INSPIRATIONAL DIARIES
Dashrath Manjhi’s true inspiring story
Dashrath Manjhi was born in to the lowest rung of India’s caste system in Gehlaur village, India, and ended up working in coal mines.
When he was an adult, his wife was injured and died because the nearest doctor was in a town 34 miles away.
Because of this experience, Manjhi decided that he was going to make a new roadway through a ridge of hills, in order to make his village more accessible.
Manjhi ended up carving a 110m long path, completing it in 22 years (between 1960 and 1982), using only a hammer and a chisel.
Ultimately, Manjhi’s road reduced the distance between the start and finish areas from 34 miles to 9.3 miles.
Colonel Sanders has one of the most motivational success stories
Earning his place on this best motivational stories list is KFC’s Colonel Harland Sanders.
Sanders worked a number of jobs, such as a steam engine stoker, filling station operator and an insurance salesman, but it wasn’t until his time running his restaurant in Kentucky that he made what would make him famous. While there, he developed his secret recipe and method of cooking chicken.
Sanders proceeded to go around USA trying to sell his chicken recipe to restaurants. His idea was to give them the recipe for free and then take a percentage on each chicken dish sold.
Colonel Sanders was rejected 1009 times before he got his first “yes”.
Colonel Sanders proves that sometimes you just need to keep going if you want to be successful.
JK Rowling’s inspirational message
If writing one of the most successful book series and movie franchises of all time does not deserve to be on this list, I don’t know what does.
JK Rowling‘s motivational story is one of a woman who was completely broke, living off of benefits with her daughter, writing away at this story of a boy that does not know he is a wizard.
Her famed story was rejected by 12 publishers before it was finally picked up by Bloomsbury.
So if you are a writer or artist looking to get your work out in to the world, stick with it, and one day you may have a great motivational story of your own.
Oprah Winfrey’s story is one big inspirational message
Oprah Winfrey has built a billion-dollar empire, and, in 2017, was placed 1st on Forbes’ list of America’s richest female entertainers.
But life was not easy for Oprah growing up, and she went through a great deal of adversity to have this real life inspirational success story.
You see, Winfrey originally grew up in Mississippi with her grandmother before she was sent to live with her mother in Wisconsin when she was 6. This move was disruptive and she felt alone and abandoned. But, before she could get comfortable in Wisconsin, she was sent to live with her father in Tennessee, before moving back to live with her mother again.
During this time, Winfrey was abused by her family members. Her grandmother whipped her, leaving her with welts over her body. When she was 9 years old, a 19 year old cousin of hers raped her. She was also sexually assaulted by other relatives between the ages of 10 and 14. Winfrey became pregnant aged 14 and considered committing suicide. Ultimately, the baby was born prematurely and died in the hospital. Winfrey knew this was her second chance at life.
Despite her difficult childhood, Winfrey went on to become one of the most powerful women in in the world and is an inspiration to the world.
Stephen Hawking’s story is motivational
Soon after his 21st birthday, Stephen Hawking was diagnosed with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), causing him to be unable to use most of his muscles.
Being told her only had between 2 and 4 years left to live, Hawking decided to put his energy in to learning as much as possible in the time he had left. In fact, Hawking attributed his success to his condition, as he was bored with life before he was diagnosed.
Hawking ultimately went on to live until the age of 76, having had a huge impact on science through his life’s work.
Paulo Coelho’s life story
One of the world’s best-selling authors, known mostly for his book The Alchemist, Paulo Coelho grew up knowing he wanted to be a writer. The trouble was that being a writer was considered to be a dangerous profession in a country under military rule.
He read a lot, was very shy, and did not socialise very easily. His parents didn’t know what to do with him, and sent him to a lunatic asylum when he was just 17 years old.
Paulo never saw himself as a victim, and even understands his parents’ position when looked at from their point of view. He understands they loved him and just wanted to help him.
Ultimately, Paulo Coelho escaped the asylum three times before being released in 1967.
Difficulties come in many forms, and Paulo Coelho is inspiring for not only coming out of his experiences on the other side as a best-selling author, but also for putting in the effort to understand his parents and forgive them. His is a motivational success story that shows that anyone with any difficult upbringing can make a success of themselves.
"Follow your passion!" is perhaps just a bit too glib to be useful. It is this exact piece of advice that leaves people damaged if they don’t find a dream job that complements their natural abilities and fills them with an intrinsic sense of joy — not to mention that passions can be ephemeral.
And instead of “Follow your passion” or “Follow your bliss,” my bumper-sticker career advice is “Follow your blisters.”
A blister appears when something wears at you – and even chafes you a bit – but you keep getting drawn back to it. What I like about the phrase is that it implies something about perseverance and struggling through tasks even though they are not always blissful. “Follow your blisters” makes me ask myself the question, “What kind of work do I find myself coming back to again and again, even when I don’t succeed right away, when it seems like it’s taking too long to make progress, or when I get discouraged?”
So, if you’re looking to find a career that will matter to you, instead of looking only in the direction of “passion,” also think about the activities that you return to — despite the fact that they are harder to complete than things you are more immediately or emotionally drawn to.
Martin Seligman, one of the parents of positive psychology, asks the question this way: “What activities were you already doing as a child that you still like to do now?” It may not be the thing you love to do the most, and it may not be the most fun all the time, but ask yourself: Is there something I have to work hard at to get right, something that I want to get right because I care enough about it, no matter how much time and practice is takes? Is there something that gets me up a little early, or keeps me working late, after others have gone to sleep? Not because the project is due the next day, but because it’s important to me to make a little more progress? Not every day and night, but reliably?
What activities do you never need to put on your “To Do” list? You may notice that other people need to remind themselves to analyze the metrics of their social media posts while you are naturally pulled toward cracking the code of what performs well. You may notice that other people dread preparing speeches to give before the class while you are up late doing research to support your points and practicing in front of the mirror. Pay attention to this. And in comparison, also notice what tasks you have to nudge and remind yourself to complete at all.
For me, it’s hard not to work on this article, even now, late at night when everyone else in the house is sleeping, whereas I need to create reminders to prepare for administrative meetings (and even then I wait until the very last minute). The things that always seem to get done often reveal insight into what will fulfill you in your career — they are the things we never need to be asked twice to do, and ultimately, they are more satisfying than the things we may love to do largely because they come natural and easy to us.
Finally, “Follow your blisters” implies something that you come back to so many times that you eventually move past the blister stage, into toughened skin. Eventually, the activity “marks you” through use and practice, and you develop a special competence. When you practice an activity a bit more obsessively than other people, you build unique character – you earn some wear and some healing that makes you idiosyncratic, and a little unbalanced.
When it comes to career advice, “Follow your passion!” is a little like “Follow your bliss!” Sure, passion sounds like a wonderful thing when choosing where to invest your time and effort. After all, the average person spends more than 90,000 hours at work in their lifetime. Yes, that is one-third of your entire life. So, of course it would be nice if that time was spent doing something you actually love.
As the demands of the workplace keep rising, many people respond by putting in ever longer hours, which inevitably leads to burnout that costs both the organization and the employee. Meanwhile, people take for granted what fuels their capacity to work—their energy. Increasing that capacity is the best way to get more done faster and better.
Time is a finite resource, but energy is different. It has four wellsprings—the body, emotions, mind, and spirit—and in each, it can be systematically expanded and renewed.
Resolutions You Haven’t Tried and Won’t Fail in 2021
1. Visit at least four national parks
Traveling to new places creates memories that make life meaningful. But guess what? You don’t have to maneuver airport security, squeeze onto a plane, and land in a faraway oasis to have fun.
Chances are, there’s wonder and excitement near where you are. If your state or the surrounding ones have several national parks, make a resolution to explore the rolling plains and sprawling forests you’ve never seen before.
2. Try one vegan snack each month
Eating healthy is about building a roster of delicious yet nutritious foods that you enjoy. Instead of launching an overwhelming commitment to a new diet, take baby steps by expanding your palate.
A good place to start is with wholesome, vegan snacks. They’re getting better all the time, and slowly introducing them to your taste buds promotes healthy living.
3. Redecorate your home to match your desired energy
Forget the popular home decor trends. This resolution requires some serious soul searching. To fill your space with the right vibes, ask yourself one question: How do I want to feel when I get home?
Use your answer to finding lighting, furniture, and plants that inspire your most ideal mood. Each homecoming is a chance to calibrate your energy for the next day, so redecorate with intention.
4. Take yourself on a leisurely date once a month
Dating yourself can be fun. As a ‘you’ connoisseur, you already know which activities bring joy to your life. Now all you have to do is be intentional about rewarding yourself with these experiences.
For you, perhaps it’s cracking into two pounds of crab legs. Or maybe it’s visiting your favorite museum to see a new art exhibit. No matter how busy 2021 becomes, get some much-needed alone time to pamper yourself.
5. Listen to educational podcasts while playing video games
Want to fill your brain with more knowledge? Do it while playing an easy game you’ve beaten plenty of times. This resolution works because the muscle memory of gameplay won’t distract you from listening and learning. And best of all, you’ll save time by mixing entertainment with education.
If you need podcast suggestions, try Science Vs or Invisibilia. These are great listens when you want to learn something few people know.
6. Learn every dance that goes viral in 2021
Remember the Dab? The Renegade? The Woah? If none of these sound familiar, don’t miss the next dance craze because FOMO is the worst. (Also, we’ve yet to see someone do those dances without a huge smile on their face.)
Maybe that’s because dancing is armor. Somehow, all that movement boosts your happiness in a way that protects you from bad vibes. If you do nothing else this year, dance freely!
7. Wait 48 hours before making big purchases
A new year doesn’t just mean a new you. For some of us, it also means new stuff. If you’re contemplating an expensive purchase, wait two days before swiping your debit or credit card. It’s a good test to see if you truly needed the item or simply had a fleeting, emotional urge to shop. Either way, take some time to figure it out before you spend too much money and break your budget.
8. Grow fruits and vegetables on your patio
Gardens have gotten smaller and more manageable over the years. If you’re adamant about eating food you can trust, try growing your own.
Tomatoes and certain herbs are great for beginners, and there’s nothing like enjoying a self-made harvest. You’ll just need pots, seeds, the right soil, some netting, and patio space for the entire setup. This can work for apartments and houses alike, so give it a try.
9. Ditch your car and cycle to destinations within five miles
Tired of the gym and how it’s always packed at the beginning of the year? Switch things up by cycling to nearby destinations. You can ride your bike to visit neighbors, the grocery store, or anywhere you’re willing to pedal for a quick errand. Driving is faster, so you’re bound to miss the convenience now and then. But just remember: Cycling gives you exercise and enviable legs.
10. Mail letters of gratitude to close friends and family
We hear it all the time: Give people their roses while they can still smell them. If you have family and friends that mean the world to you, show your appreciation for the happiness and joy they bring to your life. One powerful way to do that is by mailing letters of gratitude. Life takes us in different directions over time, but handwritten notes will help you keep the feelings of connection.
11. Network your way to success at virtual conferences
Zoom meetings are hot right now, which means virtual conferences are too. For those who can’t easily travel, this levels the playing field in a big way.
Networking is the best part of conferences, and you can still do that in a virtual setting. Before you purchase a ticket, read the event schedule to see how far the opportunities go.
12. Fuse your hobbies with your workday
There’s a growing consensus that work-life integration trumps work-life balance. Instead of giving each task equal weight—having dinner with family, responding to all of your emails, cleaning the house—realize that a certain amount of give and take keeps everything in check.
This is especially important when it comes to hobbies. They’re hard to squeeze into your day and often go unnoticed or unpracticed. To change that, include them in your daily routines. You can study a new language on your lunch break or play guitar during a 15-minute work break. It’s up to you!
Success can be defined in many ways. If you are experiencing happiness, love, or adventure in this moment, you’ve already found success. Keep it up.
Rejecting the role of a victim and instead viewing events through hopeful lenses defuses energy-draining negative emotions. Avoiding the constant distractions that technology has introduced increases mental energy. And participating in activities that give you a sense of meaning and purpose boosts the energy of the spirit.
