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Go on an Inspiration Walk

  1. Set a timer or alarm for ten minutes. Carry this with you.
  2. Start walking in one direction. Resist the urge to check your phone. Instead, pay attention to your senses: What do you feel, see, hear, smell, taste?
  3. If you struggle to focus, concentrate on your footsteps and notice your feet on the ground. What does the ground feel like? What do you hear as your foot strikes the surface?
  4. When your alarm goes off, return along the same route. See if you notice anything different from your initial journey.
  5. Upon returning to your starting point, set your timer for another ten minutes and write about your experience.

This is an Inspiration Walk.

Note: You’re not walking to solve a problem or cultivate inspiration (though either may occur); you’re walking to walk. Often by focusing on the present, the greatest sources of magic are found…

Tell me what you notice @redheadlefthand.

Journal prompts for clarity

The people I work with know how much I love questions. If you’re looking for answers, ask more questions.

Journaling is a priceless tool. And it doesn’t need to be a lengthy process; five minute in the morning is enough to inspire, reveal, clarify, and create. Here are 12 questions to get you started:

  • What does success mean?
  • What does failing look like?
  • Where in your life do you practice “all or nothing” thinking?
  • In what areas might you benefit from a less rigid perspective?
  • Do any of your boundaries stop you from exploring or evolving?
  • How do boundaries serve you?
  • What does it mean to show up imperfectly?
  • During uncertain moments, what do you rely on as you allow experiences to unfold?
  • What are the risks you take when sharing with others?
  • How do you show grace to yourself?
  • When you are tempted to turn inward, how can you challenge yourself to collaborate and create?
  • Who can you show appreciation to today?

Let me know what these questions bring up for you. Tweet me or send a note. We often know the answers we are seeking.

Baseline for success

The course you’re planning to launch, the community you’re trying to engage, the interview you hope to conduct, the podcast you want to record, the book you’re hoping to write — yes, you could fail. The project might end up in disaster, and nobody likes it.

But what if one person does? What if your work helps one person feel inspired, find strength, start something new, or keep going?

Before stressing about the outcome of your work, take time to define what success looks like for you. What is the minimum you need to see to know that your efforts are worthwhile?

Anything above and beyond that is gravy.

Silence as a medium

Silence can be uncomfortable, and it can be tempting to rush to fill “dead air.” When silence falls upon a meeting or lands abruptly in conversation, it can be unsettling and anxiety-provoking. You may question the efficiency of communication or worry that your message has been misunderstood.

But silence is one of the most powerful communication tools we can use. When harnessed, silence allows room for focus, self-reflection, empathy, and introspection. Sometimes, silence is exactly what is needed for a creative storm to follow.

The next time you find yourself in a silent standoff with a friend or among colleagues… pause. Invite silence into the space and watch what blossoms.

“Everything that’s created comes out of silence. Thoughts emerge from the nothingness of silence. Words come out of the void. Your very essence emerged from emptiness. All creativity requires some stillness.”

Wayne Dyer

Avoiding burnout

This is an important question. These six considerations can help:

  1. You can’t be everything to everyone, and that is okay.

2. Sometimes you will be recognized for your work. Sometimes no one will notice. Surround yourself with like-minded people — people who have your back and respect what you do.

3. Take time away. Say no. Know what you need to do your work and remain focused on creating art.

4. “Straight As” are overrated. Show up, earn that “C,” and be on your way. This is perfectly acceptable.

5. Cultivate a toolkit of music, art, dance, sports, writing, meditation, yoga, cooking, and friends. Regularly return to what brings you joy.

6. Remember: Take care of yourself. The world needs you.

woman in blue suit jacket

7 steps to better questions

Better questions deepen relationships, build trust, and increase confidence. With intention and practice, your questions can become tools that strengthen your business and enhance personal relationships. Here are seven ways you can start:

1. Begin with an informed approach.

Before asking any questions, do your research. Learn more about the company, read up on the open position, see what you can find about the person you are interviewing. The best questions are grounded in knowledge. When you understand more about the person you’re speaking with, you can shape questions to be more engaging, thought-provoking, and relevant.

2. Get curious.

The best questions come from a genuine place of curiosity. Asking questions with sincere interest provides the platform for questions to serve as welcome invitations, not invasive challenges. Remember: Curiosity fosters excitement, and excitement is contagious. Your interest conveys positive intention.

3. Mirror spoken and unspoken language.

Notice the language used by the person you’re speaking with. Are they communicating in a formal tone or comfortable with casual phrases? How about their body language; are their hands folded in their lap or are their arms crossed over their chest? Just as you can mirror someone’s body language, you can also copy their speech. Observe patterns in pitch, vocabulary, and physical posture. You don’t need to imitate someone, but reflecting their physical and verbal communication styles can establish rapport and create a sense of familiarity.

4. Lead with empathy.

While asking questions, seek to understand that person’s worldview. What contributes to the way they see the world? How do they interpret events around them? Maintaining eye contact, using appropriate physical markers (nodding, facing your body towards the person you’re speaking to, and uncrossing your arms), and asking clarifying questions are ways to display empathy. Respect encourages openness and honesty.

5. Stay present.

If a difficult topic or answer arises, remain focused and grounded on the present moment. Do your best to avoid unnecessary distractions from your phone and the environment around you. If you’re struggling to hear the other person, make adjustments, and if the circumstance is too distracting, kindly ask to schedule another time to meet.

6. Open a door.

Open questions usher meaningful conversations. A question that can be answered by a “Yes” or “No” or a simple phrase won’t invite reflection or engagement. While open questions may be more challenging to ask (you’ll have to think carefully), these kinds of questions are more valuable for relationship-building. Here are a few examples of open and closed questions:

Closed: Did you have a good day?

Open: What was the best part of your day?

Closed: Did you like that product?

Open: Which feature was most valuable for you?

Closed: Do you like to travel?

Open: What’s your favorite travel memory?

Closed: Are you happy with our meeting?

Open: How are you feeling after our meeting?

The point of a good question is to open doors for conversation to take place.

7. Listen with intention.

After you ask a question, pay attention. Listening carefully after you’ve asked a question shows willingness to understand and learn. Instead of viewing silence as a rebuff, reframe it as a breath: You’re opening the bottle and giving ideas room to expand. Pause provides space for reflection and thought. Let the person fully explore your question and their answer.

How do you ask questions? Tell me on twitter @redheadlefthand.