In a world obsessed by evaluation, measurement and comparison, we must find the time and create a space to be inspired. We’re constantly being scrutinized and judged from every direction.

Looking back at all of the tests that I took throughout primary school and at college, each time my knowledge and intelligence was being evaluated; after that came job interviews and the constant fight for approval from my bosses and peers.

Evaluation isn’t always deliberate either. People judge each other in a matter of seconds, based on their physical appearance, their  facial expression, their style or lack of, and the clothes they’re wearing (just to name a few things). It’s so fast and so automatic you don’t even notice it, and yet, first impressions guide us and stay with us more than you’d be comfortable acknowledging.

While we might spend a substantial amount of our time in the pursuit of acceptance, that should not be our only concern. Inspiration has a huge influence on productivity and creativity — inspired people are more intrinsically motivated, they’re no longer striving for money or resources, but for a transcendent vision.

Let's become more inspired to do greater!

To  start, let's set aside time to do something new and be creative, it doesn’t matter what it is —  create a piece of art, watch a biography, read a book from a new genre — just don’t keep doing the same thing. Step outside of your comfort zone! Take notes when you do find inspiration, keep a file and review your notes later, you can make use of apps such as Pinterest or Evernote; while seeking out inspiration doesn’t often work, you can use material that have inspired you in the past to give you a boost.

Lastly, let down your guard, openness to experience is an essential condition to inspiration. We’re always filtering out the things around us that don’t require our attention, try to take in everything around you even if it’s not important, gain a sense of awe and wonder about the world, let your senses explore and be curious about everything.

Let's make time to get inspired!

Be sure to stop by and tell us about your journey!

Young people agreed that you are more likely to influence their life path if you possess the following six qualities:

1. You are Supportive By far, the most important role of a mentor is to support and encourage young people, particularly as they struggle to overcome obstacles and solve problems. When young people feel down, upset with their families, or unhappy in their life situations, mentors are beside them, letting them talk about anything and reminding them of their innate value.

2. You are an Active Listener Mentors listen first and speak last.  Many teens mentioned how little they feel listened to by most adults. Often, they feel inferior even when they have good ideas. But mentors are different. They always listen, even when they are not obligated to do so.

3. You Push -- Just Enough As parents can attest, most teens don’t respond well to being pushed out of their comfort zones, particularly within families. But teens really like to have high expectations set for them – both academically and personally. They appreciate when mentors push them beyond what they may have imagined they could accomplish. In fact, this is likely the reason why mentored youth from disadvantaged backgrounds are twice as likely to attend college.   

4. You Have Authentic Interest in Youth as Individual Teens can tell the difference between adults who are authentically interested in them as individuals and those who are just playing a role. Mentors engage youth to understand all aspects of their lives and interests. They value young people’s ideas and honor their changing feelings and moods.

5. You Foster Self Decision-Making Good mentors don’t judge young people or impose their own beliefs on them. Instead they remind teens who they are and help them believe they have the insights to make good choices. Knowing they are not being judged helps young people think through decisions critically, sifting through the deeper values that will inform the adults they become.

6. You Lend Perspective Adult mentors provide perspective to young people from their additional years of life experience. When obstacles seem overwhelming, mentors help put those challenges in perspective. They also help young people see both sides of a situation, helping model the skills of positive skepticism.

What other qualities make good mentors for young people? How can we provide mentoring relationships to all teens? Please share your insights and experiences.