MOTIVATION AND INSPIRATION

The words Motivation and Inspiration have been freely used by many people, more often, without knowing the difference between the two.  Just like the confusion people have between Marketing and Sales, there remains a confusion between Motivation and Inspiration for many.  For many ,Marketing and Sales are one and the same and similarly, for many, Motivation and Inspiration are one and the same.

At some stage or other, everyone needs a motivation and/or inspiration.  Both are different.  Motivation is ignited from an External Source and Inspiration comes from within.  Motivation is Temporary and Inspiration is a Permanent Process.  The triggering point for these two are different.  In many cases both are required to achieve success. 

Though there are many differences between these two, it is important to know atleast the basic differences to have a better understanding of these words. 

Inspiration means something that you have seen or heard from someone who has been in similar situation like you and have moved forward successfully.  This moves you internally.  Even a successful tale of someone who had faced similar situation will inspire you.  The impact and effect of Inspiration is long lasting.  Whenever you hear any success story or speech of successful person who came out from similar situation like yours, you feel connected immediately. Inspiration is a force which pulls us to do something, to achieve our goals.

Inspiration alone cannot make us do the things we are supposed to do.  Despite having inspiration, people still fall into laziness which prevents them from carrying out what they are supposed to do.  In this case, there is a need for something to push them and that is precisely the Motivation.  Motivation comes from hearing positive speeches or videos.  It is temporary and it will last only for sometime. 

There are very few, who have the ability to self-motivate and convert it into an inspiration. Both motivation and inspiration are a mental state of mind.   How you approach your life and the complexities that come with it determines one’s state of mind.

The first step towards bringing in stability, clarity and control of your mind is to realize that there are no problems in life.  We only have situations.  All situations are temporary, both good and bad.  The actions or inactions extend the duration of a situation. 

Very often, we find people who get offended easily.  Most of them resort to doing things that would either please others or would avoid criticism of others.  Their consciousness about others prevents them from doing the work in their own way   or the way in which it is supposed to be done.  The best way for such people is to keep remembering the phrase “SO WHAT”.

SO WHAT is a very powerful phrase that helps, one, maintain their originality and a stable mind.  Any criticism or appreciation from any one should be dealt with SO WHAT.  One neither gets carried away with the appreciation or gets upset over a criticism. 

Though there are many such tips one can find in the internet and books, the above two have been very useful to the author and to those to whom this was suggested.  When one is able to see everything as only situations and also have a stable mind, they rarely require motivation or inspiration to pick themselves up; as they are never down or out.

(The above article was written for publication in Feb. 2019 issue of PRINCE'S VOICE - my Community eMagazine.)