Today I Choose to be Inspired – How to be Inspired

When Inspiration Cracks You Open and Changes Everything

Inspiration doesn’t always strike in fireworks. Sometimes, it comes quietly, in a moment when you’re sitting in a crowded room, heart heavy, wondering if your life can ever really change.

I was 40, freshly out of a five-year relationship that had drained me. I had spent years mistaking chaos for passion, forgiving betrayals, and shrinking myself to keep the peace. I felt raw, uncertain, and more than a little lost. That’s when I found myself in the audience at a Wayne Dyer event.

I didn’t go there looking for a pep talk. I went searching for a new way to see myself. And in that room, listening to his words, something inside me cracked open. Goosebumps raced down my arms, tears blurred my vision, and for the first time in years, my body exhaled. I realized I didn’t have to keep being who I had been. I could dissolve the old story and step into a new one.

That night, I went home and made two lists: the qualities I wanted in my next relationship, and—harder still—the qualities I would need to cultivate in myself to attract that kind of love. It was a small, almost ordinary act. But it was the seed of transformation.

What True Inspiration Looks Like After 50

We often think of inspiration as fleeting motivation—something that gets us excited for a moment before fading away. But real inspiration is different. It’s a deep recognition of possibility that creates lasting change in how you see yourself and your life.

Research from positive psychology shows that people who regularly experience inspiration have higher levels of creativity, life satisfaction, and personal growth. But inspiration isn’t just about feeling good—it’s about seeing new possibilities for who you could become.

For women over 50, inspiration takes on deeper significance because we have the life experience to distinguish between superficial motivation and genuine transformation. We know what real change feels like, and we’re often ready for it in ways we weren’t when we were younger.

Five Sources of Lasting Inspiration

1. Inspiration Through Witnessing Transformation

Sometimes inspiration comes from seeing someone else embody possibilities you didn’t know existed. Wayne Dyer’s words didn’t just give me information—they showed me a different way of being in the world. Witnessing authentic transformation can crack open your own possibilities.

Seek transformative inspiration by:

• Spending time with people who embody qualities you want to develop
• Reading or listening to stories of people who’ve made meaningful life changes
• Attending events where growth and possibility are central themes
• Observing how others navigate challenges with grace and wisdom

2. Inspiration Through Personal Reflection

That moment when my body exhaled in that auditorium wasn’t just about Wayne Dyer’s words—it was about finally allowing myself to imagine something different. Sometimes inspiration requires creating space for honest self-reflection.

Cultivate reflective inspiration through:

• Regular journaling or contemplative practices that help you process your experiences
• Asking yourself what you would attempt if you knew you couldn’t fail
• Exploring what you’ve learned from past challenges and how that wisdom might guide you forward
• Creating quiet time to listen to your own inner voice rather than external opinions

3. Inspiration Through Creative Expression

Making those two lists—qualities I wanted in a partner and qualities I needed to develop in myself—was a creative act that transformed abstract inspiration into concrete vision. Creative expression often bridges the gap between inspiration and action.

Access creative inspiration by:

• Writing, drawing, or creating vision boards that represent your aspirations
• Exploring art, music, or literature that speaks to your soul
• Experimenting with new forms of self-expression without worrying about skill level
• Using creativity to explore questions rather than just document answers

4. Inspiration Through Service and Contribution

Some of the most lasting inspiration comes from recognizing how you might contribute to something larger than yourself. When you connect your personal growth to potential service to others, inspiration becomes purposeful.

Find service-based inspiration through:

• Identifying how your unique experiences might help others facing similar challenges
• Volunteering in areas that align with your values and interests
• Mentoring younger people or sharing your wisdom in meaningful ways
• Exploring how your personal transformation might inspire others

5. Inspiration Through Possibility Thinking

That realization that I didn’t have to keep being who I had been was fundamentally about possibility—recognizing that patterns could change, that old stories could be rewritten, that transformation was available at any age.

Cultivate possibility-based inspiration by:

• Regularly asking “What else is possible?” in areas where you feel stuck
• Studying examples of people who made significant life changes at your age or older
• Challenging assumptions about what’s “realistic” or “appropriate” for this stage of life
• Focusing on what you want to create rather than what you want to escape

When Inspiration Leads to Action

Not long after that Wayne Dyer event, I met Curtis, and my life began to unfold in ways I couldn’t have imagined. But the transformation didn’t happen because I made lists—it happened because the inspiration moved me to act differently, make different choices, and become the person who could attract and sustain a healthier relationship.

True inspiration isn’t just about feeling inspired—it’s about letting that inspiration change how you show up in the world.

The Physiology of Inspiration

Those goosebumps racing down my arms, the tears blurring my vision, my body finally exhaling—inspiration has a physical component. It’s not just a mental experience but a whole-body recognition that something important is shifting.

Pay attention to how inspiration feels in your body. Notice the sensations, the energy shifts, the physical responses. These bodily signals often guide you toward what’s truly meaningful and transformative.

Inspiration vs. Motivation

Motivation pushes you toward goals. Inspiration pulls you toward possibility. Motivation often feels effortful. Inspiration feels magnetic. Motivation comes from external rewards or consequences. Inspiration emerges from internal recognition of what wants to be born through you.

At this stage of life, inspiration becomes more important than motivation because we have less time for pursuits that don’t genuinely matter to us. We’re drawn toward what feels authentic and meaningful, not just what we think we should want.

When Inspiration Feels Absent

There are seasons when inspiration feels elusive—when you’re managing crises, dealing with loss, or simply feeling stuck in routines that no longer serve you. In these times, inspiration often requires creating space rather than forcing feelings.

Sometimes inspiration comes not from adding something new to your life, but from removing what’s blocking your natural enthusiasm and curiosity.

Your Inspiration Practice Today

That’s the thing about inspiration. It doesn’t just show you beauty—it shows you possibility. And sometimes, it doesn’t come from the outside at all. It comes from finally seeing yourself differently.

Create conditions for inspiration today by doing something that’s purely for your own growth or joy. Maybe it’s reading something that stretches your thinking, spending time in nature, or having a conversation with someone who inspires you.

Pay attention to moments when you feel that physical shift—the exhale, the goosebumps, the sense of possibility opening up. These aren’t just nice feelings; they’re guidance about what wants to emerge in your life.

Remember: you don’t have to wait for inspiration to strike like lightning. You can create conditions where inspiration is more likely to find you. And when it does, trust it enough to let it change not just how you feel, but how you live.