Getting inspired starts with a kind of awakening. This happens when we encounter something that wakes us from sleepwalking through the day and jolts us into a wonderfully creative and enlivening space.
When looking for inspiration, one place to go is a book. Books can awaken us for all sorts of reasons.
It’s likely that you’ll have a favourite – it’ll have a special place in your heart. Maybe it’s a story that speaks strongly to you or it’s a particular passage or poem that stirs the soul. Perhaps the beauty of the language captures your imagination or the author opens your eyes to thrilling possibilities.
I have my favourites. If I want to be uplifted, I go to Thomas Hardy’s poem ‘The Darkling Thrush’. It replaces despondency with exquisite hope – it does it for me every time! There are other writings I know that act like reminders – they bring me back to my true self.
The point is that we have all read inspiring books. So how about sharing a title? Think of all the other inspiration-seekers who are reading this post – they would like to know your favourite so they could try it for themselves. So I invite you to name your most inspiring book – just post a comment below.
To kick off, here’s my suggestion. I love ‘Crossing the Unknown Sea’ by David Whyte. The metaphor in the title refers to the author’s adventures on the way to his eventual discovery of his true vocation. It’s beautifully written – David is a poet first and foremost – and every page seems to talk to me personally.
So, what’s your favourite? Just pop a comment below. Between us we could build quite a list!!
my favourite writer is oriah Mountain Dreamer……Something about how she writes inspires me to be all that I can be and to look sacredly inside all of me without fear or judgement.
Thank you Debra. I first came across Oriah’s work through her powerful poem The Invitation and I believe she was inspired to start this poem by a suggestion from the same David Whyte I mention in my post. Quite a coincidence!
Where to start. I too love the work of Oriah Mountain Dreamer and have quite a few e-mail exchanges with her. I also feel inspired by any of the books written by Richard Bach from Jonathan Livingston Seagull and Illusions – Tales of a Reluctant Messiah to Running from Safety and Bridge Across Forever. I love the work of Dan Millman, The Way of The Peaceful Warrior et al and I feel no collection would be complete without a copy of The Celestine Prophecy.
Hi Jon – thanks for your suggestions. Because of them, I have re-read Jonathan Livingston Seagull this morning. If anyone is looking for a short, easily-read book that is truly inspiring, your reminder is right on the button!
The Prophet by Kahlil Gibran has helped me through some difficult times and served to inspire me on many occasions
Hi Sandra – thanks for sharing your favourite. This is a new one for me, yet I see from Wiki that Kahlil Gibran is the third best-selling poet of all time.
For me, anytime I need to be inspired, the Psalms in the Bible does it. Really anything I read in the Bible inspires me. It changes my attitude toward everything and everyone!
When a book can change your attitude toward everything and everyone, that’s powerful stuff! Many thanks Cheryl
Hi Trevor, thanks for posting and being consistent with your emails. It helps in this hectic life schedule for me to take a few minutes to link up to your website and scan through your refreshing stories.
My favorite and most inspiring writer Napoleon Hill with the words…Before success comes in any man’s life, he’s sure to meet with much temporary defeat and, perhaps some failures. When defeat overtakes a man, the easiest and the most logical thing to do is to quit. That’s exactly what the majority of men do.
Andrew Antonio
NY, USA.
Thank you Andrew – I’m glad you can refresh yourself through my writing. Thank you too for the great quote – I will keep this handy because I know that sometimes I can use the encouragement it gives
Thank you Trevor for your consistant inspiration, I treasure your posts!
For me it has to be the Harry Potter books – beautifully imaginative and full of good things – good triumphing over evil, the enduring power of love, the strong bonds of friendship, creative thinking and thinking on your feet, sticking to things in adversity, following through – all good stuff and rollicking good yarns too!!
Thanks Andie for the Harry Potter suggestion – such an interesting choice! It shows the range of what can make an inspiring read.