Words are powerful things that carry a lot of weight. In some instances, they’re capable of sparking immediate changes in someone’s mood or disposition; in others, they can instigate deep reflection and slowly change the way someone perceives the world or articulates their beliefs. Think about the words from your favourite song lyric, lines from a speech that you found memorable, or even a conversation you had with someone long ago whose essence still sticks to you. The words that someone else shared with you, even in a brief moment, have the potential to create a lasting impact on your life.
If you want to turn over a new leaf this 2022 and become more mindful of the things you do or the way you see things, you can make a habit out of reading or listening to daily inspiration. You can find it from secular sources like books, video essays, podcasts, blogs or social media accounts dedicated to reflections or motivational quotes.
What difference will daily inspiration make in your life? To illustrate, here are seven important things that daily words of wisdom will do for you.
Daily inspiration can teach you something new about what you believe
You may already subscribe to a particular belief system or consider yourself deeply immersed in a particular culture. But there’s always something new for you to discover about a field that you think you already know. Seeking out daily inspiration can help you learn the way another person practices your shared beliefs or how the people in your community handle problems. Looking to the wisdom of others can deepen your perspective about what you already believe, and in turn, deepen your appreciation for the values that you hold dear.
Daily inspiration will prompt you to stop and reflect
We live in an incredibly busy and fast-paced world. Sometimes it will seem extra hard to stop and reflect on the important things in life, like faith, family, staying true to one’s values, and making positive contributions to society. If another person’s words can instigate a pause and help you think more deeply about what’s important in your life, it’s a good idea for you to read widely and to look for more sources of daily inspiration.
Daily inspiration will help you grapple with life’s most difficult questions
Your daily inspiration can also disturb you in a good way and challenge you to avoid being complacent about worldwide issues like hunger, injustice, and poverty. They may not be easy issues to grapple with, but wisdom from other people should move you to leave your comfort zone, build your knowledge, and be both creative and generous about the ways that you can respond. Make it your New Year’s resolution to seek out inspiration that’s out of the ordinary and that will dare you to do something about the issues of today.
Daily inspiration will allow you to visualise solutions to your problems
You may be feeling overwhelmed about real-life problems concerning your identity, your culture, and your personal relationships. If you’re currently dealing with any of these and you’re having a hard time finding a solution, then perhaps you can look to the wisdom of someone else. Their perspective may help you adopt the right mindset for ironing out your problem or give you an idea of the right words to say to someone you’re in conflict with. Either way, you’ll come out of your reflection with a new resolve to set things straight.
Daily inspiration can help you develop empathy and compassion for others
Inspirational words from other people can also help you cultivate empathy and a sense of compassion for your fellow man. Consuming new content will allow you to put yourself in someone else’s shoes and perceive the world as they do; oftentimes, you’ll come away with new knowledge about the urgency of their situation and the nature of what they need. Whenever you read or listen to something new, ask yourself how that knowledge can help you become a kinder and more empathetic person.
Daily inspiration can encourage you in tough times
Words of wisdom can also comfort you, uplift you, and assure you that you are not alone in your struggles. Life will not become any easier as you grow older, but no hardship is insurmountable and no person has to carry their burdens alone. Don’t underestimate the power of a well-timed quote or shared tidbit of wisdom to lift a cloud of darkness that’s been hanging over you. If you need to be reminded of other people’s resilience and generosity, make it a point to draw from inspirational sources.
Daily inspiration can inspire you to act
Lastly, inspirational words do not exist for their own sake. The best sources impart not only knowledge, but a will to act for the betterment of the world.
This new habit of turning to daily inspiration will do a lot to enrich your life. Read widely, seek out new multimedia sources, and get creative about documenting your favourite inspirational words.
Helen Bradfield did her degree in psychology at the University of Edinburgh. She is interested in mental health, welness, and lifestyle.
