WHAT TO READ, LISTEN TO AND WATCH TO STAY INSPIRED IN 2019!
I’m a sucker for all things motivational. I have self-help books by the dozens, I regularly bookmark TED Talks or any inspiring video for that matter so I can return to it later, I subscribe to a plethora of podcasts (great for when you’re on the go and haven’t quite perfected the art of reading and walking at the same time) and I love reading about other people’s inspiring stories, especially if they’ve experienced lots of failure before their big achievement/s. So I’ve put together a few of my favourite things that are helping me stay inspired, in the hope that they might also help you when you’re in need of a little inspiration.
READ:
The Big Leap by Gay Hendricks - Want to take your career or personal life to the next level? Then read this book. Coining it the ‘Upper Limit’ Hendricks has figured out exactly what is getting in the way of our dreams.
Becoming by Michelle Obama - I’ve just started reading Obama’s autobiography and am already engrossed, so thought I’d include it. I won’t say more than that right now, apart from the fact that she is also a brilliant writer. I basically want to be her…
The Desire Map by Danielle LaPorte - My friend and life coach Lucy Sheridan put me onto this. It’s a brilliant tool to help you create a strategy for achieving your goals that also makes you analyse exactly why you want them. Very important for putting those wheels in motion.
Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear by Elizabeth Gilbert - I revisit this book time and time again. Whether you’re a creative and want to leverage your talents into a business, or just want a good motivational kick when you’re struggling to find one, you should keep this by your bedside so you can easily dip in and out when needed.
WATCH:
Brené Brown: The Power of Vulnerability - I think this was one of the first TED Talks I ever watched and I still find it the most inspiring - it’s the one I refer back to when I’m having a confidence crisis and I recommend it to friends and family on a regular basis.
Success, Failure and the Drive to Keep Creating by Elizabeth Gilbert - Gilbert explains how despite six years of failure to get published, she kept at it, eventually going on to write Eat, Pray, Love and then how she overcome the idea of failing again after achieving success, which can be just destructive.
Simon Sinek: How Great Leaders Inspire Action - an incredibly interesting look at how iconic leaders have motivated people to either work with them or follow them. Think Steve Jobs and Martin Luther King.
Angela Lee Duckworth: The Power of Passion and Perseverance - I love this video, because contrary to what school or university might have told you, you do not need to be the brightest spark in the room to succeed!
LISTEN TO:
How I Fail by Elizabeth Day - English author and journalist, Elizabeth Day interviews successful women about their failures and how they overcame them. A great reminder that the most successful people have at many times in their lives experienced failure.
Elizabeth Gilbert: Magic Lessons - yes, sometimes when I need inspiration I’ll eat, sleep and think about words by Gilbert ;) this podcast is an extension of Big Magic. It’s a few years old now, but if you haven’t listened to it, I urge you to as she tackles a different creative arena each episode with someone who’s trying to overcome their creative block and then interviews someone who is a success in that field.
How I Built This with Guy Raz by NPR - the fascinating behind the scenes stories of some of the worlds most successful brands.
Oprah’s Super Soul Conversation - heart to heart conversations with the likes of Julia Roberts, Tina Turner and author of Wild, Cheryl Strayed. Powerful.
I’d love to know who and what inspires you to stay motivated - please leave a comment below!
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