On a
recent coaching call, I had the
opportunity to discuss the distinction between motivation and
inspiration. In our session I shared that in the mid-80s I was
obsessed (yes, obsessed) with seeing motivational speakers like
Brian Tracey and Zig Zigler. I loved the rush that came with
seeing those guys up on a stage. I left with a feeling that I was
capable of anything and everything. Unfortunately, by the end of
the week, that feeling was gone.
In looking deeper, I can see that several
things were happening when I would go to see a motivational
speaker. First and foremost, I had the idea (and perhaps they did
too) that they possessed something that I didn’t and that somehow I
needed them to show me those things. I gave my power away in
thinking that they knew answers for me, that I didn’t. My energy
was focused outward illuminating them and not my own
inner truths.
I also discovered a delicious rush of
adrenaline in hearing and watching them “perform.” Years
later, I learned that adrenaline is a drug and that the feelings of
euphoria and excitement are only temporary, often leading to a need for
another “fix.” At the time, adrenaline was my drug of choice
because I had not yet discovered the joy of living an inner-driven
and heart-centered life.
Fast forward to the mid-90s when I discovered the newborn field and profession of
coaching. It was then that I asked, “What if we could
experience the excitement of new knowledge and be given tools and
accountability to make that new information stick—to be able to
really take those ideas, embody them and start to implement
them into our life, what might be possible?” Little did I know
that twelve years later I’d be just as excited by that question as
I was the moment it first came to me.
What I discovered along the way is that the
key to long lasting and deep change is inspiration. According to
the American Heritage Dictionary the word “inspire” means “To
affect, guide, or arouse by divine influence.”
Personally, I
have always thought it meant “in spirit” and that the blessed act
of inspiring another is to get out of the way of one’s ego in order to make
space for spirit to move through you. (I’ve often said that I cannot
take credit for the words that come through me, but only for learning
how to get out of my own way so that I can be a clear channel for
them.)
Maybe the difference between motivation and
inspiration is just semantics, but what it really comes down to is
that at our core, we are all craving connection. A connection to
the God/Spirit, to our higher self, and to others. By being open
to inspiration we discover what we’ve known all along, that we are
all interconnected, all One and that when we look into the face of
God we see our own refection. Others can excite and inspire us,
but it’s not until we take ownership of our own inner light and the
God/dess within that the magic and real awakening begins.
Recently, there has been an excitement about
the book and movie The Secret. From the beginning there has been
something that has not felt right to me about the message within
the book and movie. I realize now, that it reminds me of the
motivational speakers that I saw many years ago. In the excitement
of the messages learned, people often lose sight of their own
inner wisdom and connection and fail to recognize that the
truths shared in The Secret are just a reminder of something they
already intuitively knew.
I believe that the message shared within
The
Secret only skimmed the surface of what’s possible. It spoke to
our ego’s need for “things” but not to our soul's yearning for
Grace. I am grateful that The Secret brought forth some very
powerful ideas at time that we are ready to embrace them. And I
will continue to hold my intention that we remember to honor and
nurture our own inner guidance and remember that Truth is never a
Secret.
Have an inspirational week,
