1. Take a language class – ever felt like picking up Spanish? Or how about Chinese? An additional language is not only a practical and highly useful skill to have; it’s also a great way to see things from a completely different perspective. I especially like dissecting phrases and old sayings to see what life must have been like for the native speakers.
2. Dabble in the arts – Sure, you’re not going to be the next Picasso, and neither will Virgin Records bang on your door to sign a music contract, but picking up an instrument, or a paintbrush, or even a new dance move is a great way to shake the way you think up a little. And who knows? You might make a new friend along the way.
3. Spirituality and meditation – Now don’t get me wrong, I’m not about to preach religion here. Spirituality isn’t necessarily about God; it can also mean getting in touch with your soul. Whether the power that you want to connect to is above or inside you, or even somewhere else, taking the time to explore this side of you can often yield amazing results. It also provides a great platform for you to evaluate yourself and see if you’re who you want to be.
4. Voluntary work – this one is a no-brainer. Unless you chew puppies for breakfast, helping another person (especially someone who cannot help himself) is sure to make you feel better about yourself. And the great thing about voluntary work is that there are hundreds of ways you can do it. There’s no such thing as too many volunteers.
5. Do something different. Read a book you’d never read otherwise, listen to music that’s completely out of your genres. The idea is to try something different, and to pay attention to the difference.

The Kindling

This is where most people have trouble. Pushing yourself to do something different may be easy for some people, but the tendency to avoid and reject change is so common, it’s practically hardwired into our DNA as human beings.

Think about it: you can’t ignite stone. For inspiration to happen, you have to be open enough to accept change. It’s much easier said than done, I’ll admit. Unconsciously we balk at any changes inflicted upon our lives (job transfers, new neighbors, etc). Try this then; every time you try something different, mentally tell yourself that you are going to experience this to the fullest, because you are never going to do this again. Taking part in a play? Then give your very best, and hold nothing back, because chances are that it’s a one-time thing. You’ll find that you’re less likely to hold back, and more likely to open your mind and soul to whatever is waiting for you. And of course, the audience always loves an actor who gives his best.

The Maintenance

(Also known as The Occasional Poke.) Once you get the fire going, you’ve more or less won the battle. But even the best of fires will die if you don’t tend to them. Take some time every once in a while, like say one in two weeks. Think about yourself. Think about the motivation that you have and how it feeds into everything you do. What can you do to continue this feeling? Let’s say you get inspired by yoga. Perhaps you’ll build a stronger network of motivation by talking about your passion with other fans of yoga. You’ll also learn something new about yoga, which will definitely feed your motivation. Or perhaps you could try teaching yoga to a class. Actions based around what inspires and motivates you are your best options for continuously feeding your inner fire.

Now that you’ve got a good sense of inspiration and motivation going for you, you’ll feel like a new person. You’ll start the day brighter and bushier-tailed, and you’ll smile and laugh more often. Even during bad days, you’ll be able to face things with a smile, because you know that every day, there is something good happening in your life, and you’re becoming a better person for it.

At this point I’d like to point you to a website that you may already know, Stepcase Lifehack. If you aren’t already a regular visitor to that site, make it a point to read their articles. A large majority of the articles focus on various ways, both big and small, to improve your life. In particular, I find the articles written by Celestine Chua (who has a seven-part article series on finding your true purpose in life on her blog) to be very motivating when I need to remind myself what I’m aiming for in life. I highly suggest you give it a read.

What would you like to try to spark your motivation? If you’ve already got your fire going, what do you do to keep it going? Share it with us in the comments.