Inspiration vs motivation
“Inspiration comes forth from within. It’s what the light burning within you is about, as opposed to motivation, which is about thinking if you don’t do it, there will be negative repercussions. Motivation is about making myself do something that I don’t really want to do. Inspiration is having the clear picture of what I am wanting and letting universal forces come into play to get the outcome.” - Esther Hicks
This article was provided by Alistair Horscroft
Procrastination seems to be one of the biggest problems that people experience. There is an entire industry (namely the personal development industry) focused almost entirely on attempting to address this problem, helping people get clear on their goals and then motivating them via all manner of coercion to achieve them.
Guilt, irritation, shame, self sabotage, stress, the fear of not reaching ones potential, anger at self, beating oneself up, right path/wrong path thinking, etc, all accompany the so called unmotivated individual.
The problem is that most attempts, both calculated (as in sales) and well meaning (coaching/pep talk) to help motivate others will most likely cause more problems than solutions.
Why? This is because unless the ‘helper’ is doing nothing else than helping the other listen only to their own inner voice/knowing, they will be teaching them (yet again) that some external force knows better and what is right for their own self (which of course it never can be).
In doing so, the individual attempts to motivate themselves by comparison to something external, which is normally rooted in self worth issues and a lack of connection to the self, which only leads the individual further and further from their own personal inspiration that is a direct and personal relationship with life.
Any ‘middle man’, as it where, will just confuse the signal.
One of two things can happen when you find yourself procrastinating, or seeking to motivate yourself. You will motivate yourself with head talk and force yourself to do something that most likely does not feel particularly good.
Alternatively, you can end up waiting (aka procrastinating) until you feel inspired from within to do it.
The first (motivation) will take a substantial effort and it will end up in a fleeting, addictive type high, followed by a down, which will feel like a pat on the back and will leave you wanting.
The second (inspiration) takes courage and will leave you feeling genuinely good, uplifting, absorbing, purposeful and of course inspired!
Personally it’s been a journey of many years for me to learn how to live from inspiration.
My experience of working on TV in the UK sticks out in my mind. I was rising fast as the new personal development star in the UK, with book deals on the table, new TV shows in the pipeline and major media coverage pretty much every day.
However, it didn’t inspire me. I felt inspired to live in Australia instead. There was fear that I ‘should’ stay in the UK, as it was what ‘everybody wanted’ - fame, fortune and credibility, so I tried to motivate myself to stay with relentless head talk and ‘shoulds’.
But it just felt better when I thought about Australia, so I took a deep breath and left the ‘personality’ lifestyle, much to the amazement of all, and in just eight weeks I was once again an unknown town, living in Byron Bay, driving a VW combi and making furniture for a living!!
But the relief of leaving the personality circus and the delight of being in Australia was of course the inspired choice.
After a period of clarifying my true passions within the personal development industry, I began teaching full time and created The Mind Institute.
This time around, with no ‘shoulds’ but because I wanted to do it.
Again, I find myself (as will you) moving into new areas with new inspirations, perhaps bashing your head against what you ‘should do’. Outdated ideas and projects that are motivated by living up to some ideal set by someone else, or perhaps doing what you feel you should or ought to be doing in the hope of fantasy rewards at the end of the ‘hard slog’.
It takes courage to live free and in the flow of your own calling - but the reward is extraordinary.
I believe that the word inspiration originally means to be filled with life/God/spirit. What better way to live?
Understanding the experience of motivation.
1. Is there a feeling of urgency and fear that if I don’t take action I’ll lose out on the reward?
2. Are you focused on the outcome of your performance?
3. Do you find yourself comparing your performance to others?
4. Are you concerned about what other people might think of you if you don’t meet the stated goal?
5. Do you experience jerky energy… times when you are bursting forward and other times when you stall out?
6. Do you “should on yourself?” Do you ever say, “I know I should be
working on that project, but ...”
7. Do you waste a lot of time feeling guilty?
8. Do you achieve goals and then wonder what the point of it was?
9. Do you sometimes feel like you have to wear a mask or recite a
script to be what others think you should be?
10. Does fear keep you from taking risks or speaking the truth?
Understanding the experience of inspiration
1. Do you feel a strong sense of purpose and clarity?
2. Do you start the day with intent, finding yourself eager and excited to face the challenges that lie ahead?
3. Do you believe in your potential and the value of your contribution?
4. Do you know that you have something unique to offer the world and are open to discover new ways to continue contributing wherever you show up?
5. Do you avoid comparing yourself with others and know that your path is unique to you?
6. Do you revel in the process, not getting caught up in outcomes or payoffs, seeing them more as just the icing on the cake?
7. Do you love doing things for the joy of doing them?
8. Do you take the time to be reflective about your life path and who you are becoming?
9. Do you check in with yourself to ensure that you actually feel good?
10. Do people know what you stand for?
11. Do you have simple and nourishing principles by which you live?
12. Are you filled with appreciation for the endless opportunities and gifts of life?
13. Are you fully alive?
I am searching webcam chat tips on google so i found your post so this is a very interesting find indeed. I will have to check it out when I get the time though. Thanks for the nice tips.
Vinyl Wall Stickers