Daaji says – you are inspired to think and motivated to do ! So while inspiration is always internal,motivation typically involves incentives, some of which are external.
Inspiration drives motivation and motivation drives perseverance and excellence. I may be inspired to make a New Year resolution to join the local gym to cut that extra fat. But I need to keep my motivation levels up to be able to consistently do my exercises every day.
And how do we keep our motivation levels up ?
Recognizing all those things that are already going well in our lives provides a solid platform to build motivation. In the constant struggle to get out of a bad situation or in a pursuit to reach our higher goals, we tend to ignore all the good that has been happening to us. Developing this attitude of grateful appreciation de-stresses our heart and makes our mind more receptive to new creative ideas.
Our thinking also becomes one-directional in the middle of a cluttered mind and stressed out heart – so, he also recommends use of Lateral Thinking techniques that enable us to develop a 360-degree awareness. It fosters creative ideas to stay motivated.
Thus, while inspiration can provide the initial stimulus to start some activity, it is the motivation that helps us persist and perform the task to completion.
One of the Sanskrit Subhaashit (सुभाषित) also highlights the motivation principle very well.
उद्यमेन हि सिद्ध्यन्ति कार्याणि न मनोरथैः।
न हि सुप्तस्य सिंहस्य प्रविशन्ति मुखे मृगा: ॥
Tasks can be accomplished (सिद्ध्यन्ति) by working (उद्यमेन) hard towards completion, not by merely desiring (मनोरथैः). The deer (मृगा:) don’t enter (प्रविशन्ति) the mouth of a sleeping lion (सुप्तस्य सिंहस्य).
Abhijit Pandit 
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