But just like a spring rainbow, inspiration is often elusive to find and does not last long. Like striking a match head, inspiration flashes into existence with glorious light but quickly diminishes to a small flame.

Inspiration does not need to be such an elusive thing. There are ways to draw out inspiration and keep it alive. And you may find that not only does this inspiration last in you, but it can help inspire others too. Read on for 5 steps to creating inspiration.

Be passionate.

Just as a plant can not grow without soil, water, and sunshine, so to will inspiration fade without the first main ingredient: passion. Do you live and work in a place that is devoid of creativity, life, and joy? To find and keep inspiration you need to love what you are doing, and love where you are in life. If you are passionate about your job, inspiration will be easy to find and grow.

Have a purpose.

Inspiration is wasted without a purpose. Indeed, it will be hard to even find without this. You need to know what is is you want to achieve, and what you plan to get out of it, whether for you or for someone else. If you are passionate and have a purpose, inspiration is close behind.

What are your goals?

While you may think defining your goals is the first part of this process, you first need to have your passion and purpose. Once those are in place you can set a goal that is connected to your passion and purpose. This will make you more apt to achieving your goals, and making sure those goals are in line with what your purpose is.

Stoke the fires of inspiration.

With the foundation in place, you are now primed for stoking the flames of inspiration. We all find inspiration from different places. Some enjoy going for a quite walk along the beach, while others find inspiration from the busy hustle and bustle of a crowded urban street. Or perhaps a movie or a book inspire you. Others still find inspiration from those who lived before us. The Thomas Edison quote “Our greatest weakness lies in giving up. The most certain way to succeed is always to try just one more time,” inspires many to continue on even when their inspiration is at the lowest. Regardless of how you find inspiration, now that you have the foundation in place, you can start to stoke the flames.

Act!

Once inspiration has found you, seize upon it! Act immediately to tackle your goals, and don’t let up until you achieve it. If you were watching a movie when inspiration found you, get up and act! Doing nothing or delaying action when inspiration finds you is the surest way to kill it.

By following these steps, you can ensure that you find inspiration and you keep it. And you may even find your inspiration rubbing off on others.