Are motivation and inspiration the same?

Motivation and inspiration are two different concepts related to one another and, at times, complement one another. Motivation is an external force or drive that compels someone to do something. Meanwhile, inspiration is the internal drive that creates the urge to do something in the first place. Inspiration typically takes the form of an idea (whether that be an idea of what is to be “created” or an idea of oneself). Someone can be motivated and have inspiration at the same time. Or, someone can only be experiencing one and not the other at any given moment. Furthermore, just because someone is experiencing both motivation and inspiration simultaneously does not necessarily mean that they will move forward with an action.

It is because motivation and inspiration are not inherently indicative of someone following through with performing certain tasks or moving forward with accomplishing certain goals that it is important to remember there are other factors at play that make a person more likely to “act” on certain desires, goals, or even essential daily tasks. The first being that mental health and mental well-being can influence one’s ability to experience motivation or inspiration. Mood disorders, such as depression, can cause people’s motivation to fluctuate significantly. In this case, a person can be inspired to do things but physically or mentally lack the external push needed to fulfill their inspiration. Likewise, inspiration, especially inspiration that surrounded creative endeavors, can be impacted by mental health issues. Decreased energy and mental “fogginess” can cloud a person’s mind and ability to access the internal push often associated with inspiration.

Another factor to consider is that not everyone achieves satisfaction by acting on their inspirations or motivations. Some people remain content with their current state and do not attempt to follow through when they have an inspiration or experience a “burst” of motivation. Furthermore, although both have different primary definitions, both these concepts share that they are often used to describe what makes a “successful” person.  All too often, motivation and inspiration are conflated with what it means to achieve what society has defined as greatness rather than what can be individually defined as happiness.  The most important thing is that somebody remains true to themselves and only acts on inspiration if they feel like it will contribute to their overall joy. Likewise, they are being motivated more by individual factors rather than what they feel obligated to do.