7 Cool Things that Inspire Me – What Inspires You?

Everyone needs inspiration in life. Finding what inspires you renews your energy, drive, and a sense of purpose. 

So what excites you?

In this article, I will tell you what inspires me to keep going. And where you can look for new inspiration.

So let’s dive in!

7 Things that inspire me

Many things inspire me to keep going in life. But here are the seven things that inspire me the most:

1. Wisdom
2. Freedom
3. Growth
4. Ambition
5. Experiences
6. Humility
7. Self-control

#1: Wisdom

Knowledge inspires me to keep going.

And fortunately, you can get your hands on wisdom in many different forms today: books, podcasts, blogs, YouTube interviews, and documentaries, to name a few.

It’s eye-opening to get insights from some of the most brilliant people. And you can find wisdom from all walks of life: from entrepreneurship to general tips on how to live better.

Here are some of my favorite books:

• 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen Covey
• How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie
• Awaken the Giant Within by Tony Robbins
• Mastery by Robert Greene

These also happen to be the books that I read many times over. And they keep inspiring me every time I do so.

#2: Freedom

The most common one people think of is financial freedom. And being able to do whatever you want to do – at any time you want to – certainly inspires me.

But it’s not just about financial freedom.

Another kind that inspires me is mental freedom.

That simply means setting yourself free from suffering. 

While you will always experience suffering to some degree, most of it is self-created. In other words: you can learn to let go of your future worries, troubling past, and unrealistic expectations.

Does that idea inspire you? Then I highly recommend you pick up one of the following books:

• The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle
• The Art of Happiness by the Dalai Lama
• The Daily Stoic by Ryan Holiday

These books may change your life if you’ve never read anything yet about the topic of suffering.

#3: Growth

Learning new things inspires me deeply. That’s why I try to learn something every day, whether it’s a new skill, a personal insight, or general knowledge about the world.

Besides inspiring, It’s also fun to learn.

Don’t you think so too?

Perhaps you believe that learning is boring after school. But the trick is to find a topic that interests you. Start there.

Here are some ways to find enjoyable things to learn about:

• Browse through the categories on Udemy and pick a course on a topic that you would like to learn more about.
• Browse the book section of Amazon, zoom in on the most exciting categories, and choose one or two books to read.
• Go to Youtube, type in “documentary”, and sort by “view count”. Then, scroll through these documentaries to see what topics inspire you. You can also browse the category section of documentaries on any premium platform you use.

The first step in learning is to find joy in it. So don’t worry about picking what you think is correct, but rather, select the topics that interest you the most.

#4: Ambition

People with ambition, often entrepreneurs, deeply inspire me to pursue my dreams and desires.

Why?

Because I love people that take charge of their life and don’t let circumstances dictate their future. Especially those that take personal responsibility and don’t blame or complain.

Ambition makes things happen in your life – and the world.

Here are some simple steps to get started:

1. First, learn about yourself and what you like.
2. Set a purpose and intention for your life.
3. And then set goals to create a clear plan.

These steps seem simple but may prove more challenging. That said, imperfect action is the way to mastery.

#5: Experiences

Experiences inspire me much more than things.

I would rather spend my money on a good adventure than on an expensive car. Because so far, my travels have proven invaluable to me.

How can you get more experience?

• Try something new this week, like a hobby or sport.
• Save up for a big trip and travel for a month or longer.
• Or plan a weekend trip away to a new place.
• But also think about simple experiences like learning.

Experience doesn’t have to cost you a lot of money or time. For example, walk somewhere you’ve never been before.

Of course, if you want to get a lot of experience in the shortest amount of time, I know that traveling can do precisely that.

And trust me, experiences are worth your time and money.

#6: Humility

Humility is one of the character traits that inspire me the most – especially from leaders.

Why leaders?

When you grow and rise to the top, humility becomes more difficult because you have more power.

But if you’re someone people look up to – and many people fall in this category in some way – humbleness is crucial. It sets an inspiring example for others.

Nonetheless, you can already set the example today. 

And here’s how:

• Stay respectful towards everyone.
• Spend time listening to others.
• Be grateful for what you have.
• Ask for feedback.

If you can stay humble along the way, you will inspire others too.

#7: Self-control

Finally, self-control inspires me.

You know, the ability to control yourself in various situations:

• Remaining calm under pressure.
• Staying disciplined in tempting situations.
• And simply doing what you say you’re going to do.

It sounds so simple – but self-control is challenging.

And that’s why mastering the ability to control yourself in various situations inspires me a lot.

How to figure out what inspires you in life?

So far, you’ve learned about seven things that inspire me. And perhaps, that already gave you some inspiration too.

But if not, how can you find what inspires you?

• Journal about the ideas and thoughts you come across. Do this often, and you will discover inspiring things.
• Read different kinds of books in various categories – both fiction and non-fiction. After reading different books, I would be surprised if you wouldn’t find something inspiring.
• Nature inspires people. So get into it more often. I like to bring a journal and go on a long nature walk. 
• Experiment with different skills, hobbies, sports, cooking recipes, etc. Try things you wouldn’t normally do.
• Learn more about the things you enjoy. And become curious to learn more about the world and life in general.
• People that you surround yourself with make a difference. So find some inspiring people that you enjoy being around.

These six ways can already help you today to find what inspires you.

But what if things don’t inspire you as much, then what?

If not what – then who inspires you?

People may inspire you more than things. And if that’s the case, you may be able to find what inspires you through the people that inspire you the most. 

Here are some people that inspire me and why:

• Gary Vaynerchuk is a successful entrepreneur who inspires me through pushing empathy, humility, and self-awareness.
• Elon Musk is one of the best innovators who inspire me through his ambitious goals, actions, and achievements.
• Leonardo Da Vinci is one of the famous names from the Renaissance. And his ability to master various skills and combine them to create beautiful things inspires me.

While there are many more people that inspire me from all walks of life, the vital question is:

Who inspires you?

Once you find people that inspire you, try to understand why they do. Dig a bit to learn why and you may discover the things that inspire you the most.

What’s next?

Finding what inspires you rekindles your inner fire. 

Key takeaways include:

• Trial-and-error. Read, learn, and experiment with different ideas and things – and have fun when you do.
• Find inspiring people: Who inspires you? And what makes them so inspiring? Then learn everything about them or the philosophy that makes them so inspiring.
• Listen to positive voices: Listening to empowering ideas that resonate often helps you to stay consistent.

Consider the following resources for more personal growth:

• Best books about finding your life’s purpose
• The best personality tests to take (free and paid options)
• Top 5 online strengths assessments to find your hidden talents

Do you want more inspiration to unlock your full potential and live a fulfilling life? Sign up below for weekly updates with insights and strategies to become your own hero.