Table of Contents
Introduction
How often do you feel truly inspired? Is inspiration something you may benefit from? What impact would elevated levels of inspiration induce in your life? Who could benefit from your inspiration? How do you tap into your inspiration? Why would you be interested in inspired ideas?
Inspiration can seem like an elusive concept at times. However, it can be highly influential for motivation. When you feel inspired, you can feel more motivated to act on this inspiration. I believe it is a transcendental sensation that can propel you into a flow state. Within which you can ideate more. Within which you can achieve more. Within which you can conjure your calling.
Throughout this article, I will explore some common questions regarding the synergy between inspiration and motivation. I will explore ways in which you can ignite these powerful resources. They are already within you. They are already around you. Inspiration is anywhere and everywhere. It is everything and anything that taps into your intuition, imagination, and motivation. Are you aware of what inspires you?
Are Inspiration and Motivation the Same?
Inspiration and motivation are quite distinctly different. Although they are closely related. It is the synergy of the two that can create magnificent works of music, art, poetry, and advancing innovations.
Often, I have seen the two terms used interchangeably. Despite this, there is a marked difference between the two terms. One can ignite your passion. The other can fuel you further. Both will take you far when tapped into.
What are your experiences of feeling truly inspired? How is your life impacted by your motivation? What does the synergy of the two mean for you?
The Difference Between Inspiration and Motivation
Inspiration is like a whisper in the wind that speaks to your inner essence. It sparks ideas. It promotes excitement. It can motivate you to take action. This can transcend you into a flow state where limits are fictitious. This flow state can feel almost like a dream. Everything can feel magnified. It is where possibilities are endless.
Motivation is the impetus to act. It can be driven by these inspired ideas that promote the flow state so many people seek. You can be motivated by your values, love, society, and rewards, to name a few. Sometimes it can be difficult to conjure. However, whoever and wherever you are, there are methods you can use to motivate yourself.
When you are motivated by something you internally hold dear, the drive is different to motivation for an external reward such as financial compensation for a task. Intrinsic motivation is linked to the value that you place on performing a task. Extrinsic motivation references what you will receive in return. This is the distinction between intrinsic and extrinsic motivation.
When you conjure your own inspired ideas, I believe this can elevate your motivation to complete the task. You will be working on your own creation. You will be working on something you place a higher value upon. When you are more invested in what you are working on, you will likely invest more time and effort.
However, everyone is wonderfully unique and different. Your motivation will depend on your individual preferences. I believe when you are more invested in the outcome, you will be more motivated to achieve results. Some people can be more motivated by external rewards. It is a personal preference. It depends on the value that you place on the reward.
When motivation and inspiration synergise, actual magic can occur. This synergy is another way to access your personal power. Your inner self can be energised into a transcendental flow state.
Examples of Motivation and Inspiration
An inspired idea may be your own. It could be to record a musical track. It could be to create a magnificent piece of artwork. It could be to develop a new initiative or product that will progress society. Inspiration will make you aware.
When you are working towards someone else’s inspired idea, you can still be inspired and invested wholly in the process. Again, this could be a new initiative or product. It could be someone else’s vision for reform. It could be a vision about promoting well-being. Your motivation will depend upon how much you value that idea. It will be about how invested you are in the project’s success.
How much you value the project’s success will propel your motivation. Have you ever experienced a time where you simply felt low energy and not enthused about what you were undertaking? It may be a project at work. It may be creating a meal you are not excited about. It could be a relationship that you are not invested in. When you do not value what you are working toward, this will impact the amount of energy you are willing to invest in it.
You may well be motivated by external rewards. You may persevere with a tedious task and exude maximum effort because you value the reward on offer. This is how payment by results works. The reward will need to be sufficiently valuable for you.
How motivated you are will depend on you. It will depend on what value you place on the task’s success. This could be an internal or external reward that you value.
An internal motivator could be passion, achievement, or pride. External motivators could be money, avoiding penalties, or seeking positive reinforcement. Everyone is wonderfully different.
How to Find Inspiration and Motivation
Inspiration can be found in anything that you value. Anything that evokes a heightened sensation of excitement. Anything that ignites those sparks of inspired ideas. Anything that transcends your psyche. Anything inspiring awe. Anything you find wondrous. Anything profound to you. It can be anything and everything.
It is everywhere. It is within you. It is your intuition. Your inner self will know where to seek it.
It can be around you. It can be in nature, interactions, or architecture. It is yours to discover.
It can be anything and everything. It is personal to you. As it is personal to you, the promising news is you cannot get it wrong.
For this article, I will reference mindful awareness as a way to access your inspiration. There are multiple differences between mindfulness and awareness. However, I will refer here to cultivating mindful awareness. When I refer to mindful awareness, I reference an enhanced state of awareness. One where you can compassionately assess yourself, your circumstances, and your surroundings. Where you can intentionally analyse these in heightened detail without judgment. Where you can focus on the present moment for maximum benefit. The more you practice cultivating this mindful awareness, the more adept at it you will become.
To find your inspiration you will benefit from exercising mindful awareness of your environment. Try focusing your senses on your surroundings as much as possible. What is visible to you? Look in intense detail at your environment, down to the tiniest marks on a single leaf. What can you hear? Really listen to all the sounds surrounding you, including those leaves rustling in the breeze. What do you feel? How strong is the breeze? What is the climate like? Are there any scents or aromas when you focus? Some smell rain. Can you taste anything? Developing heightened awareness of your environment, scenery, and interactions is powerful for igniting inspiration. After all, inspiration can strike anywhere, at any time.
You will also benefit from developing heightened awareness of your inner self. You may choose to meditate on this. What thoughts dominate your mind today? How are these impacting your emotions? What does it physically feel like to experience these emotions? How are your thoughts and emotions supporting you? Your emotions and thoughts have an influential impact on your behaviours. Your behaviours have an impact on how you will think and feel in the future. Keeping a journal of your thoughts, feelings, and behaviours can be quite the revealing practice. It could ignite your inspiration. Self-reflection is a remarkable practice.
Once you are more connected with your inner self, you will develop elevated self-trust. Once you trust yourself you can trust your intuition. Your intuition can spark those inspired ideas. Mindful awareness is about being deeply observant of yourself and your environment.
You can ignite your motivation in many ways. Set a spark in your abdomen to achieve. Find what works for you. Everyone is wonderfully different.
Maintaining a comprehensive self-care routine will be your ally. Keeping active, caring for what you consume, and ensuring a sufficient sleep schedule will support you in maintaining your physical, mental, and emotional well-being. This will in turn support you to be more observant of your inner self. Your inner self can communicate your needs and wants. You can deeply assess your environment.
You can benefit from finding your own motivational rituals that you can perform to give yourself a boost when you feel low energy. This may be meditating or listening to affirmations. It may be journaling or reading. It may be taking a walk or run in nature. It is about finding out what works for you. What will you benefit from? What will you enjoy doing?
Focusing on your values and goals can also spark that motivational fuse. Firstly, and most importantly, consider why you are doing something. Keep this in mind throughout your process. It can be your biggest motivator for times when you feel low energy. Some people create vision boards as a constant visual reminder. What will you gain from it? How will it impact your life? Who will it affect? When and where will you be once you have achieved it?
Action can promote momentum. Momentum can escalate motivation. If you act now, you can achieve sooner.
Give yourself the gift of motivation. Find out what promotes your energy levels when you need it. Act on it to gain momentum. Momentum will breed more action. More action will spark more success.
The Synergy of Inspiration and Motivation
You won’t always need to be inspired to be motivated. You can access your own motivation at any time with these simple strategies. That mentioned there is a synergy between the two.
I believe inspiration will positively impact your motivation. Then vice versa. Once you experience the elation of inspiration, this will likely propel you to conjure more. Think of inspiration as an intoxicating idea you receive aloft a magnificent mountain overlooking the world below. Consider motivation as the impetus you will need to ascend this mountain’s lofty height. Inspiration could even be ascending into space surrounded by the marvels of the universe. Motivation could be the fuel to make that flight. They are interacting with each other. Action can evoke inspired ideas.
Inspiration or motivation, which do you believe comes first? I believe it will be dependent upon the wonderfully unique individual that you are. However, inspiration will require some stimulus. That stimulation could be observing your inner self and the wondrous world around you. Or the stimulus could be the action and momentum you achieved from your motivation. This will depend on you. I think that will depend on your wonderfully unique self and your circumstances. You could benefit from both at different moments in your life.
What I do believe is that inspiration is a positive and transcendental state. It can promote the elusive flow state so many seek. It can prompt innovations that advance societies. It can influence magnificent pieces of artwork. It can stimulate musicians to produce timeless pieces that will embrace your essence and that of generations yet to be. I believe inspiration is a powerful force that can change the world.
Quotes of Inspiration and Motivation For Success
Many people consider affirmations, words, or quotes inspirational. There is no shortage of inspirational humans throughout history who have proclaimed these words. You just need to do an internet search to discover them.
Words of inspiration and motivation can change your mindset significantly. I believe this is why affirmations and guided meditations can be so powerful. Breathing deeply and soothing yourself while listening to affirmations can impact your beliefs. They can rewire your neural pathways that may have defaulted from past experiences. This can change your mindset. It can change your life.
These defaulted neural pathways may include beliefs about yourself, your abilities, and your potential. How would these impact your ability to achieve? Could such beliefs set you up with the highest chance of success? How significant do you believe words of inspiration and motivation can be?
Conclusion
Inspiration and motivation are distinctly different. Despite this, they are closely related. They share a synergy that can surge you toward your success. They can promote the power of creation. They feel good. They reward well. They are accessible to all.
To find your inspiration and motivation, you will need to focus on what you, yourself, need. Everyone will need different elements at different times. Your inner self will be the guiding light to what you need. You are the authority on you. Your intuition is powerful. You are powerful. Tap into your intuition to find inspiration. Make the choice to motivate yourself. Gain momentum from action to achieve what you value and want.
While I still offer limited life coaching services, I am focusing on content writing and creation. If you want support with either of these services, please message me or visit my website Home | Chloe Mepham BSc Certified Life Coach for more information. If you like what you have read here, I have a blog here, Blog | Chloe Mepham BSc Certified Life Coach where you can read more about personal development. I wish you an inspired moment, month and lifetime.
References
Ackerman, C. A. MA. (June 4, 2018) What is Self-Transcendence? Definition and 6 Examples (+PDF) PositivePsychology.com What is Self-Transcendence? Definition and 6 Examples (+PDF)
Cherry, K. MSED (December 13, 2023) Intrinsic Vs Extrinsic Motivation: What’s the Difference? verywellmind Intrinsic vs. Extrinsic Motivation: What's the Difference?
Kellot, T. (May 16, 2024) Motivation vs. Inspiration: Key Differences Explained scienceofmind.org Motivation vs. Inspiration: Key Differences Explained
Mars, E. (March 25, 2024) What’s the Difference Between Mindfulness and Awareness scientificorigin.com What's The Difference Between Mindfulness And Awareness?
Sutton, J. Ph.D. (9 April 2019) What is Mindfulness? Meaning, Definition & Benefits positivepsychology.com What Is Mindfulness? Meaning, Definition & Benefits
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