BellaOnline Forums Beauty and Self Inspiration Inspiration and motivation

What is the difference between to inspire and to motivate?

This is the 'chicken and the egg' scenario.

Your motivation will spring from your inspiration. Just think about the last time you read or saw something that inspired you to the point where you wanted to take some kind of action. The 'your wanting to take action' part was you being motivated by that experience to make a positive change.

Let's say for instance, that you've been wanting to run in the marathon for many years now but somehow you just never got around to doing anything about it (limited motivation).

Yet when you watch a marathon and see a physically disabled person achieve success in this event. His/her achievement strikes a cord - it inspires you. Why? Because that person's physical disability might well have presented him or her with far greater challenges and barriers than you, being non-disabled, could ever possibly encounter. That's the power of inspiration, or being inspired.

It is this inspiration that then motivates you to make that call, start your marathon training, stick with it, see it through and to succeed (whether you finish the course or not). While the initial inspiration might well not continue to inspire you from start to finish, the interesting thing about inspiration and motivation is, that the more you become motivated, the more inspired you get, and, visa versa.

If you feel inspired, you're more likely to inspire and motivate others. You can learn more about how to tap into your personal inspirational reservoir to self-motivate you in every aspect of your life, by visiting the link below.

I am as confused as I was earlier. Sorry.

The word "Inspire" is generally associated with the Divine or the Supernatural. I think of the word "Inspiration" which is so close to "In Spirit."

Anything can motivate.... fear, panic or anger can motivate you to make changes, just as excitement can.

But honestly, they are both used interchangeably. I personally see inspired as more related to the Divine (a positive influence), where motivated can be either by a positive or a negative influence.

Hope that helps!

Actually, the root origin of the word 'Inspire', is 'Inspirare' or to breathe in - see the Dictionary Link below....

http://www.askoxford.com/concise_oed/inspire?view=uk

It has no ready, obvious or immediate link to anything spiritual or supernatural.

Inspiration can come from any kind of influence...Artists and poets are 'inspired' bytheir surroundings, by a colourful sunset, or the swoosh of a woman's gown....
Motivation I would suppose, is driven by our own impulse or desire to achieve something.

From the latin 'Motivus' - To move.

Which is exactly why I personally see the word Inspire as related to the Divine. When we meditate and focus on our breathing we are more likely to be filled with Inspiration (which is another term for breathing). The Merriam Webster dictionary gave the defination of Inspire as being related to the Divine (or supernatural) possibly because of the connection of the Divine to the Breath. Just my thoughts <img src="/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

Ok, cool. Thanks for that!

Hinduism recognizes many connections between divinity and breathing.