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Here’s something I’ve noticed: people tend to confuse inspiration and motivation.

I don’t know if it’s because we live in an age of instant gratification, where we expect things to feel amazing all the time, when, in fact, they don’t. And when they don't, we take it as a sign that something’s not quite right.

The way I see it is that inspiration is fleeting. It’s like the flare of a match — intensely bright (and smells great, if you ask me 🤭), but quick to burn out.

Motivation is deeper, connected to our values and what we must do — what we cannot not do. It’s the log that fuels the fire for the long haul, even when inspiration isn't around.

Magic happens when motivation and inspiration intersect, but it's not a state in which we can stay constantly, so we definitely want to take advantage of those moments when they do! But if we rely on inspiration to get us, or keep us, moving forward, we're likely to experience life as a constant struggle.

I'm a big fan of the Year Compass for an annual reflection on the year that's coming to a close and the one that's about to start. Inevitably, it touches on matters of motivation, and is likely to generate a burst of inspiration!

The Year Compass is a free tool (click to download from their website), made available by volunteers in 78(!) languages. I've used it for many years, and since a couple of years back, we go through the reflection prompts as a family as well. It's a great way to connect, imagine, and create a vision together.

Whether you've used it before, or this is your first time – or if you go about it a different way – I wish you insightful reflections, compelling motivation with intermittent bursts of inspiration!

P.S. Without periodic reflection, we risk ending up in places we never intended or wanted. Reflection gives us an opportunity to course-correct and accelerate toward a place we want to be, in life or at work. As a coach, I help clients find clarity, create action plans and execute on those plans. If you'd like some help, see available times and book a session by clicking here.