Inspiration Is NOT Motivation

In the last Trail Running Magazine edition, I was struck by an article on motivation. It was well-written and inspired me, but it did nothing for my motivation. It was the perfect article. You need to check it out.

We confuse inspiration with motivation regularly. Too much, in fact, and too often so that we are left empty. We look outside ourselves to be motivated, oftentimes not admitting that the only real motivation comes from within.

Great friends, family, coaches, teachers, bosses, co-workers, children, leaders, speakers, athletes... well, nothing can motivate us like our own desires and intentions. All of these people can inspire us--think of Lance Armstrong, Mother Teresa and George Washington... a cancer survivor in your life or a survivor of horrific circumstances... all INSPIRING.

But WE and ONLY WE are the source for our own motivation. Perhaps this is why so few are truly motivated. Being your own motivation is a huge responsibility, a daunting one, in fact. To work from the point of our own motivation requires a deep and naked examination of what we value, what we need to give up and the bottom line--WHAT WE NEED TO CHANGE IN OUR LIFE.

It is simple, but it is not easy.

The beauty of intrinsic motivation is that when we do the tough work and surrender our belief to our true motivation in life, WE ARE UNSTOPPABLE. "No" is not in our vocabulary. "I cannot" changes to "How can I?" The reality is that being powerfully positive and unstoppable will scare a lot of people in our lives, and because they may be threatened by your never surrender living, be prepared to lose--and gain--people in your life.

WHAT IS YOUR MOTIVATION?  Better health?  Playing with your grandchildren pain-free?  Beating a disease?  Kicking addiction in the a**?  Saving your life?  Sleeping and moving better?  Giving your Gift freely to the world?  Living a life of purpose?  Being Christ-centered? 

Remember, those who MIND don't matter.  Those who MATTER don't mind.

What legacy will you leave your children--inspiration or motivation?

Be Uncommon,
PJK :)