There are times when we are stuck and just can’t get any ideas flowing in our minds. For me, today was one of those days, and to solve my dilemma I came across a neat article that jolted me with ideas and energy.

It also encouraged me to write my own list of ways I get inspired and get valuable thoughts flowing once again. Mitch Joel ‘s article, 6 Ways to Inject New Ways of Thinking Into Your Business lists some great ways to generate new ideas  for people for whom anything digital matters; if you own a business, it matters!Here are 5 Ways to Get Inspired:

1. Get Around Kids- I’m not telling you to get all Michael Jackson around kids but just observe how their actions exhibit their curiosity towards life. Whenever I seem to be stuck, I just observe my 18 month old nephew, Alex, and the way he interacts with simple objects and studies each and every small detail as he learns. Babies and kids are smarter than most initially assume, and that is exactly why these great finding were described in a recent Op-Ed article in the NY Times.
2. Sit on the Sidelines – Get outside, take a seat on the closest bench, and observe the world just as a baby would. Really get curious and try to get inspired by all the chaos that happens on the street; if you live in a city that is. After closely observing you may just get ideas on how to organize all the chaos that is happening in your life or business.
3. Take a Nap- Many problems can actually get solved while sleeping. Some of the greatest inventions were thought of when the great minds gave their brain some rest and let the kettle boil in their sleep with ideas. Just remember not to sleep your life away.
4. Read Fiction*- Reading all those business books can make you lose all your creative juices unless you are reading creatively written business books. Fiction allows us to fall in to a different world where you can be taken on an exciting journey. Most importantly, reading fiction will develop your creative thinking and empower you to think outside the box, which can come in very handy for other areas of life. Wizard of Oz, anyone?
5. Watch TED*- My parents, friends, books, internet, iPhone, and TED are on my list of people and things that transformed my life. TED (Technology, Entertainment, Design) conferences gives you the access to presentations from some of the greatest minds on this planet all for the unbeatable price of free. What makes TED a source of inspiration is that its topics are always fresh and different. When you are stuck, head over to TED and take just 18 minutes of your time to get new perspectives on life. Some of my favourite TED talks can be seen on my homepage slideshow after my whacky pictures.

Here are some TED talks that are sure to inspire you:

• School Kills Creativity by Sir Ken Robinson: Our school system definitely needs a revamp.
• Stroke of Insight by Jill Bolte: Life-changing story, period.
• Music and Passion by Benjamin Zander: Music can work wonders and get you to think differently.  

*Remixed from Mitch Joel’s great list.

What inspires you? Please Share.

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Thanks for visiting and keep in touch ~ Alex.