Life Angles: LIFE Acronym #4 - Let Inspiration Flow Eternally

LIFE Acronym #4:
"Let Inspiration Flow Eternally"

Tell me. What is the difference between inspiration and motivation? Have you ever used them interchangeably? You probably won't be doing that after you're done reading this post.

Motivation is more of a temporary thing, not unlike a pep talk. It can involve some of the characteristics of hype. It wears off relatively fast, and therefore has to be replenished often, like a gas tank with a leak in it, or an engine that eats oil.

That's why people have to work so hard to keep themselves motivated. They have to be constantly refilling that leaky tank. Motivation burns off like flash gun powder!

And here's perhaps the most insightful part of this entire Blog post. It's a formula that may just solve your motivation issues:

You need to shift your focus from "motivation" to "inspiration". If you can simply find a way to become INSPIRED, then you will no longer have to worry about motivation! What a thought!

This little alternative strategy actually WORKS, and it's because inspiration lasts MUCH longer than motivation, and naturally contains much more power.

Inspiration goes measurably further, and is like a slow-burning candle. Yet, it carries the light of a THOUSAND candles! Being inspired not only helps you to get things done, but it lifts your life and your level of inner fulfillment in many other ways as well!

As a descriptive metaphor, we could say that with the force and momentum of inspiration, one could power a city for an entire year! But, motivation alone has only the power to run an LED flashlight for a couple of hours.

Before I delve into the anatomy of inspiration in more relatable detail, let me delineate some more of the common denominators in, some of the characteristics of, and some of the differences between inspiration and motivation for you:

• Inspiration supersedes motivation.

• You can be motivated without being inspired, but if you're inspired, you're therefore motivated by default.

• Motivation comes from man.

• Inspiration comes from God.

• Motivation connotes superficial excitement and energy, or the driving force behind a conscious choice to accomplish something. This conscious choice is NOT arrived at due to the inspiration of a powerful, worthwhile cause, but instead is arrived at logically. It just seems like the thing to do. It just "makes sense".

• There are no deep feelings of moral obligation or altruistic dedication attached to motivation. Those things are reserved for INSPIRATION.

• INSPIRATION signifies an enlightened state of mind, that transcends common barriers and rockets you to a place of success, inner peace, satisfaction, and ACCOMPLISHMENT.

• Inspiration is a spiritual yearning for something, or a deep, inner longing and passionate desire to get or accomplish that thing.

• Inspiration is linked to and spawned from your human spirit's highest and best ideals and morals, principles and ethics.

• Motivation is what drives you to do something, when your decision to do that thing was arrived at by logical or mechanical processes of the mind.

• Inspiration comes from an alignment of your heart and soul with a worthwhile purpose. This state of inspiration cannot be arrived at analytically or methodically, rationally or commonsensically. It can only be arrived at spiritually.

• Inspiration transcends the external, and takes a deep-seated, internalized position in the innermost recesses of your heart and spirit.

Okay, now that we've explored some of the powerful characteristics of the two, I think you're beginning to see the big difference. It's now time to apply this knowledge to us.

Close your eyes and think about the things that you have the hardest time getting yourself to do. Where are those areas where you engage in self-sabotage, and seem to do the opposite of what you want to do or have chosen to do?

The reason you're struggling with those things is because you are merely "motivated" to do them, but are not INSPIRED to do them! And this brings us to the real action.

When you locate a problem area, you have three choices.

1. You can root it out, replacing it with actions, choices, journeys or paths that actually INSPIRE you.

2. You can dig deep into the fundamental makeup of the problem area, awake your inner inspiration for that thing, arouse whatever virtue and inherent meritorious grace that it contains, and remind yourself of why you are really doing it. This will last much longer than motivation, but it is important to remember that the "inspiration tank" does still need refilling occasionally. Get in the habit.

3. If you don't believe that you can become inspired about that thing, but logically cannot allow yourself to replace it with something that inspires you, then you can stay the course regardless, and continue relying upon motivation and logic alone to get you to perform.

Now, just for a moment, I want to focus on the fourth word in today's LIFE acronym. And, if you remember, today's acronym is "Let Inspiration Flow Eternally."

e·ter·nal
[ih-tur-nl]

- adjective
1. lasting forever; always existing (opposed to temporal): as in "eternal life".
2. perpetual; ceaseless; endless.
3. enduring; immutable: as in "eternal principles".
4. Metaphysics - existing outside all relations of time; not subject to change.

- noun
5. something that is eternal.
6. the Eternal, God.

Now, I purposely used the word "eternal", because I wanted to emphasize the cultivation of an ONGOING HABIT of seeking inspiration.

Inspiration has an intrinsic power that can shape us, dramatically change us, and ultimately drastically alter the course of our eternal destiny.

Now, as a side note, if you happen to think of "destiny" as some sort of a "pre-determined fate" that you have no say in, please remember this:

We all have a blessed thing called AGENCY. Agency is the capacity to CHOOSE our own actions. And we will unfailingly bear the consequences of our actions, unless someone steps in through Grace and bears those consequential burdens for us.

But, the fact remains that our ACTIONS shape our destiny. God may well know where we will end up, as He is omniscient, and sees past, present and future all as one. But, that doesn't change the fact that it is our CHOICES and our ACTIONS that will lead us to that destiny.

Knowing that... having a clear understanding of that truth... should invariably lead us to TAKE RESPONSIBILITY for our lives and for what we make of them here in this Earthly sojourn.

I used the word "ETERNALLY", because seeking inspiration should not simply be "a cool principle" for you. The idea of constantly seeking inspiration should not just be something that you heard of on a blog one day and decided to try out.

It should become a LIFE HABIT for you. It should become a part of your character, a deep-seated characteristic that through time will come to DEFINE you, along with many other virtuous character traits that you habitually seek to develop within your own self.

I am writing this blog to remind myself of the things that inspire me, and also with the hope that it will inspire you.

If all that my blog does is remind you of an important fact or principle, I am satisfied.

If you learn something new... some inspiring, intriguing, actionable insight, then I am more than satisfied; I am DELIGHTED.

But, if what you learn here sticks with you ETERNALLY, and helps to shape who you are, and who you will become, then I am beyond satisfied or delighted; I AM OVERJOYED! :)