What is the Difference between Inspire and Motivate?

inspire-and-motivate
This 2 words stuck me when I was hearing Nick Vujicic talk last weekend. We know a lot of people out there who are Inspirational Speaker or Motivational Speaker. Really, what is the difference between them? Of course, you can tell me inspirational speaker inspire you and motivational speaker motivate you, but what make the fine difference here?

Accordingly to the Cambridge English Dictionary online:

Inspire
to make someone feel that they want to do something and can do it:
to make someone have a particular strong feeling or reaction:
to give someone an idea for a book, film, product, etc.:

Motivate
to cause someone to behave in a particular way:
to make someone want to do something well:

What I gather from the 2 meanings is that, inspire is to make you feel a particular way and motivate makes you want to take action. Both need to work hand in hand for things to work. For example, I am not motivate to read despite I know it is good to read. However, when I realise I start to think deeper, write better, I realise the goodness in reading and I was inspired to do it. When you are inspired, you don’t need anyone to monitor or push you to get things done. Agree or disagree? Any different views?

Recommended Posts

Leave a Comment