No matter how much progress you’ve made with your study skills this year, and no matter how motivated you are to continue to build on that progress through the rest of the year, I’m sure there have been times when you’ve wondered how you can possibly keep it up. Whether you’ve experienced setbacks with your studies, continue to feel frustrated by the events of this past year and all it has cost you, or a combination of both, it is perfectly understandable that there may be moments when all you want to do is throw up your hands and say “Enough already! When will any of this ever end?” The next time you feel tempted to throw in the towel, and decide that there’s nothing you can do to fix whatever has you so frustrated, try to remember that at these times, looking for ways to make more progress and being motivated to do so just might not be enough – instead, what you just might need to do is find a way to feel inspired. Even though one of the goals of my blog is to encourage you to find solutions to your challenges that will work for you, the last thing I want is for you to think that means that I think I have all the answers, or that you should ever limit the ways in which you find them. While I do hope to both motivate and inspire you, I know I am just one voice. Wherever else you look, and whatever else you find, never stop trying to discover what inspires you, because the more inspired you are, the more motivated you will be.
Just as I hope to be one of the voices that inspires as well as encourages and motivates you, be sure to look for others who do the same. Teachers, parents, other family members, coaches, counselors- just about anyone who is helping you along on your study skills journey can also inspire you to stay the course. Not all of them will be willing to share their personal journeys with you, but that doesn’t mean you can’t ask them what inspires them. Maybe they will share a quote they like, or suggest a book you should read, or tell you to seek out the advice of someone who helped them. Even when they are helping you with your schoolwork, or when you are in class, listen for those moments when they say something more inspiring than practical – don’t just ignore it, or write it off, or think it’s lame. If you are able to be in your classrooms right now, or if you are able to see decorations in your virtual classrooms, check to see if your teachers have posted any inspirational messages. If you haven’t already done so, actually take the time to read them, reflect on what they mean, and even write down your favorites – having an inspirational quote or two near your study area can be a great way to remind yourself to focus on your goals, even when times are tough.
In addition to looking to those who are currently helping you to find inspiration, be sure to look to role models, too. Celebrities with positive educational messages and/or a willingness to share their personal stories of challenge and triumph are a good place to start, but they are far from the only ones you should look to. People who have had successful careers and/or made names for themselves in many fields beyond the worlds of sports and performing arts have had academic or other challenges to overcome to find success, and their stories are just as worth learning about as the stories of athletes and artists are. Remember to look back in history, too- not just to be inspired by how much people from the past had to overcome, but also to be grateful for the opportunities that changes in education have provided you that they did not have.
It’s not just people and quotes you can look to for inspiration – remember that places and actions can provide inspiration, too. Wherever you like to go or whatever you like to do that helps you feel relaxed and centered can also help you feel inspired if you let it, and the inspiration these places and actions give you can be applied to your studies and the challenges they present, because they provide the mental and emotional break you need so you can renew your focus and belief that the progress you are making will pay off. Whether you are inside an inspirational building or out in nature, whether you pray, meditate, or do yoga, whether activities such as baking or knitting or running or biking relax you to the point of allowing you to feel inspired, remember to go where you need to go and do what you need to do feel refreshed and renewed, because each time you can bring that energy back to your studies, you will increase your chances of feeling positive about what you can accomplish.
There are many ways to find inspiration, and the ideas I’ve given in this post only scratch the surface. Whether through people, quotes, places, actions, or whatever else you can think of, never stop looking to be inspired, not only in school, but also in life. Finding inspiration to get yourself through tough times, as well as striving to feel inspired as much as possible even in the good times, will not only help you feel more successful, it will also help you better appreciate all that you’ve achieved.