OUR KIDS SUMMER SERIES CONTINUES!

This episode is for the kids out there who are called to big things. You want to be a leader and you want to figure out what sets you apart from your peers so that you can live the great life you want to live, but you are up against a lot. You have school commitments, sports, extracurriculars, friends, devices, social media…And sometimes (just like the rest of us!) you get in a rut and forget what matters to you, lose that spark in you and you lose sight of what you love and you start to lose your inspiration. Part of growing up is that the world can try and take some of that joy and possibility from you, without you even realizing it.

So, today we’re talking about how to get inspired again and how to preserve the best parts of childhood – that wild imagination and those big dreams.

Let’s raise them up right!

IN THIS EPISODE, WE COVER:

[2:13] Do You Still Believe You Can Be Anything You Want?

When you were a little bit younger, did you believe you could be anything? Did you think you could be a superhero? Or President of the United States? Did you picture yourself becoming a professional baseball player, dancer, singer?

How about now? Maybe some of you still know in your heart that you can be anything, you have parents who believe in you, you have a big vision for your life and you’re excited about it. But maybe school or the world started to tell you what you could and couldn’t be. Maybe homework and commitment started to take over. Maybe you started comparing yourself to your peers instead of going inward and figuring out what’s for you. Maybe all of those things combined lead you down a path where you don’t feel so inspired or you’re living on autopilot, meaning you’re doing the same thing over and over.

This is really common, but it doesn’t have to be that way. So, in today’s episode, I want to talk to you about eight different things that can help you get inspired again in a way that’s true to you.

[4:29] Living the Way You Are Called to Live  

The first thing is asking yourself: are you living by your values?

Oftentimes, there are things in life that matter a lot to us and that we care about. Those are our values. Maybe we care deeply about our family, or maybe we have a faith that matters to us, or we care about health. We want to live by those values, but our busy day-to-day life sometimes leads us away from that and our values become just ideas that we want, but the way we live is not in integrity with that, meaning that we are not living the way that we’re called to live.

So, take a few minutes and think about what are those things that are most important to you and do they show up in your everyday. If you can identify a couple things that matter to you, but are not showing up in your day-to-day, that could be part of why you’re losing your inspiration.

[6:44] Your Vision, Leadership and Innovation

The second thing is getting clear on your vision. Anytime I lose inspiration, the number one thing that helps me get inspired again is going back to the vision that excites me, things that light me up, things that I want most for my life. Things that I know fill my cup and allow me to live in integrity with my values and are in the direction of where I want to go.

The third thing is are you leading in your every day? Sometimes we get into a rut because we’re just following others and kind of going with the flow of the river. We do whatever we’re told at school, we show up for practice and do whatever the coach says, we come home and get the homework done. But we’re not really taking time to take ownership of our lives and to serve other people. Or maybe we’re not being resilient enough and getting back up after we fall. We’re not focused on our growth. We’re just surviving, just going through the motions. So, are you leading?

The fourth thing is are you innovating? Are you doing new things that are exciting and fun and outside the box to get you out of that rut? Instead of just surviving in life, try thriving by coming up with new ideas. Maybe there’s a different way you can approach your homework that’s more fun and makes it less painful. Maybe there’s a different way that you can bring more joy and excitement into your family. Get creative and bring that into your family’s life and your school, with your peers and in the life you’re living.

[9:43] Your Company, Faith, Whitespace and Schedule

The fifth thing is to start looking at who you’re surrounding yourself with. Are you surrounded by inspiring people or inspired people, people who are doing a lot of things that we’re talking about? Or are you just hanging out with your friends and people who are lazy and unmotivated? Who you surround yourself with is one of the most important things you do in your life because you become a product of the environment you’re in.

The sixth thing is are you leaning into faith? Do you have the trust that you’re being guided and maybe you’re not listening? Maybe there are things that keep popping into your head or your heart, but you keep ignoring them because you don’t know how to do it or you don’t believe that it’s possible for you. Maybe it’s time to really listen.

The seventh thing is creating space in your week to be inspired. When you get bored, do you pick up a device or turn on the TV because you have to fill that silence? Or do you take that time to think, reflect, create and think outside the box? The most successful people I know create a very specific time in their day to just be. So, allow yourself to be present, to think, explore and contemplate what’s possible for you.

The final thing is does your schedule reflect and show that you’re doing things that inspire you? Just because you’re young, it doesn’t mean you have to just follow the flow of the river and do what everybody else is doing. You can create ways to get inspired and to figure out what’s right for you and what lights you up and go after it.

I hope today’s episode helps you get inspired so that you can get that spark back and live the life you want to live! And if you like what you hear, go share it with your friends! Make sure you tag us and let us know what you think, what you want to learn more of and what you’re going through. 

We would love it if you would subscribe and leave us a review! And come connect with me on Instagram at @elizhartke and if there’s a topic, a question or a guest you want to hear on the show or an idea you have for us, just reach out and share that.

We do this for you so the more you tell us the more we can serve!

RESOURCES FROM THIS EPISODE:

• Episode 74: Waiting for Inspiration to Strike? 10 Questions to Ask Yourself Instead
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• Connect with me on Instagram!