Author: Enakshi Borah
“Don’t be pushed around by the fears in your mind. Be led by the dreams in your heart.” –
Roy T. Bennett
Our life is an interesting but short journey with lessons to learn and problems to solve. However, not everything that we look for in life is explicit or always on full display. Sometimes, they are obscured- obscured under the heap of self-doubt, clouded confidence, harsh criticisms, traumas and pessimism. After all, not everything comes easy. Not everything goes according to plan. It is as if life gets taken by the violent storm- we feel lost and hopeless. But even then, what keeps us going?
Like learning and innovation, motivation and inspiration go hand in hand. Both forces work towards moulding a better, stronger individual. Even psychologists today shed light on the importance these two forces hold and the impact they have, both in personal life and in the work environment. They stimulate personal growth and help us gain a sense of purpose in life. Motivation is the force that gives us a push to walk the extra mile if required. It guides us and helps us in maintaining goal-oriented behaviours- it makes our target(s) clearer to us. Many times, we see people or even ourselves struggling to attain goals or giving up too soon despite possessing the skills and other resources. Well, that is because we lack motivation. This indicates that motivation has a crucial impact on our performance.
Now, where does this motivation come from? I believe motivation has its origin in our inner urges and feelings. Sometimes, it can be our life events that we often look back on to gather strength on the basis of how we overcame a grave situation in the past, and hence, that motivates us to face the present- a present with all its new challenges. And other times, it can be the words of a companion or maybe even a book that ignites in us a feeling to do better, to work harder. Thus, while some can motivate themselves, others require an external stimulus. Nonetheless, a great deal of motivation always begins with believing in ourselves. Ultimately, the journey is ours to make! It is only when we believe we can do it that we can do it. And that’s when motivation comes into play, strengthening our will to reach the end of the road where new goals and opportunities await us.
Likewise, inspiration also drives us to work on ourselves. It can stem from various sources- our parents, role models, nature, etc. For instance, a poet’s source of inspiration could be the mountains or the daffodil field as it was for Wordsworth and for a budding entrepreneur, it could be the big businessmen conquering the field globally. The source might differ for every individual, but its essence remains the same. It could be said that inspiration is that force which offers us a positive perspective. It makes us believe in ourselves a little more. It propels us to look beyond our limitations by giving us both the means and the motivation to unlock our creativity, learn, and rise above.
Like Robert Frost said, “The best way out is always through”. And most than not, to make it through, we all need a good amount of motivation and inspiration. In the journey of life, there are many winding paths, many peaks and valleys, but with enthusiasm, courage and motivation, we can make this journey worthwhile. We may not achieve what we look for right away, but that is not the end of the journey. Looking at it from a positive perspective may help us rediscover ourselves from our failures and mistakes. After all, we are all an amalgamation of our good and bad experiences. And when we are motivated enough to grab life by the horns, the bad can no longer overshadow the good. It is at that very moment when we can reach our full potential. Rather than thinking within the limits, we transcend and transform how we perceive our capabilities and strive against all odds to achieve success.
