Motivated vs. Inspired

I was clearing out some old files of coach training materials the other day and tossing and organizing years of information.
Every now and then something would catch my eye and I would read it before I tossed it.
One of the articles was about the difference between being inspired and being motivated.
This is actually pretty interesting distinction.
When we are motivated, we are relying on some force or impetus that comes from outside of us to propel or push or prod us into action.
One of the motivators we use is fear of a possible outcome. In this category we might use the rising numbers on the scale as a motivator to decline the second piece of cake.
Or, we might use the possibility of being pointed at in a business meeting as motivation to make another cold call.
Anther motivator is pressure to complete something before a consequence arises. These could be looked at as “Shoulds” in our lives. I should get the bills paid today or I will have late fee, I should be on time for work so I don’t get in hot water with the boss, I should….well, I think you get the idea.
Motivation says, “Do this or else..” “Do this and get that.”
The other principle is that of being inspired to accomplish something. Inspirations says, “I can do this and I want to.” “This moves me.”
Inspiration is a force that draws us forward just by its desirability and attractiveness. It comes from who we really are and what we want for ourselves.
The things we are inspired to achieve are generally the things we look forward to every day and that happen easily and naturally. We step into the flow of their realization and enjoy the process.
Sometimes we do need to motivate ourselves to do something that we don’t really enjoy doing, like paying the bills on time; however, we can actually re-frame some of these chores to make them more inspiring in the way that we do them.
Step back and take a look at your daily schedule of activities. Which of them require motivation, or the kick from behind to accomplish? Is there any way you can redesign them to feel like they inspire you?
What would need to be different in order for them to feel inspiring to you?
Perhaps designing and environment that facilitates their happening. Like setting a comforting, warm cup of tea next to Quicken or your checkbook. Maybe just experiencing a moment of gratitude that you have the money this month to pay all the bills. Setting a different mood with music, or the way you dress or the part of the activity you focus on. Also what you are learning as you tackle these less desirable activities.
Or that your body is healthy even if you do intend to shed a few pounds over the next few months.
What activities in your day planner feel inspiring? What makes them that way? How can you take the ingredients of ‘inspiring’ and impose it over your duties that require motivation?
Take each one and evaluate it for the feeling or action that is implicit in its getting accomplished.
What would make it an activity that is inspiring instead of needing motivation to complete? Motivation is difficult, inspiration is effortless.
While this may not be possible 100% of the time, it can be accomplished by creative problem solving or thinking.
Choose a couple things in your life that you feel you need to be motivated to complete and play with them.
See how you can either re-frame them, reinterpret them or redesign how you do them so that your life is more full of inspiring activities that don’t require motivation.

CLICK HERE TO RETURN TO ARTICLES