Spring is a time of hope and new beginnings. Look around you. Birds are building nests. Flowers are blooming. People are getting outdoors and 
mowing, riding bikes or walking. It’s time to put away that heavy winter coat, break out of your routine, and reinvigorate your life.
In the Beginning
While routines are comfortable and may be perceived as being less risky, breaking out of your comfort zone opens the door to new opportunities in your life. So where do you start? How do you find the inspiration to try something new?
Begin by taking time to be curious about the world around you.
In Michael J. Gelb’s book, “How to Think like Leonardo da Vinci,” Gelb writes: “Great minds ask great questions. The questions that “engage our thought” on a daily basis reflect our life purpose and influence the quality of our lives. By cultivating a Da Vinci-like open, questing frame of mind, we broaden our universe and improve our ability to travel through it.”
He added that Leonardo’s insatiable curiosity, led to a life of continuous learning. “The desire to know, to learn, and to grow is the powerhouse of knowledge, wisdom, and discovery.”
Take the First Step
Gelb suggests the following ideas to get started on your new path of exploration.
- Keep a journal or notebook available and write down questions and thoughts to explore.
- Take time for reflection.
- Learn something new.
- Seek different perspectives.
- Read.
- Learn about different cultures or languages. Parlez Vous Francais?
- Get feedback from your friends.
OK. So not everyone can be the great artist and inventor Leonardo da Vinci. For the rest of us, there are other ways to find inspiration. Steve Tobak, a contributing writer for Entrepreneur magazine suggests the following:
- Brainstorm ideas – even the crazy ones – with friends you can trust.
- Drink caffeine (he really suggested this!)
- Turn off the electronics and social media and disconnect for a little while.
- Take a walk.
- Start a project that has nothing to do with work.
- Do something strenuous that will get your blood pumping and neurons firing.
- Sit out in nature.
- Participate in meditation to unblock your mind.
- Play with children or watch them play.
Too far away from nature to experience it or don’t like the bugs? Why not
watch nature shows on your local public broadcasting TV station? The website TinyBuddha.com offers multiple ways to open yourself up to new ideas, such as saying yes to something you’ve always said no to because you might be embarrassed. Join a meetup group; there is usually little to no cost involved. Volunteer to help a friend, someone in your neighborhood, or at your church or local non-profit. Bake cookies and share them. For more ways to make change happen visit: http://tinybuddha.com/blog/50-ways-to-open-your-world-to-new-possibilities/.
While taking that first step out of your routine can be a scary one, it’s well worth it if you are seeking a better life experience overall. Who knows? You may make a new friend or start a new hobby or even find a career you love!
If you would like to see your friend’s aura, have the person stand about 1 ½ feet away from you against a white or light colored wall. Soften your focus and look just past them about an inch away from the body. You should see a field of energy surrounding the person. To me it looks like shimmering heat, such as the steam that rises off of hot pavement. Ask yourself, “What color do I see? Show me the color.” While you may not “see” a color, you may receive an impression of a color in your mind. Once you do, look it up to see what it means: http://psychiclibrary.com/beyondBooks/aura-colors-and-meanings/
You can do the same thing with plants, animals, objects, even yourself.
If you would like to try seeing your own aura take the following steps:
- Find a comfortable place to sit with a nearby table.
- Place a piece of white paper on the table then rub your hands together over it.
- Hold your hands slightly apart (as if you are about to place them together in prayer).
- Look softly at the space between your hands for a few minutes. You should see an energy field surrounding each finger.
- Ask for guidance on the color or colors you “see.”