You never know where a spark of inspiration will come from.  Sometimes you get it from a quote or a story; other times it might come from a question …

The truth is that sources of inspiration are always there for you.  The question is whether you are looking for them or notice them when they show up.

Here's a source that I value for its practical wisdom and insights. 

"Today Is Your Day to Win" is a series of 99 daily lessons, delivered by e-mail. On more than a few occasions, it brought me a message right when I needed it.

It is written by Mike Brescia of Think Right Now, and it doesn't cost a cent.  Of course, to get the benefit, you will have to invest some time and mental cycles to consider the content.

Here is a sample from one of the messages.

Good Things Will Come To Me When I  …

——————————
 Today's Empowering Quote
——————————

"The best preparation for good work tomorrow is good work today."
     –Elbert Hubbard

——————————
 Today's Empowering Question
——————————     

 "What can I do now that will prepare me for tomorrow?"

——————————  
 Today's Fast Session 
——————————

Often the most frustrating thing that any of us feel on a regular basis is to want something really bad, and not be able to get it right away.

Yes, it's frustrating.  But it's usually not realistic, is it? …

It's getting so that it's increasingly rare to find people who are truly willing to put in the requisite time necessary to get the traits or items they want.  Our world today is trying to teach us that we must get what we want immediately; that it's our right.  And that's why so many of us are jealous, smoke or drink, are overweight, use drugs, etc. …

Life is NOT like school.

In school, you can trick yourself into thinking you're doing great if you cram for exams and get decent scores. It is possible to get fairly good grades for a while that way.

But you don't learn it.  You're likely to just remember it until the exam is over… maybe.

That's why new college graduates often find it difficult to find a decent paying job.  Companies like successful work experience.  In college, you can fool the system and yourself.  In the professional world and in most other areas of life, it's a lot tougher.  Almost impossible.

Real life is truly like a farm.

On the farm, you must move the rocks, buy seeds and all the other stuff, plant the seeds, buy and maintain the equipment, pull weeds, keep the pests away, water the crops, buy and sell the animals, feed them, nurse the sick ones back to health, fertilize, etc.  And you need to keep up with it all everyday…

Or you won't have a crop at the end of the season.

Life is like this, too.  Just like a farm, you can't "cram" in life.  Don't be fooled.  Don't believe the lies that others want you to believe.  You want to believe it. I know you do.  But think.

The people who have the things you want earned them.  And don't believe they just got lucky.  Luck takes work. 

Put the effort in today and you'll get luckier and luckier.  Will it be immediately?  Probably not.  Beat this into your head… Anything worth having takes time to get it.

When I'm tempted to believe that I should have something (before I've earned it), I think of my grandparents.

They owned a farm.

And I realize that life can be long and that I can't put tomorrow before today.

Then I look at my goal, put my shoulder down and keep going…

With a smile on my face.

——————————
Today's Winning Beliefs
——————————

— I'm at peace with my responsibilities.
— I'm preparing myself for tomorrow today.

Here is a link to the complete archive of lessons.

Let me know if you found other sources of inspiration worth sharing.

Related articles

• Quotes to Make You Think: 2010 Collected Quotes (ezrasf.com)
• Do you believe in luck? (successful-blog.com)
• Are You Successful? (thinktq.com)