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Motivation vs Inspiration: What is the difference between motivation and inspiration? Both these words are used interchangeably. The most valuable purpose of either of these is to find us the energy required to reach our goals and dreams. With their purposes being so similar, we see why these words are used interchangeably. In this article, we will talk about 3 key differences between motivation and inspiration. And ultimately, we will need to answer the question -do you want to be motivated or inspired?

Differences between motivation and inspiration

At a thematic level motivation vs inspiration talks about the differences between external and internal forces. For argument, I’ll call motivation external and inspiration internal. Inspiration is an inherent trait that has a connection to the purpose and vision of our lives. It is an intangible force that helps us create our dreams and passions.

Motivation on the other hand is more finite and associated with definite purposes. It could be to achieve a specific goal or an outcome. I’d classify motivation as a feeder goal that serves the wishes of inspiration. Most importantly, motivation needs constant nurture, a source of food to keep going.

Definition of Motivation

Motivation is defined as a reason, a driving factor for realising your desires and goals. Our culture, role models, books, etc influence this force. That’s why we constantly say – be very careful about choosing your role models. They influence you more than you think. The most common usage of Motivation is the energy and drive of a person to do something. It is connected to a purpose that drives an action/outcome(Source)

What is Motivation?

Motivation is usually driven by external factors or reasons. These reasons can be as simple as losing weight, achieving career success etc. Most commonly, motivation is driven by an external source or a goal. The best way to use your motivation is to cleverly break down your dreams into goals and constantly keep yourself motivated. In other words, you can break down large goals into milestones and use your motivation from smaller successes to drive your overarching dream.

Motivation however is predictable, sometimes you know that a certain type of book or quote can fill you with energy. Since the source of motivation is known – it can be a dependable resource for you to champion your goals.

How long does Motivation last?

Motivation resides in short spurts. Sometimes, these short spurts can be seconds and some other – years. However, they are tangible in terms of time. You can always find a clear purpose for this motivation and the source of motivation keeps changing. For instance, your goals empower your motivation. Once you achieve some success, it motivates you to reach a bigger goal. As you can see, motivation is a journey from one goal to another.

This in in-fact the beauty of motivation. If you can use this cleverly, you can break down your dreams into tangible goals and milestones. Use the energy from one success to another to build a story of success and passion for your life.

Definition of inspiration

Inspiration is defined as the process or the act of being mentally stimulated to do something. Your drive/initiative is the fire that determines your inspiration. Who you are as a person defines your inspiration. Your personality and character create a natural force or sense of purpose that enables you to do something.

What is inspiration?

Inspiration is internal! Your mindset, personality and character define your inspirational journey. Inspiration is a natural phenomenon that gives you a sense of energy to do something. Sometimes, it is even hard to explain why you are doing something. Most times, we see inspiration as creative work. Inspiration is free from all barriers and boundaries. It is an internal force or fire within that needs nurturing.

One of the key differences between motivation and inspiration is that inspiration is self-fulfilling. It is a beautiful example of a sustainable cycle with no easy way to identify the source. On the flip side, inspiration is a bit unreliable since you cannot summon it as and when you need it.

How long does inspiration last?

Inspiration tends to be slightly more long-term than motivation. It has a way of coming in flashes and unexpected ways to stay with you. Your personality and character define your inspiration. Inspiration is a long-term force compared To motivation. Although they sound similar, there are subtle differences. Anything internally driven is a powerful influencer. You don’t have to depend on the external environment to create this. The magic is within!

In other words, who you are as a person and the values, you stand for define your inspiration. Hence it is very important to create a vision for your personal life to tie together the inspiration and motivation models.

Motivation Vs Inspiration – table of differences

In summary, motivation vs inspiration can be shown in 3 key points as below.