Many use motivation and inspiration interchangeably.
While motivation and inspiration have some aspects in common, they are not the same.
Inspiration and motivation are both driving forces to action but at two levels.
Motivation is more ego based or physical, while inspiration is more soul based or spiritual.
Inspiration is the cause of our motivation.
When we are inspired on the internal level, we may become motivated on the external level and do various things to fulfill ourselves internally.
If we are not fulfilled in one way, we may become motivated to take other routes until our soul finds its purpose and is satisfied.
In other words, we constantly renew our motivation because of our inspiration.
This renewal occurs when we are driven by our ego after being inspired.
If we were driven by our soul and heart, we would know the best route to take.
We would pursue our soul's purpose rather than our ego's purpose.
The ego plays tricks to trap us and prevent us from staying in-Spirit once we are inspired.
Highly motivated people may do things that are not inspiring at all.
That is why we may take action for a short while after being motivated by someone, but since we are not truly inspired, we do not pursue the action when the motivation has faded.
For instance, if I listen to a motivational speaker, I may become motivated to go to the gym, lose weight, and get fit.
I may do this for a while and lose some weight; however, when my motivation is ego based and on the external level, it loses its impact, I get bored with physical exercise and controlling my diet, and my ego returns me to my old habits.
On the other hand, when someone who is self-inspired, authentic, and connected inspires us, we feel happy and content.
We do not care how much we weigh or how we look.
We do not care what others think of us.
We just feel loved and surrounded by positive vibrations.
We feel light.
Real inspiration can last for a long time if we do not let our ego kick in and take it from us.
When we are truly inspired, we pursue our purpose no matter how difficult it looks.
We are not distracted by our ego and its short-term orders because we have a much higher purpose.
In sum, as Deepak Chopra said, "Instead of motivation, look for inspiration.
Inspiration comes from the same word as spirit.
When you are inspired, the spirit moves you.
" When spirit moves you, you will be spiritually empowered, and the result will be perfect for you.
You will also have the capacity to inspire others and help them be moved by the spirit as well.
So, do you prefer to motivate others or to inspire them?