Inspiration

I really enjoy certain posts, blogs and emails from thought leaders who put forth insightful ideas worth pondering and developing. One weekly email I receive is from James Clear, best-selling author of Atomic Habits. He includes interesting quotes from other sources that inspire and motivate his readers with principles and practices that make for a productive, meaningful life.

The Reality

In a recent email, he quoted Chuck Close, and American artist, who said, “The advice I like to give young artists, or really anybody who’ll listen to me, is not to wait around for inspiration. Inspiration is for amateurs; the rest of us just show up and get to work. If you wait around for the clouds to part and a bolt of lightning to strike you in the brain, you are not going to do an awful lot of work.”

This is reality—the reality we all know. We all have experienced the times when we had to just show up and get to work, without any motivation to do so. It’s not about waiting for a great emotional boost. It’s about doing what has to be done.

Professionalism

Getting into it without feeling it, is actually a sign that we aren’t amateurs. We are professionals who show up and do what we do to the best of our ability, regardless of how we feel.

It takes tenacity. It takes perseverance. It takes resilience. These traits are fundamental for a career in this profession. These are the characteristics that you possess and will allow you to thrive with meaning and passion.

Muscle

The next time you aren’t feeling it, remember that you aren’t an amateur. Strengthen the muscles of tenacity, perseverance and resilience to keep you moving along. Because feeling it is optional.