Start with Inspiration: Why Motivation Comes Later

I don't mean to be blunt, but you most likely have inspiration and motivation out of order. It is not your fault — it's what we’ve been told for years: find motivation, stay motivated, push harder. Unfortunately, it's that advice that leads most people to keep grinding, continuing to work hard, do more... and eventually they burnout and quit. The solution to this much too common problem is actually quite simple.

 

The mistake most people make

At the start of a new year or any time you want change, the instinct is to "will" yourself into action. You hunt for motivation, then wonder why it fades. You blame yourself. The truth is simple: you started in the wrong place.

 

Introducing the Missing Ingredient: Inspiration

Inspiration is the spark. It is the curiosity, the small voice that says, I want this. Think of it as a spark plug sending an initial flash that ignites the engine. Without that spark, nothing starts.

 

Inspiration gives you the deeper reason behind a desire. It answers the question: why do you want this? Why get fit? Why change jobs? Why chase that dream? When you can answer that, you have the fuel that lights you up and gets you moving.

 

What is motivation and how it helps

Motivation is the fuel. Once the engine is running, motivation keeps you moving through the long stretches, the fatigue, and the days when enthusiasm wanes. Motivation answers the question: how will you do this?

 

Motivation doesn’t arrive first. It builds as you take action, earn momentum, and experience small wins. Look for motivation after you’ve started; it sustains progress rather than initiating it.

 

Why order matters: Spark Then Fuel

  • If you try to motivate before you are inspired, you will force action and likely burn out.
  • If you rely on inspiration alone, you may start strong but won’t sustain progress when challenges arrive.
  • Use inspiration to clarify the why, then use motivation to construct the how and keep going.

 

How to begin the right way

Start by generating inspiration. Here are practical ways to find that spark:

  • Create a big dream list instead of rigid New Year’s resolutions. Dream without limits.
  • Ask deeper questions: Why do I want this? What will this change in my life?
  • Consume stories of people who have done it: books, podcasts, interviews, or profiles.
  • Explore media that excites you: a magazine, a documentary, or conversations with people you admire.

 

Turning inspiration into motivation

Once inspiration has you excited, convert it into action so motivation can appear:

  1. Pick one inspired idea and take a small step today. Momentum builds motivation.
  2. Celebrate small wins. Progress creates energy and makes motivation sustainable.
  3. Use external motivators: mentors, community, episodes, articles, accountability partners.
  4. Plan the how: break a big dream into manageable, repeatable routines.
  5. Adjust when needed. Inspiration gives the direction and motivation powers the adjustments.

 

Quick action plan — 6 steps to move forward

  1. List five big dreams that excite you.
  2. For each dream, write one sentence: Why does this matter to me?
  3. Choose one dream and schedule a first task for this week.
  4. Find one source of inspiration (book, podcast, person) to revisit weekly.
  5. Track small wins and review them every Sunday.
  6. Invite an accountability partner to check in once a week.

 

Remember this

Inspiration answers why. Motivation answers how. Turn the key with inspiration first, then use motivation as the fuel that keeps the car moving. Stop shaming yourself for not feeling motivated. Instead, focus on lighting the fire.

 

When you get the order right — spark then fuel — you'll be surprised how much farther you go and how long you stay on the road.

 

Share this idea

If someone you know is stuck chasing motivation, share this framework: inspire first, then fuel the journey. It could be the simple shift they need to make this year their best yet.

 

Comments & Upvotes