WOMEN: How do INSPIRATION and MOTIVATION enrich our lives?

Yesterday, I received message from the Alkamae blog that came from a TrackBack on my previous post WOMEN: The Way to Fearlessness. It was a thought-provoking message written by Susan Reid, asking us to consider Motivation or Inspiration: What's the Difference? It inspired me and I left motivated to explore these two concepts in my own life and what lessons they taught me that I might share with you.

What I realized immediately in contemplating this powerful question is that inspiration and motivation have been hallmarks of all I've accomplished, all I survived, all I shared with others. How about YOU? Each with their distinctions are like ribbons woven into and through my life, often showing up in different colors. I am imagining that if we could talk that many of you could probably tell stories from your lives that would say we shared this same experience----but what is the difference?

INSPIRATION and MOTIVATION
Which comes first?
How do these energies enrich our lives?

When I retrace my steps from almost any life experience, the happy ones and some sad ones, it seems inspiration always came first. Inspiration generates the stirrings that Susan Reid referred to in her message.

For me, inspiration always seems to come from some force outside me that sparks a stirring within me. The inspiration comes from beauty, tragedy, belief, achievement, wisdom of great thought-leaders, living examples, spiritual readings, just to name a few. It is the inspiration that lights the fire within.

Movitation, on the other hand, is the energy that moves---propels---lifts us into action to achieve, to overcome, to help others, to become more ourselves. As I think about these to powerful enablers, what comes to mind is that inspiration is the yin --- a force touching the heart --- and motivation the yang ---a force mobilizing us to respond. Yin and yang, stemming from the Book of Change (I-Ching), a book of wisdom, seem fitting as they represent two fundamental forces that create and harmonize the Universe by their interaction. 

Interestingly, I've always found that the motivation --- the move into action --- always fosters more inspiration and then more motivation, creating a contant perpetual cycle of spark and movement that creates an meaningful life.

Two favorite inspiration and motivational books:
These aren't new titles, but they are both timeless, wonderful books!!!
Mine are filled with post-its and yellow highlighter lines.
Everyday Sacred: A Women's Journey Home
Stretching Lessons: The Daring that Starts from Within

So, how do you put these forces to work in your life?
Search for what inspires you --- and motivation will follow.

Debbe

Debbe Kennedy
Founder, Global Dialogue Center
Home of Women in the Lead

Comments

[Susan]

Super, Debbe! You took what I wrote in my blog post about the differences between motivation and inspiration and synergized the two! I had not thought of them as two sides of the same coin--the yin and yang. Though how right you are! This has inspired me to write more on my blog site!

[Debbe Kennedy, Women in the Lead Inspiration BLOG]

Dear Susan and others following along with us,

Imagine how the world would be so different if we were willing to have these kinds of exchanges --- each of us open to look through the eyes of another, listening, seeking to understand, benefiting from the new insight of someone we don't know. We would find out we have much to learn from one another.

I think women, in particular, have an opportunity to lead the way in role modeling this kind of openness, don't you?
It comes easy by our nature.

Susan, thank you --- I too look forward to seeing where it takes you as you write...

Debbe

[Susan]

I agree, Debbe. I have so enjoyed the exchanges we have had on the subject of motivation and inspiration. Your insight has inspired me into deeper and greater knowing. Thank you!