Motivation

A friend of mine once asked me to blog about motivation and I have to admit, I had some trouble getting motivated about the subject :).

Then, it hit me. It has to do with semantics! Motivation feels like too much work, like you have to push yourself to do something. Simply put, it doesn’t sound like any fun.

Inspiration, on the other hand, sounds like a lot more fun! It feels light and free-flowing, as though you are being carried along on the wind, caught up in the excitement.

It isn’t just about the terminology, though. Inspiration comes from a different source than motivation. It comes from a sense of joy and excitement (even if in moderation) instead of a sense of duty.

What if you don’t feel inspired, or joyful, or excited about a task you need or want to do? No problem! Sometimes inspiration will fall from the sky, but more often than not, you have to seek it out. Ask yourself what you can do to make the task more inspiring. Make sure you are open to the idea of enjoying the task too. Inspiration won’t come to you if you resist it.

Here are some of the things that help me get inspired:

• An idea that will make a positive difference in someone’s life. I got inspired to write this blog post once I realized how helpful it would be to share the concept of inspiration with all of you.

• A challenge of some kind. That could be pursuing a desirable goal, learning a new skill, expanding my comfort zone, solving a problem, etc.

• A great opportunity—involving people, places, things, or experiences.

• A cause that I believe in.

• Imagining how it will look or feel when the task is done. (That is my go-to for housework.)

• Figuring out a way to make the process itself more enjoyable (e.g. new techniques, more creative approach, adding companionship, music, rewards, breaks, etc.).

As you can see, you can often find inspiration in a task just by looking at it in a way that makes it more appealing.

The next time you want to get something done, forget about getting motivated. Instead, get inspired! You’ll enjoy it a whole lot more!