Dear Reader,
Have you ever noticed the difference between forcing yourself to do something versus being naturally drawn to it?
One feels heavy, like pushing a boulder uphill.
The other feels light, like being carried by a gentle current.
That’s the difference I want to explore with you today: the distinction between motivation and inspiration.
Which one is fueling your life right now?
And how might your journey shift if you leaned more into one than the other?
Curious about what inspiration can open up for you?
Then keep on reading.
Now let's get ALIGNED...
Inspirational Quote
"The things that are meant for you don’t require struggle. They call to you."
- Joselito Laudencia
The Story
Not too long ago, I was talking with a client who told me she wanted to get serious about meditation.
She admired people who could sit on a cushion, completely still, for long stretches of time. To her, it looked like the picture of spiritual peace.
So she gave it a try.
She’d sit down, close her eyes, and do her best to quiet her mind.
But the opposite happened.
Her thoughts raced even faster. Her legs started to ache. And instead of walking away with calm, she often ended her meditations feeling more frustrated than when she started.
She sighed and said, “I think I just need more motivation. More discipline. If I could just push myself harder, maybe I’d finally get there.”
Then she mentioned something almost as an afterthought.
She told me about her garden. How she could spend hours planting, weeding, and pruning, completely losing track of time. Out there, she wasn’t straining or forcing focus. She just slipped into it.
Her mind got quiet. Her heart opened. Time seemed to dissolve.
I paused and said, “Do you notice what’s happening there? That’s meditation too.”
The Spiritual Lesson
What struck me in that moment was how often we confuse motivation with inspiration.
Motivation has its place, but let’s be honest.
It usually feels like pushing.
It’s that inner voice saying, “Come on, just do it. Try harder. Don’t quit.”
And yes, it can get us moving, but it often leaves us tired, like we are grinding our way through.
Inspiration feels completely different.
It's lighter. It's not about pushing. It's about being pulled.
You don’t have to force it. Something in you just wants to say yes.
It's like a quiet invitation that feels natural to accept.
For my client, sitting on a cushion and trying to meditate felt heavy.
But the garden? She did not need to pump herself up to go out there. She loved it. She found herself in the flow of it.
That's inspiration at work.
And here is the beautiful part.
When we follow what inspires us, it often leads us exactly where we were trying to go in the first place, only with more joy and less struggle.
Motivation pushes from behind. Inspiration calls from ahead.
One drains your energy. The other fills you up.
So the real question is: which one do you want to follow more often?
Your Call to Action
Where in your life are you trying to push yourself with motivation?
And where might inspiration already be gently pulling you forward?
Take a few moments this week to notice. You might journal about it, or even just pause during your day to check in with yourself.
Ask, “Does this feel heavy or light? Am I forcing, or am I flowing?”
Sometimes the shift is subtle.
It might be choosing to read a book that excites you instead of the one you think you “should” finish.
Or reaching out to someone who lights you up, rather than spending more time in a relationship that drains you.
The more you listen for what feels like inspiration, the more you strengthen that inner compass.
This isn’t about abandoning discipline or responsibility. It’s about finding the places where discipline and joy naturally meet, where doing the thing actually gives you energy instead of taking it away.
That's the sweet spot of alignment.
So this week, may you give yourself permission to notice the difference.
May you recognize when you are grinding through life on sheer motivation.
And may you soften into those moments when inspiration is already waiting, ready to carry you forward.
Abundant Blessings and Namaste.
Abundant Good News and Notes
"What's Your Next Chapter?" Coaching: If you’re sensing it’s time for a new beginning, I’d love to support you. My one-on-one spiritual life coaching helps you listen within, find clarity, and step into your next chapter with courage. Learn more about my coaching services by clicking here.
Thanks for reading ALIGNED!
If you have any questions or want to share what you thought about this newsletter, hit reply and let me know.
Abundant Blessings,
Joselito Laudencia
Spiritual Life Coach, Teacher, Speaker
Author, The Creative Impulse: Answering the Highest Calling of Your Heart
www.abundantgood.com
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