Motivation vs. Inspiration

Philippines
March 19, 2010 2:32pm CST
Although these two words are sometimes interchanged, do you think there is a difference between the two? For me, motivation is the drive to do a task while inspiration is something that makes you interested and want to do the task. I sometimes find myself full of inspiration, like tons of it, to do certain things but I just don't find the motivation to do them. Do you find the same true with motivation and inspiration? Or do you think they are just the same? Do share your opinions, I'd love to hear them. Have a great day!
5 responses
• Philippines
20 Mar 10
Hello EnslinPorter, I think you got a point in here. Though this two words are very similar I think there is still a difference. Some times we have a lot of inspiration to do things, I think this more of a emotional feeling. Like we can be inspired to do something because our love one is also doing it or we want to please someone. While motivation is the drive to do the work. Yes we can be inspired to do something because of the love one, but are we motivated enough to do it. For example, posting in Mylot. We have the inspiration to do this, like we do this to practice our writing skills, earn some money and in the end spend the hard earned money with our loved ones. But our motivation is low, because of the low quality of discussion that we find here, or maybe we are too tired to spend time in front of the computer. Or our motivation is high because its fun posting here, we learn from the different discussion and we get along with other members. I hope I was able to say what I mean, and you were able to understand it. haha
• Philippines
20 Mar 10
Thanks for sharing thos really nice insights red_amethyst! I actually joined myLot some years ago but left due to my busy schedule. I also found that some discussions during that time were not really my cup of tea. I just got back this March and I find that there are many discussions of my liking. I have posted so many within this month that I think took me two months or more in the past. I'm pretty sure I'm having fun right now that before.
1 person likes this
• Philippines
20 Mar 10
Oh, good thing you understand what I mean. and it's pretty good that you are already enjoying the discussions here. wish you more luck and success here.
• Estonia
19 Mar 10
Well, my point of view is something similar to yours. I also find that motivation is the one that makes us do something unpleasant or unwanted. Inspiration is something that gives us new ideas and ways to do something, it's related to creativity, creative work. Motivation is associated with any other work that you wouldn't do voluntarily. That's my opinion.
• Philippines
20 Mar 10
Those are nice points, especially that motivation makes us do work that we don't really want to do but just have to do, while inspiration is related to one's creativity. Thanks for repsonding and sharing your opinion. Have a nice day!
• Estonia
23 Mar 10
Thanks for awarding me BR!
@clocks123 (1225)
• United States
20 Mar 10
motivation is something i have to get myself to do. Inspiration is something i want to do whether i get it from another person or within myself.
• India
31 Mar 10
i have no special talents. i am only passionately curious
8 May 10
There's a HUGE difference.... It's more about what comes first. In my opinion... you become INSPIRED... and when you're inspired... you become motivated to do something with your newfound inspiration. Now you can be motivated, TO INSPIRE as well... but there's also a difference to being the CAUSE or THE EFFECT. It's easy to get inspired.... but hard to motivate yourself to do things.... and honestly... no one can help you with that but yourself. It just depends on what really matters to you. I've found that the more I get off my Azz and do for myself... the more proud of myself I become and I feel a strong sense of SELF WORTH. Hopefully this can do something for someone... I left some loose ends for open discussion in the future.