Ten Keys To Unlock Your Life

Learn to Heal Inspiration Deficit Disorder

By Jonathan Ellerby, Ph.D.

It may be a sign of the times, but even the best of us are suffering from at least a bit of an inspiration deficit these days. From the nagging sense that “something is missing”, to a struggle with motivate or full blown feelings of being “stuck” in a job, relationship or bad habit, most of these modern symptoms take their root in a lack of inspiration –not feeling connected to who we truly are and what matters most.

There are ten common things that halt our process of change and keep us locked up in unwanted patterns, habits and situations. Fortunately, when a lock is made, it usually comes with a key. Here are ten keys to the most common traps along the path to balance and transformation.

Jonathan Ellerby, Ph.D., is the Spiritual Program Director for Canyon Ranch Health Resorts and author of Inspiration Deficit Disorder: The No Pill Prescription to End High Stress, Low Energy and Bad Habits. He is also writes the Practical Spirituality Blog on Beliefnet. These tips are adapted from the book.

You Are Perfectly Imperfect

Another simple key that can radically help any process of transformation and yet requires determination is to embrace the mindset that “good enough is good enough.” We live in an age of false standards and media driven ideas of what perfection looks like. TV shows and magazines portray images of ideal lives (and bodies) precisely because no one has such perfection. They know that if they offer a product to help us achieve that last boost towards finally being as healthy and happy as we can be, that we’ll take the bait every time. In the inner world, there is no perfect. There is only what is. We evolve, we grow, we are on track and off track, but it’s all a part of being fully human. Release the idea you need to be perfect for anyone. Make life about satisfaction, not striving; fulfillment, not perfection.

Know Love Is Empowering-But Not Always Pleasing

As we take steps towards finding balance and vitality in our lives, most of us will get locked behind an inaccurate idea of love and loving. Too often I hear people say that they don’t want to do what is best for themselves because they will hurt someone else’s feelings. Loving choices, for yourself and others, are to be empowering. They present the truth, with support and compassion, but they don’t protect people from facing what is real or from learning and maturing. When you take action out of love the intent is always empowerment and uplifting, the process may not always be fun, or pleasing to those around us.