The Science of Inspiration: How to Stay Inspired

Kevin Shirley, Associate Broker (DC), GRI, e-PRO, ASP

Inspiration can be defined as the process through which we get mentally stimulated to achieve something, especially to do something creative. Inspiration is helpful in almost every sphere of life since it motivates us to work on our ideas and dreams and manifest them into an elegant reality. Several studies reveal that inspired people are open to cherishing new life experiences while showing more determination towards every task they undertake in their personal and professional lives.

There are so many ways to maintain inspiration in the workplace. Some people keep clips of articles, quotes, and interviews on their desks that help them stay connected to their visions. Others hang engaging images that can reflect their goals, hobbies, passion, and other sources that motivate them. Still others find inspiration in listening to music. If you are allowed to listen to music in your workplace, play some healthy tunes that remind you of some good times or encourage focus. Listening to music can bring positive vibes to your routines and help to enhance productivity. Expressing gratitude is another way to feel inspired and positive. Simply write down 5–10 things for which you feel grateful. Doing this before beginning your day may help you stay motivated all day long.

Beyond these basic strategies to stay inspired and focused, you should also understand the science of inspiration. Here are some essential details about the scientific forces behind the inspiration.

Brain waves, neuroplasticity, and sleep effect on the human brain

Creativity works in association with inspiration, but the surprising fact is that there’s no one state in which inspiration might find you. Inspiration can come when you are groggy, relaxed, or even a little bit drunk. The main reason behind this is neuroplasticity. Neuroplasticity is a process that happens inside the human brain to form new connections and neural pathways. When you develop a connection between two thoughts or ideas, it’s not just a simple metaphor; rather, your brain actually starts restructuring itself to manage those new processes. As the human brain develops the concept of associative memory, the brain’s increased plasticity is likely to lead to more inspirational and creative thoughts.

Even though the human brain is constantly making new connections at the neuron level, this process doesn’t work with peak efficiency all the time. But when we are alert, focused, and attentive, our brains are likely to experience increased production of the beta waves that are further responsible for powering our tasks and getting things done. Conversely, when you get ready to sleep, your brain starts following slower changes with reduced activity of brain waves. Scientific studies reveal that the human brain exhibits alpha waves when it is relaxed, and the theta waves start arising before one falls asleep. However, the slowest waves in the brain, delta waves, occur when we are in a deep sleep state.

Obviously, the human brain doesn’t stay in the same state all the time. But the basic principle of making new connections and weakening the unfavorable ones keeps ongoing. Depending upon the plasticity of your brain, you will be able to enjoy more creativity in life.

How neuroplasticity works for encouraging inspiration?

As plasticity levels directly relate to how creative and inspired a person stays in day-to-day life, it is essential to find ways to increase plasticity. You might be already doing some of these things in your daily life, but here are a few trusted methods to achieve your brain’s high plasticity level:

• Exercise: Doing regular exercises may help you to increase neuroplasticity in brain structures.
• Read: Reading allows people to build new neural paths and connections in the brain. This is a great way to encourage plasticity in your brain.
• Meditate: Meditation creates a wide range of positive effects on the human brain: increased creativity, improved memory, increased compassion, and decreased anxiety.
• Play video games: This may sound surprising, but studies have proven that certain video games are capable of increasing grey matter in your brain.

The list of methods to increase the brain’s neuroplasticity levels may go on, but the central concept behind it is that one should do things that can enhance the brain’s overall health and activity level. If you do not challenge your brain toward creative pursuits, it will not have the opportunity to form new pathways to boost performance.

Quick tips to boost inspiration

• Be thoughtful and creative in your daily life so that your brain can follow the solid wiring to process your ideas.
• If you are planning to tackle some creative endeavor, you should first “fill the well” with good ideas, and it is possible by looking at the similar kind of works that people have done before. This may help you to get inspired and find ways to do it more efficiently.
• Document your ideas so to encourage your brain to make new connections. Ask for feedback from others for different perspectives.

These simple techniques can help you stay inspired to work efficiently and achieve better returns in every sphere of life.