My Blog

Inspiration can be defined as

• someone or something that gives you ideas for doing something;
• a sudden good idea;
• someone that people admire and want to be like.

It originates from Latin, ”to breathe in”, or literally to take your breath away.

Put another way, it can be seen as a nudge in a new direction when you feel stuck or stale. I suggest that we all feel like that at some point. I’d like to share some examples of inspiration, both receiving and giving, that I hope, in turn, will inspire you.

This morning, I began the day feeling very grateful. I can drive again following my recent eye surgery, so having a meeting at venue 27 miles away was progress. First, I had to resist the attention of my new kitten who sat on my lap as I drank my cup of tea in bed whilst I checked the routes and the weather.  He hasn’t grasped that sometimes I need to move now I am officially fit to work. ‘Homes Under the Hammer’ and other daytime television programmes, are no longer part of proceedings!

My meeting was with a company that need a book-keeper, using software that I am familiar with. It means a day a week I can be at my desk and still have the flexibility for my main passion for my professional speaking and my other roles too.  Thank you to CCF Accountants for their recommendation.

Yet as I drove, feelings of self-doubt began to cloud my mind. I began to delve for reasons why I could not do this role. I began to be so focused on negative thoughts that I even missed the correct turn off for the hotel both from the motorway and even the car park.  I normally pride myself on directions, especially somewhere I know.

As I parked, I was rehearsing ways to decline the job offer. Before I got out, I checked my emails and opened Emma J Bell’s Thought for the week:

“And above all things, never think that you’re not good enough yourself. A man should never think that. My belief is that in life people will take you at your own reckoning.”

― Isaac Asimov

We won’t go down the gender route … this served as a perfectly timed kick back to my usually positive self! This reminded me of a message I often share that the athlete Sally Gunnell OBE speaks of. She calls her ‘negative, internal voice’ a duck, because when it quacks away, she can tell it to ‘shut the duck up’!

I walked into the hotel shaking my head at myself and began the much more constructive process of ‘can do’ thoughts. Once in the meeting and being shown a new account on a package I know, my ‘duck’ took flight. I admitted that there were some processes that I have not used and was informed that ‘we would prefer to go from a point of honesty rather than skill’.  We now have a timescale and working schedule ahead with an induction process I feel confident with. The initial learning fills me with excitement rather than dread!

With a sense of achievement and the freedom to be mobile again, I decided to treat myself to lunch at Bent’s garden centre. I love spring flowers and my partner usually treats me to some instead of roses for Valentine’s Day. The bedding plants last so much longer and so does the ‘thought’. I do have 35 geraniums due as a free gift from Saga Insurance (sign of advancing years!) as well, so I made do with a bunch of daffodils today as a treat to myself.

As I sat in the restaurant I reflected upon the morning and acknowledged what a great mood I was in. After two months of eye drops, pain killers, etc. I felt that my New Year started today. I have my energy back, a list of things to do and a determination to do them!

One of the reasons that I am pleased about this new job, one day a week, is that it now means that I will be able to replace my trusted, bright yellow Punto, that has been my car for over 6 years. It has recently passed its MOT with a verbal comment that ‘it is tired’.  Motivation, ‘a reason or reasons for acting or behaving in a particular way’, is also important. It’s the ‘why’ we do things.

Another story that has inspired me, is one by another athlete, Mary Peters. Part of the inspiration and motivation of winning Olympic medals was to put a hook up once in the accommodation of the Games. It helped to know that it was ‘waiting’ for the medal. When I was told that story and asked ‘if you had a hook, what would you hang on it’, my reply was ‘keys for a Mother and Baby Unit named after me’. I would love that as a legacy. I know that being separated from my son in his early months was detrimental to us both and why we must have more specialist units.

Currently, my hook would have the keys of a new car on them! Watch this space.

I want to keep the feeling I had this afternoon and I know that mood fluctuation is inevitable. So, how can I get a reminder? I spotted the solar-powered sheep (in the top photograph) and bought her for my courtyard. I mean, life isn’t complete without one, is it?

Every time I come home or look out of my kitchen window, I will see her – even in the dark. It will be a reminder that

‘Ewe can be your own motivation and inspiration, if you read the signs from others’.

I got back in my car and checked messages and social media. This flashed up from #LailaAliInspires

I then took a call on behalf on Mike Coote, for whom I still do some PA work. It was someone who said they were ‘stuck’ and felt they needed someone to help them. Although they knew Mike from years ago, they had seen his posts on Social Media many times and thought them useful. I know how tenacious he is about sending birthday wishes and ensuring he puts something ‘out there’ every day. I know he feels energised by the contact made today, and that, in turn will inspire him to ‘keep on keeping on’. When we show we appreciate the actions of others, it has a circular effect.

Last week, when I had the pleasure of speaking to ladies at an event organised by Sue France, held at the Chester Grosvenor hotel. I appreciated some wonderful messages to say how I had been inspirational. For example,

‘Yesterday I attended a great event run by Sue France. The main speaker Elaine Hanzak, shared her story and The Importance of self-care. There was a silence in the room that showed the resonance people felt and the realisation that a shift in focus was probably well over due for many listeners.

I’ve certainly been guilty in the past of running myself into the ground. As many of you know I’ve had my own wake up calls. But along the way there are probably many warning flags, trying to catch your attention.

Each night as you undoubtedly re-charge your phone ask yourself what you could do to re-charge yourself. It’s never too late to make another choice and build new habits.’

Thank you to all those who inspire me.

So what can you do to inspire yourself and others?

Ask yourself what can you

• Stop
• Start
• Continue

that enables you to do this? Or I should I say ‘Ewe’?!

Elaine 🙂