When Inspiration hits, do this

When you feel inspired, there’s a reason. It’s an intuitive hit saying pay attention, this is a bread crumb on the trail, see where this leads.

This morning, I was up at 5:15am, journaling (I’ve been getting up WAY earlier in the past two months since I stopped drinking alcohol) and I had Spotify music playing in the background. The song, “Sing, Sing, Sing” by Benny Goodman came on and stopped me from writing. My heart joyfully jumped to the beat of the drums and I instinctively started moving my shoulders to the rhythm. I closed my eyes and imagined myself being twirled, flipped and spun around a dance floor to the music. I continued visualizing that scene with a smile on my face for the next two minutes while the song played.

The visualization gave me a light, happy feeling. Suddenly a thought popped in my head, “Mercury Cafe,” a downtown Denver club that offers dance lessons. I hadn’t thought of it years.

“In order to make visualization a reality in the world form, you must be willing to do whatever it takes to make it happen.” — Wayne Dyer

With “Sing, Sing, Sing” playing on repeat in the background, I quickly googled Mercury Cafe on my phone and scrolled through their Lindy Hop, Swing, and Jazz dance classes. It looked like FUN! No surprise, they are currently closed with Covid-19 but I immediately signed up for the email list to be notified when classes open up. In the interim, I enrolled in SwingNights an online dance platform where they’re teaching a solo Charleston routine.

Dancing makes me happy, upbeat music makes me happy, and I’m intentional about saying YES to what makes me happy without needing to know all the details. I followed my inspiration, took immediate action and now I’m eagerly committed to taking dance classes.

The whole process took place in under 8 minutes. When inspiration hits, take a small action step. Don’t entertain thoughts of doubt, fear or past programming of why you CAN’T do something.

“Inaction breeds doubt and fear. Action breeds confidence and courage. If you want to conquer fear, do not sit home and think about it. Go out and get busy.” ―Dale Carnegie

Taking an immediate small action step is crucial because the fear-based ego likes to swoop in and take over when we explore things outside our comfort zone and courageously step into the unknown.

I don’t have swing dance shoes, I don’t know how long it will take me to learn the dances, I don’t know who my dance partner will be when live classes open but these unknowns will be divinely revealed. Right now, all I need is the deep knowing in my gut, the smile on my face when I visualize swing dancing, and the feeling of excitement of where this may lead.

When there’s excitement and joy present, it’s a SIGN. Go with it.

“Nobody cares if you can’t dance well. Just get up and dance. Great dancers are great because of their passion.”- Martha Graham

Keep you mind open and receptive for hits of inspiration. Inspiration can come from innumerable places: a song, a movie, something you read, something someone says, from nature, or an intuitive hit while while exercising, cooking, taking a shower,  gardening, making your bed, etc.

Pay attention to what inspires you. Acknowledge it. Follow it. Take the next SMALL step in that direction.

“You don’t have to see the whole staircase, just take the first step.” – Martin Luther King, Jr.

What inspires you? I’d love to know, share in the comments below.

Tapping my feet to the beat,

Devon