Inspiration is the sense of being filled with spirit and passion. Having a burning desire to create and express, and the feeling that we need, not just want, to take creative action. It is as if our need to use our talents takes on an energy all of its own, and demands release and fulfillment.

Motivation is, perhaps, the mental equivalent of inspiration. It is the will, and the drive, to take action. Motivation pushes us to get off the couch, and to take steps that bring us in line with our goals and desires.

Inspiration and motivation together are a formidable combination. If you are both inspired and motivated, then watch out world- you will be unstoppable!

The bad news is that not many of us are going to be overwhelmed by inspiration and motivation very often. If you wait for those moments of pure energy and drive to get you going, you might end up spending a lot of time on the couch.

The good news is that inspiration and motivation can be created. We don’t need to wait for a bolt of lightning from the heavens. Inspiration and motivation come from action, and action can be taken as a purely mechanical physical activity. Once you have pushed yourself to begin taking action, the motion will then take on its own momentum, and begin to create the motivation and enthusiasm to keep going. The first step is almost always the hardest. Remember that ‘the journey of a thousand miles begins with one step,’ but you must take that one step.

The motivation to continue with positive action will also provide the opportunities for the bursts of inspiration that bring flashes of brilliance and light up your work and your life. Just remember that this brilliance is the icing, and not the cake. The cake is made of dedication, commitment, and perseverance to creating something of lasting value for yourself and others.

As Thomas Edison said, ‘Genius is 1% inspiration and 99% perspiration.’ Of course, to really enjoy success, we do need that 1%. Without it, we would just be very sweaty! The joy of those flashes of sheer brilliance makes all the hard work feel worthwhile.

To experience inspiration and motivation in your life, you need to make a conscious decision. Decide what it is that you want to create. What are the higher qualities you want to express in your life? Do you want to be inspired as an artist, a teacher, a healer, a writer, a nurturer, a musician, or a leader? Are you passionate about freedom, justice, beauty, knowledge, or wellness? Wherever your passions lie, make a choice that you will find ways, however big or small, to express these qualities in your life- not just occasionally, but every day.

By committing to taking regular action to express your gifts and passions in your life, you will also be consciously creating the motivation that will power you forward on your chosen path. With the motivation that builds through positive and continuous action, and the bursts of inspiration that come through the steady use of your talents, you can achieve anything you want in your life.

It is a simple recipe, but the trick is in following it. If you don’t keep adding the effort and persistence, inspiration alone will not make your cake rise.

By deciding what you want to achieve, and making a commitment to taking continuous action, your actions will eventually bring you the motivation and inspiration that you need to fulfill your deepest desires, and to live the life of your dreams.

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