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What is the difference between inspiration and motivation ?
The word inspiration means to be in spirit. When you’re tuned into your spirit, you are naturally drawn to do whatever feels best. It is all about a person's inner drive, his passions, things his soul is attracted to. It is the rush of energy we feel when we are mentally stimulated to do something. It could be a book that inspires you or a piece of art that inspires you.
Motivation on the contrary is something that we have to push ourselves to do. The word motivation comes from the word "motive". So unless there is a motive or a reason for doing something we would not we doing it. It is what you are supposed to do and not a burning desire that comes from the core of your being. The best example of motivation is going to a gym for a workout. You have to continously remind yourself of the motive for doing so. On the contrary, if we love swimming, you will be looking forward for doing that activity and no motivation is required for it.
Inspiration is an internal force whereas Motivation is an external force. While motivation is usually short term and task-oriented, inspiration is long-term and goal-oriented. You can get yourself motivated but you cannot get yourself inspired. A great work of art is not possible without inspiration. However, it is always possible to lose a few pounds with motivation.
Both Inspiration & Motivation forces are equally necessary in life. It would not be practical to just follow your inspirations and sometimes we have to motivate ourselves to do things that are required for our progress. Also, we need to spare some time for what inspires us and what makes our souls happy. So a rightful balance between the two is absolutely necessary.
“
Motivation is when you get hold of an idea and carry it through to its conclusion, and inspiration is when an idea gets hold of you and carries you where you are intended to go.
”
Dr. Wayne Dyer
What is the difference between soul and spirit ?
Spirit is an infinite, eternal, boundless ocean of energy. Spirit is one and shines over all, just as the one sun shines over everybody on this earth. Every life form in nature is an expression of spirit, the same spirit that expresses in all of us. There is no such thing as “my spirit” or “your spirit” because spirit knows no separateness. Through spirit you are connected to everything...to every person, every form of life. Hence spirit is the same as the universal consciousness or the universal spirit.
Soul is the unique identity that distinguishes every living being from the other. Every living being requires a soul to express itself. The soul is the self, the "I" that inhabits
the body and acts through it. If spirit is an ocean, each soul is a drop in that ocean. If spirit is the light, each soul would be a ray with a distinctive color, quality or
expression from this source. Each soul is connected to the spirit. Therefore, we are all spiritual beings.
The sad part is that in this physical world, we see ourselves as solo players instead of integral parts of the universe. In the course of time, the human race has forgotten the feeling of true oneness. we are under the illusion of separateness. Many of the world's problems and conflicts arise because we have lost sight of the basic humanity that binds us all together. Today's world require that we understand the oneness of the universe. As Thich Nhat Hanh has so rightly said...
“
We are here to awaken from the illusion of our separateness.
”
Thich Nhat Hanh
What is the difference between mind and soul ?
Mind and soul are two concepts that are closely related yet very distinct from one another. The mind is man’s faculty of thinking, reasoning, and applying knowledge.
Processes such as memory, imagination are a part of the mind. Soul is the divine nature of the human being which is connected to the universal consciousness.
Mind is the bridge between the body and the soul. The soul has it's way of communicating things to the mind. In subtle ways, it guides and directs our behaviour and
actions. The language of the soul is often called as the intuition. If the mind is highly alert, we have powerful intuitions. Emotions like desire originate from the soul. The mind registers and filters these emotions. Our minds are where we decide how to take pleasure, what we should do to achieve it, and how it should be fulfilled. So the mind has two choices, to block out sensation or to listen to it. If a mind is self-aware and conscious, it will take proper decisions.
For e.g, we read about a charitable institution and our soul is inspired to send some funds for this organisation. When it communicates this to the mind, it applies reason to it. This will start a thought process such as...is it a valid charitable trust ? do I have enough funds to help them or should I postpone this idea ? After thinking from all angles we decide whether to go further with this. If the mind decides that it is not a good idea, it will ignore the message from the soul.
Mind-Body-Soul Connection
Our body is the physical part of our existence whereas the soul is the intangible part of our existence. So we are actually a soul that has a body. The control center for our body is our mind. The mind is where all information comes together in the form of emotions, desires, beliefs, aspirations, etc. and the action is formed and directed to the body through electrical impulses. Through our body we seek different types of pleasure such as the pleasure of the senses. Our bodily desires are too often meant to satisfy our senses.
Our body communicates these desires to the mind which in turn tries to find a way to fulfill them. There is a continous communication going on between the body and the mind. There is nothing wrong with fulfilling our bodily desires so long as there is balance and harmony. However, when these desires try to take the decisions for us, we need to exercise mind control. So we need to apply the logical reasoning of the mind and take decisions. We may conclude that we don't need an expensive phone immediately or that another serving is of food is not really necessary.
The body also sends intuitions such as feeling of discomfort, heaviness or stiffness that we are feeling. These bodily intuitions should not be ignored and we need to take immediate action to remove that feeling of discomfort. For e.g., if we are experiencing back pain, we should start excercises for health and wellness. If our body is in pain, we may not be able to concentrate on any other aspects of our development even if our mind is willing.
Just as the body is communicating with the mind, the soul is also communicating with the mind. Since the soul is connected to the spirit, it always guides us about the purpose and the intention of our existence. Such intuitions can play a major role in our lives. Suppose we are suddenly attracted to an art activity such as painting which gives pleasure to our soul. It is quite possible that we pursue this activity and it becomes our profession in the future.
One way to strengthen our intuitions is always doing what makes you feel good. It can be travelling, socializing, cooking....anything that makes you feel happy and content. Many a times, we choose to ignore the inner voice considering that it is something folly. It takes lot of courage to follow our intuition. It may not be possible to listen to our soul all the time but ignoring the voice of your soul for a very long time can lead to depression, illness or loneliness.
If the mind-body-soul communication is working good, energy flows harmoniously in our body and we can perform to the best of our potential. However, if there is anything wrong in any of these communications, there are energy blocks and we are not able to cope with the challenges in our lives.
What is Meditation ?
Meditation can be described as a state of consciousness, when the mind is completely aware and free of any distractions. The simplest form of meditation is sitting down with our eyes closed and not thinking about anything. This can be done anywhere and anytime...even during the breaktime in office. This meditation is also effective as long as our mind is free from distractions.
Deep meditation is very different. For deep meditation, you require a proper posture and total lack of movement. It is a spiritual practice in yoga where one sits down with eyes closed and empties the mind of any thoughts to connect with your innermost self. In meditation, it is necessary to go beyond the mind because mind is a tool of logical thinking. If we keep applying logic for everything in life, we feel depressed. If we want to perceive the nature of your life, we must be willing to look beyond the limitations of the logical mind.
In deep meditation stage, the thoughts gradually disappear and we don't hear any external sounds. This is called as the state of thoughtful awareness which is beyond the mind. The mind achieves complete stillness....like a still lake without any ripples in it. When there are no ripples on the water of a lake, its surface becomes almost invisible as it reflects the beauty of the landscape around it...the trees and the sky and clouds. In the same way, the still mind reflects the beauty of the creation and melts into the bliss and the peace of the divine. The rest in meditation is deeper than the deepest sleep that you can ever have.
There are lot of benefits of meditation. It is the best technique to connect to your inner source of energy. It can help us to attain calmness and serenity of mind. The other benefits are better concentration, good mental hygiene, rejuvenation and healing. In today's stressful world, meditation is absolutely necessary.
What is Mindfulness ?
Mindfulness could be described as becoming fully aware of the present moment, including the stream of consciousness of your mind, without judging it or changing it. In simple words, it is mindful awareness. We can practise mindfulness in day to day life. For e.g., when we are cooking, we can concentrate on the task and enjoy the process rather than considering it some boring task. If we just think about the cricket match which is going to start in some time and finish the cooking in a hurry, the results will not be as expected.
Many a times, our mind mind tends to get lost in stressful thoughts about the past and the future. we replay painful experiences from the past or mock up worst-case-scenarios about the future. It's exhausting and rarely productive. Paying attention to what is happening in the present moment is a welcome relief from these stressful and habitual thought patterns. We become friendly and impartial observers, free of any stress.
What is the difference between Mindfulness and Meditation ?
The aim of a mindfulness practice is to notice what’s happening now. We can practice mindfulness while you’re doing other things like driving, conversing and eating. Mindfulness is about noticing the interplay between you and your environment, whereas meditation is about immersing yourself in the world deep within yourself.
The practice leading to meditation is about stilling the mind. Whenever we are doing any activity such as walking, it engages the mind. You can’t meditate while you’re doing other things, either physically or mentally. That’s why it is done by sitting in silence with eyes closed. Meditation is more vast and requires lot of dedication and practise. However, mindfulness is definitely a form of meditation. You can’t meditate unless you are being mindful, i.e., resident here in the present moment. We can start practising mindfulness and eventually experience meditation.
What is the meaning of karma ?
Karma is the principle of cause and effect. It is a popular belief in Hinduism that good deeds will be rewarded and bad deeds will be punished. It is also known as the law of karma. Though the concept originated in India, it is also quite popular in the west. The law of karma can be best explained as follows ::
“
Whatever goes around, comes around. In other words, whatever you do will eventually come back to you. Our actions, both good and bad, come back to us in the future. we are the result of what we were, we will be the result of what we are.
”
A simple example of good karma is as follows. A person is very charitable and helps lot of needy people. When he himself is in need of money, someone who had owed him money suddenly returns back the money. Thus he is getting the reward of his own good deeds in the past. On the contrary, another person does not support his parents in their old age. When he himself becomes old, his kids don't take care of him.
When a person faces the consequences of his bad karma, he repents his past deeds and tries to improve his behaviour in the future. If he has been to jail for doing something illegal, he tries to mend his ways. If he has been arrogant in the past, he becomes more humble.
“
The idea of Karma is that you continually get the teaching that you need to open your heart
”
Pema Chodron
What is the meaning of Namaste ?
‘Namaste’ is the hindu way of greeting each other. When a person greets another with namaste, the greeting is accompanied by a slight bow made with hands pressed together, palms touching and fingers pointed upwards and closely positioned in front of the chest. Along with this, the word ‘namaste’ is said to the person who is being greeted.
The simplest meaning of namaste is ::
"The divine in me honors the divine in you"
It is not a superficial gesture or mere word, but has deep spiritual significance. The gesture is an acknowledgment of the soul in one by the soul in another. "Namaha" means bow, "as" means I, and "te" means you. Therefore, namaste means “I bow to you". The word ‘namaha’ can also be literally interpreted as "na ma" (not mine). It has a spiritual significance of negating or reducing one's ego in the presence of another. someone has described the meaning In a beautiful expression...
“
My soul honors your soul. I honor the place in you where the entire universe resides. I honor the light, love, truth, beauty and peace within you, because it is also within me. In sharing these things, we are united, we are the same, we are one.
”
What is the meaning of Aum ?
"Aum" is the most popular and universally recognised Hindu symbol. In the west, it is more popularly known as "Om".
Aum is believed to be the basic sound of the universe, the cosmic vibration and contains all other sounds. It represents everything. It is said to be the seed of all of creation.
Aum is a sanskrit word made up of three syllables, “aaa, ooo and mmm.” The “aaa” sound in the beginning represents the creation of all matter, sounds and vibrations. The “ooo” sound signifies the maintenance of all that has been created, and symbolises the continuity and evolvement of life. The final vibration “mmm” is related to the end of whatever has been manifested, and the eventual transformation and return of consciousness to its original source. Together these three vibrations making up the word Aum constitute the creation, maintenance and transformation of every vibration of energy that has ever existed. A very beautiful meaning of Aum is found in the hindu scriptures...
“ Aum has much deeper meaning than what we can understand. The past, the present, and the future are all included in this one sound, and all that exists beyond the three forms of time is also implied in it. It also represents the three stages of existence - birth, life and death.
It symbolizes everything.
”
Some Awesome Text Quotes
Love is the ultimate freedom and to impose how people should do it; is a cage of the worst kind. Love is a gift. Give it freely. Joyfully. Passionately. By conscious choice. Start in the mirror. Ripple it out. And watch the fireworks as you ignite other souls.
~ Courtney A. Walsh
Until the whole world is free to agree with you or disagree with you, until you have given the freedom to everyone to like you or not like you, to love you or hate you, to see things as you see them, or to see things differently.....until you have given the whole world its freedom.....you’ll never have your freedom.
~ Adyashanti
To become lighter, to create happier events in your life, it is important to use higher words and thoughts when you speak to yourself or others. Your thoughts create reality; they go out into the world and affect other people. As you begin thinking purer, kinder, and move loving thoughts, you will begin to change the magnetism of your body and resonate with the higher planes of the universe.
Best Spiritual Quotes by Thich Nhat Hanh
On Mindfulness & Happiness ...
Life is available only in the present moment. The past is gone, the future is not yet here, and if we do not go back to ourselves in the present moment, we cannot be in touch with life.
The present moment is filled with joy and happiness. If you are attentive, you will see it.
We fear that this moment will end, that we won't get what we need, that we will lose what we love, or that we will not be safe. Often, our biggest fear is the knowledge that one day our bodies will cease functioning. So even when we are surrounded by all the conditions for happiness, our joy is not complete.
It is possible to live happily in the here and now. So many conditions of happiness are available...more than enough for you to be happy right now. You don't have to run into the future in order to get more.
Mindfulness helps you go home to the present. And every time you go there and recognize a condition of happiness that you have, happiness comes.
We have more possibilities available in each moment than we realize.
Walk and touch peace every moment.
Walk and touch happiness every moment.
Each step brings a fresh breeze.
Each step makes a flower bloom.
Kiss the Earth with your feet.
Bring the Earth your love and happiness.
The Earth will be safe when we feel safe in ourselves.
On understanding others...
When you plant lettuce, if it does not grow well, you
don't blame the lettuce. You look for reasons it is not
doing well. It may need fertilizer, or more water, or
less sun. You never blame the lettuce. Yet if we have problems with our friends or family, we blame the other person. But if we know how to take care of them, they will grow well, like the lettuce.
Blaming has no positive effect at all, nor does trying to persuade using reason and argument. That is my experience. No blame, no reasoning, no argument, just understanding. If you understand, and you show that you understand, you can love, and the situation will change.
We really have to understand the person we want to love. If our love is only a will to possess, it is not love. If we only think of ourselves, if we know only our own needs and ignore the needs of the other person, we cannot love. We must look deeply in order to see and understand the needs, aspirations, and suffering of the person we love. This is the ground of real love. You cannot resist loving another person when you really understand him or her.
We will not just say, "I love him very much," but instead, "I will do something so that he will suffer less." The mind of compassion is truly present when it is effective in removing another person's suffering.”
On Enlightenment...
Enlightenment, for a wave in the ocean, is the moment the wave realizes that it is water.
We need enlightenment, not just individually but collectively, to save the planet. We need to awaken ourselves. We need to practice mindfulness if we want
to have a future, if we want to save ourselves and the planet.
Top Motivational Sites
Vision Shine
Beautiful site with lot of articles focused on motivation, self-help, productivity and happiness .
www.visionshine.com
Tiny Buddha
This site is about reflecting on simple wisdom and learning new ways to apply it to our complex lives.
www.tinybuddha.com
Elephant Journal
Site dedicated to a mindful life. also a brilliant resource for wellness, spiritual, and creative inspiration.
www.elephantjournal.com
Goodlife zen
Excellent site featuring practical inspirations for a happier life
www.goodlifezen.com
MindBodyGreen
MindBodyGreen is a site consisting lot of inspirations related to health and wellness
www.mindbodygreen.com
Project Eve
Amazing forum containing all sort of stuff for women
www.projecteve.com
Marc and Angel Hack Life
A site with a lot of good advice on improving your life
www.marcandangel.com
Life Optimizer
Life Optimizer is about maximizing your personal effectiveness
www.lifeoptimizer.org
Positivity Blog
Happiness and Awesomeness Tips that work in real life
www.positivityblog.com
About me ::
Sangita Kulkarni,
Software Professional and Blogger
It gives me immense pleasure to share this unique collection of inspiration quotes with all of you. Being in the software profession, I was always looking for positive inspirations to help me overcome technical problems. So I made a good collection of these quotes and thought of sharing them. I am also an art enthusiast by heart so I designed these quotes with stunning visuals that could easily bring out the message in these quotes. If you like my work, please share and comment.
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