“Personal Growth Graffiti” To Make Inspiration Stick

Have you noticed that those fleeting moments of inspiration don’t always stick?

A single well-timed line or conversation might inspire you to get out there and tackle your problems head-on. But all that excitement can quickly dissolve in the face of the daily grind.

So when those moments of inspiration come…capture them and don’t let them go! One of the ways you can do that is through creating “Personal Growth Graffiti” for your space.

Personal Growth Graffiti: Capturing Inspiration

A while back I was coaching one of my Thriving Leaders Circle members. We were talking about what she wanted to do, how she wanted to be, and how she would remember a few key commitments.

I asked, “When you leave inspirational notes to yourself, where do you put them?”

I was thinking she would tell me about whiteboards or post-its on her laptop. Instead, she explained that her office has glass walls that she can write on. She often does her planning, strategizing, and yes, inspirational notes on those glass walls.

She called those inspirational notes, “Personal Growth Graffiti.”

The phrase was so perfect that it left me speechless for a moment. I’d never heard it before and it just stuck with me like glue.

We tend to see taking notes as a “task” or “chore” reminiscent of school or work. Consider for a moment, how many times have you jotted down notes, only to never look at them again?

“Graffiti,” on the other hand, carries the connotation of artistic self-expression on a grand scale.

That’s what we’re doing when we capture the moments of inspiration that come our way. Creating reminders for yourself isn’t a chore; it’s a form of self-expression. You’re choosing to remind yourself of what you want to do and who you want to be, by curating the ideas and moments that inspire you.

Your “Graffiti Wall”: Ideas for Creating Your Own

Since then, I’ve been more intentional about my own Personal Growth Graffiti.

While I don’t have glass walls in my office, I have four whiteboards and I always have at least one or two post-its on my laptop and monitor. But after a while, they tend to just become background noise.

So I’ve cleaned up those spaces to show just the essentials. Want to hear some of what’s on my Personal Growth Graffiti walls?

“Everything is Figureoutable.” This is a quote from Marie Forleo and the title of her book. I was deeply inspired by her optimistic, can-do perspective and this note helps me remember that I’ve survived 100% of my tough days so far.
“I don’t need to have all the answers.” As a coach, this mindset is essential. If you’ve been a reader for a while, you know well my enthusiasm for the coach approach to leadership. When you help people find their own answers, their commitment will skyrocket. It’s so easy to get caught up in adding value that we don’t give people a chance to be the hero of their own story.
A “Big Rocks” list for the quarter, both professional and personal. The idea here is to stay focused on the most important things (the big rocks) and the small stuff (the little rocks) will work themselves out. In contrast, if we focus on the small stuff, life crowds out the Big Rocks—the truly important priorities.
“Enthusiasm,” which is my business word of the year. I know that when I’m excited about how I serve others, that enthusiasm is infectious.
“Ease and Flow,” which is my personal word (phrase) of the year. Sometimes I try way too hard to make things work out and that effort to control often has the opposite effect. In my decades on this planet, I’ve learned that my personal life works way better when I loosen my grip.

There’s some other stuff posted, but it’s more mundane and not as inspirational. The five bits of Personal Growth Graffiti I listed above help keep me focused and optimistic. They help me be a better coach, a better partner, a better daughter, sister, and friend.

Putting It Into Practice

I know you’ve got some Personal Growth Graffiti around you right now! This week, make your own list of 5 things that inspire you and bring out the best in you. Write them down somewhere clearly visible—whether that’s on walls, whiteboards, post-its, or something else.

Here are a few prompts to help you get started:

What is a phrase, quote, or maybe even a song that reminds you of the kind of person you want to be?
What are some big goals that you’ve set for yourself?
When you’re struggling or working through a tough challenge, what cheers you up and helps you focus on the positive?
What is a core value you feel called to focus on?
What is a thought that you are reframing?
What is a habit that you’re trying to either stop or start?

These prompts are just starting points to get your thoughts rolling; you may already know what you want to include in your Personal Growth Graffiti.

If you’re open to share, let me know what you post around you to stay inspired and focused.