Find your own spark

Rutendo Gwatidzo, Changing Perspectives

Ignite your inner flame and find your own spark.  We are in a world where you find almost everyone dealing with their own issues and challenges at different levels.

If you wait for someone to bring you joy, you may find yourself waiting forever.

I believe that almost everyone has been there, stuck in a routine, feeling uninspired and wondering where the joy went.

Some feel stuck in their daily work routine, others are stuck in their relationships and some probably feel stuck where they are in life. Whichever way you probably feel stuck, the situation can be so boring and unbearable sometimes.

Sadly, others end up sick suffering from different types of chronic diseases like high blood pressure, stress, mental disorder or anxiety just to mention a few.

Life can become boring and painful if you are not intentional about finding joy. I believe that the same way we search for opportunities and green pastures; we have to search for joy.

One of the common challenges in many organisations is that of having uninspired teams who are already tried to take up new challenges. This is probably the same reason why a good number of organisations are no longer creative and progressive.

Some employees are tired of chasing expectations that seem to push away further from them the more they chase. Some employees have passions that have taken a back seat and when they go to work, they only do so to get a salary not necessarily to achieve goals or to make a difference.

For some reason, in most cases you probably find employees waiting for their managers to bring them solutions to challenges they may be facing.

In as much as the mangers can contribute towards finding solutions, employees need to understand that managers are equally human and have their own issues to deal with also.

It takes both managers and employees to make a difference in an organisation and yes everyone has a part to play towards bringing the desired change.  You are the change that you have been waiting for, you are the joy that you long for and yes, you have what it takes to make the difference.

The moment you probably feel stuck in your boring and monotonous work routine, is probably the same moment you need to think of creative ways to make a difference.

Surely, you need to be deliberate about it especially because work time may get to occupy the greater part of your time in life.

If you allow boredom to dominate, you may find yourself losing relevance in what you do. The sad part of it is that irrelevant people eventually get replaced either directly or indirectly.

There is a spark that lies within each and every one of us, a wellspring of enthusiasm and creativity just waiting to be ignited.

This spark is a collection of joys and it is easy to find if you are intentional about it. Some of the ways to rekindle inner spark are given below.

Focus

On the journey of life, many unplanned things can come along and they require you to deal with. In as much as you need to give attention to it all, do not forget to keep focusing on the goal of the moment. Avoid putting undue pressure on yourself trying to find grand purpose. Learn to celebrate small wins and as you progress, your spark will naturally begin to glow brighter.

Connect with others

Humans are social creatures and sharing our passions with others can be credibly fulfilling. Join groups of people with similar interests as yours. Surround yourself with positive and inspiring people who can spark new ideas and reignite your zeal for life every now and then.

Do not be afraid to experiment

Finding your spark is a journey not a destination. There are no one size fits all kind of approach when it comes to what brings joy at a given period. Do not be afraid to try new things, you may positively surprise yourself with what you discover. Be inspired to find different ways to view the world and to express yourself. Train yourself to have fun in what you do.

Embrace curiosity

Take yourself back to childhood and think of what used to capture your attention in a positive way. Rekindling that curiosity can be a powerful tool to ignite your spark.

There are many ways to finding joy in what you do, I just mentioned a few based on what works for me and some of the people I have interacted with.

Remember, your spark is unique to you, it is not necessarily about following what others do. My encouragement to you is to find ways that bring you joy and ignite fire within. Be challenged to take a deep breath now and to step outside your boring routine and embrace the adventure of finding your own spark.

 Rutendo Gwatidzo is the managing consultant at The HUB HR Consultancy – as a culture and change management specialist. She is a multi-award winning leader, consultant, speaker and coach. She is also author of “Born to Fight” and “Breaking the Silence” books. Feedback: 0714575805/ [email protected] / Rutendo Gwatidzo_Official fb public page.