There will come times when you need that last push to achieve your greatest accomplishments yet in life. You will find out just how strong/capable you are in the face of a nearing defeat. We have to start to cancel the quitting culture and start to embrace the succeeding lifestyle. They say that quitting is the easy part, but staying in the game is where you will overcome your lesser self. I am not alone when I speak about wanting to quit, give up, or not even wanting to try because of the challenges ahead. That form of thinking will not get me to the places I want to be in life, so I make sure those thoughts hold no value in my mind. Each day, I make sure to aspire to be more than I was yesterday and to be a better person for tomorrow. In this week’s blog, I want to share with you my interpretation of how to stay motivated and become inspired in all you do so that you can start to grasp the life of your dreams.

Knowing that is what you want in life is going to be the first step to a newfound life. We have to find an energy source that will help us in reaching our goals. When  I started to look at inspiration vs. motivation as my propellant toward my dreams, my life started to change for the better. I wanted to know how to stay in the game when all odds were against me. I wanted to learn how to continue trekking forward even though I did not know what awaited me around the corner. Though I live a life filled with positivity and optimism, there is another key factor to my success. Those factors are how I inspire and motivate myself each day. I have spoken about motivation in the past, but comparing it to inspiration will be the blend that can keep the gears turning toward your goals.

The main difference between the two is in the definition of the terms. Inspiration is defined as the action or power of moving the intellect or emotions, influence or suggestion of opinion. You will find that inspiration is frequently used in the creation of something. Whether that creation is a business, a piece of art, or even an idea, there is some type of inspiration that had to take place for it to come about. In the sense of coaching, inspiration means an outside stimulus that drives direct action. If you are inspired to be a better person, then it is influenced by an outside factor. For example, you might be inspired to open up a candle company because you love the way candles make you feel. That inspiration to build/create something is what makes inspiration a powerful tool. Motivation, on the other hand, should be used differently.

The definition for motivation is a motivating force, stimulus, or influence: Incentive, Drive. As you can see, both of these words have some sort of influence over us, but motivation moves our minds differently than how inspiration would. As I said, the major difference is these two terms are what they do to the mind. Inspiration sparks the dream/imagination side of our thinking, while motivation acts as the fuel to push us forward. Once we are equipped for the journey, then we can start to make progress toward our goals. The problem I see with many of my clients is that they do not know what they want out of their life. I share with them the power of inspiration and how it can influence their minds toward the passions/goals they have.

The environments we grow up in greatly influence our life/growth. If we look at adulting, for example, if an adult is acting as a role model for a youth/person, what type of influence are they bringing to the child? The answer is they are an inspiration for the individual. That type of environment will be beneficial to any youth/person who learns/mimics it. That is because the role model shows them what is acceptable and what will come out of the specific chosen actions. Though there is no right or wrong way to live life per se, there is surely a benefit from learning from the inspiration that can be found around you. Whether that inspiration is a person or just a moment in time, inspiration can lead you to a higher purpose.

One of the main things I look for in all my inspiration is what I can learn from it. I read many books to remain inspired toward the growth of myself and my businesses. That type of inspiration has helped me take the proper actions toward the life I seek and to keep me on the routine that I set out for myself. I find that inspiration is a long-lasting effect that gives residuals even after the days/years have passed. Much can be gained by focusing on the inspirations for your life/growth. Knowing what I know about inspiration, I was curious about how motivation plays a role in people’s life.

The main difference between inspiration and motivation is that motivation is temporary. Think of your New Year’s resolution to get in shape. Do you know why many people do not make it to the completion of their goals to get in shape? The reason is that they fill their gas tanks up with motivation on New Year’s Eve, and when that motivation runs dry in the coming weeks/months, they put off getting in shape until next year instead of refilling their tanks. Motivation does have its benefits, even though it is a short-term boost. I use motivation as a jump start to try new things in my life. Whether that be learning a language or starting a new business venture, that motivation at the start of something new and different is a euphoric rush. Newness creates sparks in the brain that tell it this is something good. The real question is, how to keep the brain feeling that even after the newness is gone?

I like to think of motivation as the jump-starter that helps a dead battery in a car. The jump-starter gives a car the boost it needs. Once the car is running, then there is no longer a need for the jump starter. You do not see people driving around jump-starting their cars while the vehicle is in motion. Motivation, in a way, is just like that. Think back at all the motivational videos, books, and audio you have listened to over the year. What was it that made you more active and determined after a motivational session? The reason is that they act as a jump-starter for your life. They got your butt out of the seat (if for a time) and onward to bigger and better things. The sad truth is that many people do not make it to those bigger and better things.

Though motivation is a temporary effect on your road to glory, it can be used as frequently as you will let it be. I know many people who have a new hobby/dream each week. They tell me all the amazing things that are about to happen in their life. What is crazy is that in no way does it resemble last week’s/month’s plan, they told me. I am all about being ambitious as a person, but there has to be a focus on what you set out to do. That is where the blend of inspiration vs. motivation comes in. This blend will give you the focus and the drive to go after the things you want in life. Motivation gives you the spark, and inspiration gives you the determination to complete any idea/goal.

The reason I am not a motivational coach is that I have learned over the years that it is not enough to change a person. I can shove motivation in your brain all day long, and it could be to no unveil. Though I do motivate people, I chose the title of a mindset coach to specify the root of the problems many people are dealing with. As a society, we do not have a motivational problem, we have a mindset problem. People do not believe in themselves and are uncertain if they can get the life they dream of. People are afraid to fail, even before they try. I believe that is a bigger problem, and motivation is just a band-aid over the problem. My mission is to help as many people as I can in my life. If that means I can inspire a handful of people each week, then so be it. I rather create a lasting change than a brief moment of ambition.

All in all, whether you choose motivation vs. inspiration as a way to get ahead, it is important to understand how to use them in your life. You can be inspired to create something wonderful, but you have to have the motivation to complete it to the end. If you find yourself constantly having a short burst of motivation, then perhaps you will benefit from one on one coaching. Many people are afraid to invest in themselves and are so quick to close their minds and feelings off. Choosing to ignore what is a problem should not be a solution in your life. Find what inspires you, and get it! Do not stop because you are tired or become distracted, stop because you are done! Inspiration and motivation can be used to get to the places you want to be. You just have to believe it is possible and not stop until it you are finished.

Until then,

Michael Rearden

CEO of Reven LLC.