Liz Strauss at Successful Blog

Thinking, writing, business ideas … You’re only a stranger once.

October 2, 2008

What Do You Do When People Say You’re Inspring?

ME Liz Strauss wrote this at 7:03 am

I've been thinking . . .

about what how inspiring you are.

I heard someone say that you’re inspiring. I saw you value the words and the person who said them. You were so taken by the compliment that you didn’t know what to do.

I think you’re inspiring too.

So I’m writing this for you and all of you who inspire me. Would you listen to what I mean by that?

In spire means to breathe.
I don’t know your struggles well, but I know you’ve faced them down, and you’re still breathing. That alone is inspiring. Add that you’re fun and easy and it’s meta-inspirational. You motivate me to think I can blast through my own struggles and come out smiling.

In other words, you make my breathing easier.
Isn’t that what inspiration means?

So please know . . .

When I say, “You’re inspiring,” I’m saying . . .

“You motivate me to keep going, doing the next thing, to keep breathing, to keep knowing that I’ll get there.”

What do you do when people say you’re inspiring?

Smile, breathe it in, and say ‘thank you,” with gusto to reinforce a positive change in the world. Glow more each time someone says you’re inspiring. So that more folks wonder who you are.

Smile. Breathe. Glow. Then . . .

Inspire everyone you can to inspire someone else down the line.

Get the whole world breathing again, right along with you.

What do you do keep inspired? Who inspires you?

Liz's Signature

PS If you’re thinking this is about you, it is.


Filed under Motivation/Inspiration, Successful Blog |



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29 Comments to “What Do You Do When People Say You’re Inspring?”

  1. October 2nd, 2008 at 7:36 am
    Jamie Grove - How Not To Write said

    I find most of my inspiration in the lives of people who are already dead. They tend to be more predictable. :)

    Seriously though, I take inspiration from the people who send me emails about their writing. It makes me feel like the work I do on my site is more than just a place to beat the crap out of myself.

  2. October 2nd, 2008 at 7:48 am
    Soultravelers3 said

    I love inspiring people, I love to be inspired and I love to inspire!!

    We get so many comments on how we inspire others by our open ended trip around the world as a family.

    I love your idea of passing the inspiration around!! Life is inspiring…there is really no other way to do it.

  3. October 2nd, 2008 at 7:57 am
    Stephen Hopson said

    First of all, my dear Liz, congrats on appearing on Problogger this morning. Nice to see your face and comments about how to get readers to comment.

    And secondly, I never heard of ins pire defined that way. Brilliant.

    I’ve had people tell me I inspire them a lot and I always appreciate it. I believe all of us are on a mission to inspire each other. Isn’t that why we’re here?

  4. October 2nd, 2008 at 8:37 am
    Charlie Gilkey said

    I’m glad you wrote this and that I read it today. People often tell me that I inspire them and that I give off positivity, and I never really know how to take it. I normally reply with either a very timid “thank you” or “I’m glad to have helped you,” but I’ve never quite said it through and through sincerely and with gusto - maybe because I don’t want to seem cocky. (Not sure about that one, but I need to work it out.)

    I love this: “You motivate me to keep going, doing the next thing, to keep breathing, to keep knowing that I’ll get there.” I can smile and be proud of that when I translate it for those I work with and inspire.

  5. October 2nd, 2008 at 8:39 am
    Karin H. said

    In spire means to breathe.

    If I’m inspired I feel I get more room/ease to breathe - a worry is lifted from my shoulders/life.
    So if I can take a worry away from someone else I’m inspiring?

    Sound so wonderfully simple, great and inspiring.
    Let’s breathe!

    Karin H. (Keep It Simple Sweetheart, specially in business)

  6. October 2nd, 2008 at 9:26 am
    ME Liz Strauss said

    Hi Jamie,
    Got a point about predictability, though. :)

    I know exactly what you mean. It was an email exchange that inspired me to write this post. :)

  7. October 2nd, 2008 at 9:28 am
    ME Liz Strauss said

    Hi Soultravelrs3,
    Sounds like you like to inspire and be inspired as much as you like to breathe. :)

    What you say is so . . . life is filled with opportunities to be filled with inspiration — like oxygen. We just need to breathe it in. :)

  8. October 2nd, 2008 at 9:29 am
    ME Liz Strauss said

    Hi Stephen,
    On a mission to inspire each other. Yeah. What a great way to say it. Thanks for that. :)

    Brilliant back!

  9. October 2nd, 2008 at 9:32 am
    ME Liz Strauss said

    Hi Charlie!
    Welcome and thank you so much for your comment. You make me see the network of inspiration that we have going. Sometimes I think too little, sometimes I think too much, every once in a while I hit the right amount. Glad you caught one of those. :)

  10. October 2nd, 2008 at 9:33 am
    ME Liz Strauss said

    Hi Karin,
    I think most things are wonderfully simple. We just complicate them.

    Yeah, breathe!

  11. October 2nd, 2008 at 10:13 am
    SpaceAgeSage -- Lori said

    I’m inspired by caring people, by those who rise above adversity, and by truly artistic types who show their passion with a fire that ignites.

    Lori

  12. October 2nd, 2008 at 10:54 am
    ME Liz Strauss said

    Hi Lori!
    The way you put your words together always gets me thinking and smiling at the same time. How do you do that? Wow!

  13. October 2nd, 2008 at 11:31 am
    Cath Lawson said

    Hi Liz - well you’re definitely inspiring. Your blog and ebook have motivated me heaps and my community has grown because of them.

    The Internet is wonderful - no matter how much shit you have on your plate - even when you’re just trying to keep your head above water, you can always find someone who’s been through the same thing and survived.

  14. October 2nd, 2008 at 11:46 am
    Glenda Watson Hyatt said

    Thank you for your wisdom, my friend.

  15. October 2nd, 2008 at 11:58 am
    ME Liz Strauss said

    Hi Cath!
    You’ve given more than you ever might have gotten. I know. I know. :)

  16. October 2nd, 2008 at 11:59 am
    ME Liz Strauss said

    Glenda,
    Always friends. Always inspired and inspiring. :)

  17. October 2nd, 2008 at 12:20 pm
    Todd Smith said

    Thanks, Liz.

    The way you bring people together to discuss inspires me.

    I love to inspire and be inspired too. What do I do when someone says my photos are inspiring? Good question. “Thanks,” is usually what comes to mind. But, you know–it’s inspiring when someone takes the time to say that. It makes me want to do something nice for them.

  18. October 2nd, 2008 at 1:01 pm
    Richard Reeve said

    It’s great to see you digging into the language to uncover meaning. The poet Charles Olson called this activity being “an archeologist of the morning.”

  19. October 2nd, 2008 at 1:57 pm
    Amy Derby said

    Love the open letter Liz.

    You inspire me. Other writers inspire me. Even a few lawyers inspire me. (Shh.. don’t tell!)

    I think we all inspire each other. If not, we’re doing it wrong…

    What do I do to keep inspired? Read a lot. Always meet new people. Try to remember to breathe. Not necessarily in that order. :-)

  20. October 2nd, 2008 at 7:34 pm
    ME Liz Strauss said

    Hi Todd,
    I have the same reaction when someone takes the time to say something’s inspiring. I want to be inspiring again. It’s inherently inspiring to hear that!

    Thank you for telling me what you see. Your comments mean much.

  21. October 2nd, 2008 at 7:50 pm
    ME Liz Strauss said

    Hi Richard Reeve,
    I’ve never heard that phrase before. Thank you for bringing it to me. :)

  22. October 2nd, 2008 at 7:51 pm
    ME Liz Strauss said

    Hi Amy,
    I so enjoy having you around visiting with your observations. You keep me thinking and inspire me in new ways. Keep doing that. :)

  23. October 3rd, 2008 at 7:53 am
    Ravi said

    Gaining back the trust (not talking about love) of people who (once) had no choice but to just give me up.

  24. October 3rd, 2008 at 12:01 pm
    SpaceAgeSage -- Lori said

    Liz — what nice words about my writing! Thank you!

    Every where I go online and hear about how to create online conversations, how to connect with readers or customers, and how to lead a community, and I think, “Sheesh, these people need to read Liz’s stuff for awhile and then they will get it.” Your posts have inspired me to be a better writer, blogger, and commenter.
    Thanks!

  25. October 4th, 2008 at 4:15 am
    Suzie Cheel said

    Thanks Liz for raising this. I often get the comment: Thanks for inspiring me, why do I feel so surprised especially when one of my missions is to inspire.
    is this another question of self worth? Am I worthy of this?

    interesting

  26. October 4th, 2008 at 9:00 am
    ME Liz Strauss said

    Hi Ravi,
    I’m still here. You’re still welcome. Don’t think for a second you’ll ever be a stranger. :)

  27. October 4th, 2008 at 9:06 am
    ME Liz Strauss said

    Hi Lori,
    When I see people talking about writing online, mostly I see people analyzing the metrics — using their head. Talking to people head to head passes along information with a certain connection, but if we really want that connection to resonate we need to telegraph ourselves as well — put our heart and our experience in the package. Head, heart, and meaning all together make a vibrant connection.

  28. October 4th, 2008 at 9:10 am
    ME Liz Strauss said

    Hi Suzie,
    I’m finding that if I ask myself “How can I make this about the other person?” almost every situation solves itself in a natural and abundant way. :)

  29. October 5th, 2008 at 8:08 am
    A Little Early October Weekend Link Love | Freelance Writing Jobs said

    [...] What Do You Do When People Say You’re Inspiringheh at Successful Blog [...]

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