Leary Gates » inspiration http://www.learygates.com Igniting change, inspiring breakthroughs. Tue, 31 Jan 2012 16:54:42 +0000 en hourly 1 Thought for the Day – Soren Kierkegaard on Inspiring http://www.learygates.com/2010/04/06/thought-for-the-day-soren-kierkegaard-on-inspiring/ http://www.learygates.com/2010/04/06/thought-for-the-day-soren-kierkegaard-on-inspiring/#comments Tue, 06 Apr 2010 11:30:37 +0000 Leary Gates http://learygates.com/?p=1973 There is nothing with which every man is so afraid as getting to know how enormously much he is capable of doing and becoming.” – Soren Kierkegaard

When I was  […]

]]> There is nothing with which every man is so afraid as getting to know how enormously much he is capable of doing and becoming.” – Soren Kierkegaard

When I was a young man I had my dream house all scoped out—three wings, indoor-outdoor pool, bowling alley, and, since I had an interest in astronomy, an observatory on one end. I held on to that dream right up until the time I had my first apartment in college. It was then that the practicalities of earning an independent living recast how I imagined my future domicile. Making it to the end of the month as a student with food in the refrigerator was the dream du jour. Thirty years later that dream home’s a distant memory—as are some of the other unattained aspirations I held. It’s far easier to resign to fear and a sense of inadequacy than to pursue a vision unrelentingly day after day. And I don’t think I’m alone. As Kierkegaard pointed out, most of us are living fearfully below our potential. That observation inspires me today to try to reignite a spark among those I encounter with a reminder of the dream they can still yet become.

Your thoughts? Who might you inspire with a reminder of the great things that God might still want to do through them?

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]]> http://www.learygates.com/2010/04/06/thought-for-the-day-soren-kierkegaard-on-inspiring/feed/ 0 Thought for the Day – P. Picaso on Inspiration http://www.learygates.com/2010/01/21/thought-for-the-day-p-picaso-on-inspiration/ http://www.learygates.com/2010/01/21/thought-for-the-day-p-picaso-on-inspiration/#comments Thu, 21 Jan 2010 14:20:55 +0000 Leary Gates http://learygates.com/?p=970 Inspiration exists, but it has to find you working.” - Pablo Picaso

What’s the catalyst for creative inspiration? Years ago, Denise Shekerjian set out to unearth the answer to that  […]

]]> Inspiration exists, but it has to find you working.” - Pablo Picaso

What’s the catalyst for creative inspiration? Years ago, Denise Shekerjian set out to unearth the answer to that question in her book Uncommon Genious. She conducted in-depth interviews with 40 recipients of the prestigious MacArthur Fellowship Award, given to those who demonstrate creative genius in their field. Her findings? Every act of brilliance was the consequence of “tedious plodding” and a lot of “earthbound effort.” Seems Picaso was right. We don’t get inspired to do work. We do work to get inspired.

Your thoughts? How has work fostered your inspiration?

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]]> http://www.learygates.com/2010/01/21/thought-for-the-day-p-picaso-on-inspiration/feed/ 0 Thought for the Day – R.W. Emerson on Inspiration http://www.learygates.com/2010/01/19/thought-for-the-day-r-w-emerson-on-inspiration/ http://www.learygates.com/2010/01/19/thought-for-the-day-r-w-emerson-on-inspiration/#comments Tue, 19 Jan 2010 13:30:10 +0000 Leary Gates http://learygates.com/?p=878 Our chief want is someone who will inspire us to be what we know we could be.” - Ralph Waldo Emerson

I once opened a fortune cookie with the message,  […]

]]> Our chief want is someone who will inspire us to be what we know we could be.” - Ralph Waldo Emerson

I once opened a fortune cookie with the message, “Someone you know believes in you.” Since I don’t put any credence in fortune cookies, I was surprised to find myself warmed by that thought. We all want to know someone is pulling for us. And that desire doesn’t diminish with age. What a great fortune it is when someone inspires us to become what we know we can be. What an even greater fortune it is to be that person for someone else.

Your thoughts?  How have you been inspired by someone who believed in you?

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