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Why Inspiration Matters
The role of inspiration
It opens us to new possibilities by allowing us to go beyond our ordinary experiences and limitations. Inspiration propels a person from apathy to possibility and transforms the way we perceive our own capabilities.
And the good news is that it can be activated, captured, and manipulated, and it has a major effect on important life outcomes.
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Key Ideas
Curiosity leads us to generate alternatives
When our curiosity is triggered, we are less likely to fall prey to confirmation bias (looking for information that supports our beliefs rather than for evidence suggesting we are ...
Curiosity and innovation
Encouraging people to be curious generates workplace improvements.
When we are curious, we view tough situations more creatively. Studies have found that curiosity is associated with less defensive reactions to stress and less aggressive reactions to provocation.
Reduced group conflict
Curiosity encourages members of a group to put themselves in one another’s shoes and take an interest in one another’s ideas rather than focus only on their own perspective.
Thus, conflicts are less heated, and groups achieve better results.
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Key Ideas
Belonging To A group
Quickest way to add meaning to your life is to see your group of people more often.
Not part of a group? Join one. No groups to join? Start one. It’s as easy as texting people to...
Give Your Work A Purpose
It is less about what you do and more about how you see what you do.
Qualities a purpose needs:
- It's a stable and far-reaching goal. You need something that motivates you and that you can organize your actions around.
- It involves a contribution to the world. It makes a difference in the lives of people who don’t happen to be you.
Craft Your Story
You have a story you tell yourself about your life — whether you realize it or not.
A trend in the stories that people with meaningful lives tell themselves - redemption stories: the tellers move from suffering to salvation — they experience a negative event followed by a positive event that resulted from the negative event and therefore gives their suffering some meaning.
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Key Ideas
Awe brings perspective
Each of us is the protagonist of our own life. Our goals feel like the most important thing in our world.
But every now and then, a moment of awe challenges our understanding of the world...
Defining Awe
Awe is an emotional response to being in the presence of something greater than yourself, and that exceeds current knowledge structures.
Awe is a positive emotion and has a broadening effect on our thoughts and actions.
Awe-inducing stimuli
Feelings of awe have historically been recorded when individuals encounter contact with a "higher" power.
In modern times, the main triggers of awe are philosophical ones such as literature, music, paintings, and nature. Examples include natural wonders or events such as childbirth.