JoannaSpeaks

Lately, I’ve been trying to drag myself up out of bed around 8 or 8:30 to get a head start on my day. My sleeping pattern is so thrown off due to my work hours, so usually I sleep in until 11:30 when ever I get the chance. This, of course, causes me to be even MORE tired than before (even when I don’t think it’s possible to be even more tired). When I wake up early, I get enough time to build some energy and get started on my day so I’m not running around finishing things last minute.  Here’s some things I’ve been going by each morning!

The night before//

I’ve been trying to end my day with a relaxing hot bath. Especially after a long and hectic day, your mind is still trying to catch up with your body. This causes you to stay up until the early hours of the morning, which then causes you to sleep until the late hours in the afternoon. Ending the day with a bath can relax your mind which can allow you to mentally end the day and go to sleep with a clear mind.

It’s so much easier waking up knowing that your day is already planned out. This can reduce stress in the morning by thinking about all the things you need to do and what to do first.

Who doesn’t wake up in a good mood when you know the first thing you do is consume delicious food!? Lately, I’ve been making an over-easy egg with a slice of a whole wheat bagel thin and two slices of turkey bacon.

The morning of//

If you make your bed first thing each morning, you will be more likely to reduce stress since making your bed can make you feel a sense of accomplishment. Beginning your day with a feeling of accomplishment can ONLY mean good things! Plus, it lets your mind know that bed time is over for the day.

While you’re enjoying your morning coffee or tea, have “me” time. Especially if you have a busy day ahead of you, beginning your day with a little relaxation and time for your own self-enjoyment will lift your spirits. I’ve been reading my favorite blogs, my boyfriend’s favorite book that I FINALLY started to read, or lately I’ve been enjoying the Cosmopolitan articles on snapchat.

Stretching or meditation can sync up your mind and your body, making for a balanced and peaceful day.

Complete a task one at a time. Do not think that every task has to be done all at once, or else you’ll never get any of them done! Tip: In my planner, Ive been writing an inspiring quote each day to go by. It puts me in a good mood and each time I’m feeling down, I say the quote to myself to ease my stress.

Have a great day!

            The fire in belly and the brain explodes and the flames touch every part of you. This is what it’s like to be inspired. Inspiration is uncontrollable, seemingly random, and beautiful. It can happen on a subway, in a Subway, while driving, while showering, while cleaning, etc. Once an idea takes hold, it can be quite difficult to let it go; but by the same token, once we get a feel for the seemingly random patterns of inspiration, we can chart the things that are more likely to inspire us, and less likely to inspire us. To cultivate inspiration it needs to be broken down into things that are easier to understand. I see three factors that help me facilitate an inspiring and creative environment: your calling, your interests, and your disinterests.

            I went to several high-school graduations; my brother, my cousins, my own and there was a common thread running through them: cheesy keynote speakers. Each one preached trite and boring platitudes “follow your dreams”,  “be true to yourself”, “do what you love”, things in this vein.  These people who spoke never answered the questions I always had: “how do I follow my dreams?” “Who am I?” “What do I value, what do I love?” In order to be inspired you need a catalyst, a spark, something to ignite that fuel to allow you creativity to be let loosed. Your calling matters, I myself am an aspiring journalist so I’m not going to find inspiration from the same things as a chef would. The chef might find the smell of coffee and bacon in the morning and be inspired to create an amazing and flavorful dish. Your calling determines what things will trigger inspiration. To find who you are, you might doing what I did helpful. Take a journal and two pens and find a quiet place away from your home, away from your family, and most importantly away from your phone.  Sit and think about the things that make you happy, the things you value, the things you find honorable or dishonorable. Think about it and write it all down. Read the list and find which things are a reflection of your character, (i.e. maybe you think fidelity is an honorable thing, this might be a reflection of a faithful person, or a trustworthy person) that’s who you are. The things you love to do, the things you’re good at, those things are you calling. Once you’ve established what your “calling” is you can help nurture that by surrounding yourself with things that interest you.

            2.   Interests

            In order to gain inspiration quickly you must go to the avenues that speak to you. Fishermen who wish to catch swordfish or other deep sea fish do not go to the creeks or rivers, they go to where the fish are. Finding the channels that are flowing with your similar interests is surprisingly easy. If you like books, buy a book you don’t normally read, listen to the author’s style and flair, observe their characters (if a work of fiction) or their philosophy on a subject. I love history and I just bought a book on one of my hero’s: Theodore Roosevelt. Reading his autobiography is inspiring, hearing of his trials and conquests helps me to grow as a human and as a writer. In the same way you wrote down your values and your character, you might want to write the things that interest you. Books, movies, people, food, anything can become a channel into the deep sea of creativity, where the prize fish of inspiration swims. Go there and find it and catch it and display it proudly above your fireplace. Once you find a channel of inspiration, it is easier to fish there again.

           

3.   Disinterests

            The inverse of everything I said with your interests is true. Once you know where the fish you want to catch lie, you need not go to the rivers in which the salmon do not run. You can learn how not to behave, or write, or act, or cook by looking at the items that you find as a betrayal of all you hold dear. For instance, and I’ll probably get a lot of flack for this, I don’t think The Fault in Our Stars is a particularly good book. If John Green were to read my writing, he may feel the same. I admire his following and respect the work he has done, but I don’t find The Fault in Our Stars a particularly good book. I read it, not to find enjoyment, but to find out the things I liked and I didn’t like. You’ll be able to progress and learn from the “mistakes” [i]of others. Ignoring the “false channels” and sticking to the “true” ones will help to facilitate an inspired environment.

            Inspiration is seemingly random, but it can be charted and observed and predicted if you’re careful and mindful.  If you’re in any sort of creative field you might find this helpful in order to help your creativity run at its maximum capacity. Remember: 1. Know thyself, 2. Know thine interests, and 3. Learn from thine and others mistakes. If you do these you’ll find inspiration will be readily available.

Welcome to the month of June! This month I’d like to focus on inspiration because it’s something that is really important to me. So many people, things and places inspire me. I’ve asked my lovely boyfriend, Steven (who is a crazy good writer) to write something on inspiration for my page. It’s a lil’ something I like to call “Open mic." Steven's words will be posted next week. 

For every month’s theme, I’m going to ask anyone to do an open post so that you can hear someone else’s voice besides mine. I asked Steven because he easily inspires me each day.  For my inspiration post, I’m going to share a few of my inspirations with you!

Fashion Inspiration:

KendallJenner’s street style.

Um, hello! The Jenner & Kardashian’s street styles make me look like a helpless nematode dressed in Victoria’s Secret sweatpants that I got on sale. For the same price, I totally could’ve purchased a pair of black jeggings and some sort of plain tee-shirt and still would have been as comfortable and not as zombie looking.

Blog Inspiration-

CupOfJo

I can’t stop raving about her blog. Each morning I sit down with my coffee and catch up with her posts. She doesn’t always post about beauty, food, or clothing. She has a fine way of finding a happy medium with all of those and has such interesting posts! Not only that, but her family is aaahhhh-dooorrabbbllleee.

Beauty Inspiration-

Orion Carloto & Olivia Culpo

There’s something that these two lovely ladies have in common. One word: eyebrows. I’m a firm believer in eyebrows and how they can completely change the entire face.

Orion

Olivia

If I’m going to work, or just spending a night in with Steven, I usually spend a lot of time on my eyebrows and not as much on literally anything else on my face. Olivia’s makeup looks are usually professionally done. However, her natural beauty

is one for the books. Her eyebrows are so perfectly full. Let’s not even get started on those cheek-bones!

Acting Inspiration

Oona Chaplin

Photo

Recently, my sister, her best friend and I went to see The Longest Ride. My sister and I poked fun at it the entire time, but I couldn’t help but admire the actress that played the character Ruth. Not only was she gorgeous, I admired the way she carried her character. Right down to the lip quiver, she became her character. Of course, as soon as I got in the car, I looked up her name and made a mental note to watch all of her movies. I usually don’t have favorite actors or actresses. I usually only have favorite performances. I’m intrigued by her acting technique and can’t wait to watch all of her other work.