Articles on motivation are numerous. Research studies on inspiration and motivation, not so much. I am enamored with what motivates people to do the amazing things they do; be it creativity, inspiration, or motivation. Climb a mountain, swim across the ocean, write a book, do house work, pull yourself out of bed in the morning- What drives them?
I look to the Navy Seals when I think of motivation. What is driving them to succeed against all odds? Studies show it comes down to a Stress-is-enhancing mindset (2)
Stress-is-enhancing mindset. It's ok to be stressed. Stress builds character. I am reminded that our body has many systems in place that are activated when we are stressed, all of which improves our survivability. Think fasting; cold plunges; saunas.
Motivation is seperated into intrinsic and extrinsic motivators. Intrinsic is something that comes from within you- working out to stay healthy, wanting to be the best you, you can be; mood inspires you; a challenge.
Extrinsic is defined as something outside of you. Perhaps beautiful weather; friends or others providing motivation or support; social media accounts; a deadline at work that cant be missed. Motivators can be positive or negative- i.e. not wanting to dissapoint someone or to prove someone wrong.
When researching motivation I was lead to inspiration as a component of motivation.
Inspiration is defined as a "state of motivation to compel individuals to bring ideas to completion. (1)
Mozart is quoted as saying “Those ideas that please me I retain in memory, and am accustomed, as I have been told, to hum them to myself. If I continue in this way,” he writes, “it soon occurs to me how I may turn this or that morsel to account so as to make a good dish of it… All this fires my soul” (Harding, 1948).
Inspiration can be further broken down into three categories- referred to as tripartite conceptualization. Evocation, Transcendence, and Approach motivation (1) Evocation is something that tends to be evoked rather than initiated by said individual. It is a stimulus, another person, a work of art, an idea. Transcendence gains awareness of possibilities that exceed the mundane, something that is above the ordinary. The factors mentioned so far tend to be passive or inspired by- a sunset, and aha moment.
Approach motivation is something you are inspired to action, such as to paint; to workout; to finish a project or begin one- all active. Which leads us to inspiration is perspiration. They are not found in studies to be mutually exclusive, but necessary for each other to function. Inspiration is the beginning of an idea or a journey, perspiration is the work necessary to initiate said idea and grow until it resembles what is in your head. Such as, starting a business and nursing that business until it is sustainable and profitable. You get out of an idea what work you put into it. Sometimes ideas are easy, it's the endless hours of tedious work that is often under appreciated.
What inspires you?
I have to confess, while writing this article I was inspired and motivated by the warming temps to stop writing and ride my bike to the park and do a quick workout. Motivation can be as simple as sticking to a budget, doing housework, taking the stairs. I hope this inspires you to look at yourself and be that someone you want to be.....put fire in your soul.
References:
The scientific study of inspiration in the creative process: challenges and opportunities
Stress, Mindsets, and Success in Navy SEALs Special Warfare Training
Harding R. E. M. (1948). An Anatomy of Inspiration: And An Essay on the Creative Mood. Cambridge: W. Heffer and Sons [Google Scholar]
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