It is said that inspiration doesn’t last when it comes from the outside, however when it comes from the inside, it can be all the force you need to succeed in life.
I don’t quite understand the outside / inside concept in the former saying. Personally, more often than not I have found inspiration in external situations – in a conversation with a friend or simply observing some people. Sometimes, it lasted only for a fleeting moment. But the times that it struck a chord with me, it left a lasting impression. I think we are impacted by what we choose to internalize – what we reflect on and process. That is the kind of inspiration that has the power to light a fire inside us, and become a positive force in our life. Having said that, I don’t mean to generalize this. I can only speak for myself. 🙂
Today, I have gathered some of my favorite inspirational quotes to share with all of you, to add to your sources of external inspiration for the day. 😉
I would love to hear from you. Do you feel that inspiration is external? Or do you find it within you? What is your current favorite quote? Do you feel that inspirational quotes work?
*This post is written for the AtoZChallenge.
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ann bennett
Inspiration and motivation come from within for sure. My dad always said it was good to have dreams. Without dreams life looses its luster.
ann bennett recently posted…Invasive Species
Shanaya Tales
Oh yes, there is so much truth in that statement – Without dreams, life does lose its luster. 🙂
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Susan Gourley
I think something external can inspire but its your internal inspiration that turns it into something you can use.
Shanaya Tales
I agree completely!
Shanaya Tales recently posted…Valentineâs Day for Toddlers! – Why does this exist?!
Shalini
I’m in love with the quotes you shared, esp the third one! And that’s a great post! 🙂
Shalini recently posted…Forever alone No more- I
Shanaya Tales
Thank you so much, Shalini. 🙂
Shanaya Tales recently posted…Valentineâs Day for Toddlers! – Why does this exist?!
Sue Kuentz
I definitely agree that inspiration is within us and all around us. Inspiration for me comes from attending storytelling festivals, conferences, writing workshops, conversations, and just listening to strangers in passing – wishing I always carry a small notebook around with me (which I have but tend to leave in the wrong places – ugh) Great post!
Shanaya Tales
Hahaha.. I have one such notebook, which is never with me when I need it the most. Thanks for stopping by, Sue.
Shanaya Tales recently posted…What Inspires You? #AtoZChallenge 2015 @AprilA2Z
Shilpa Garg
I believe, inspiration is everywhere… in the internal as well as the external. When it comes from unexpected places, people or things, it is truly an Aha! moment!
Shilpa Garg recently posted…I is for Impatience #AtoZChallenge @AprilA2Z
Shanaya Tales
I agree. Thanks for sharing your thoughts, Shilpa. 🙂
Shanaya Tales recently posted…What Inspires You? #AtoZChallenge 2015 @AprilA2Z
Pratikshya
i always need my daily dose of inspiration… quotes, blog posts, newspaper articles, interviews do inspire me.. 🙂 movies and novels too.. 🙂
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Shanaya Tales
Yeah, these are pretty regular sources of inspiration for me too. But books and movies play a larger role. 🙂
Shanaya Tales recently posted…What Inspires You? #AtoZChallenge 2015 @AprilA2Z
Swathi Shenoy
Nice quotes Shantala 🙂 And it is so true that external inspiration doesn’t last for long. I have experienced it. Whenever I hear some motivational speech, I feel highly inspired but it wanes off after sometime. But the inspiration that takes birth within, the one that makes you want to do something, it stays forever 🙂 Lovely post 🙂
Swathi Shenoy recently posted…It Happens For A Reason
Shanaya Tales
Glad you liked it, Swathi. Thanks for stopping by. 🙂
Shanaya Tales recently posted…What Inspires You? #AtoZChallenge 2015 @AprilA2Z
Shailaja
I think that statement about inspiration from within is closely linked to motivation. In that, I mean that unless you are intrinsically inspired from within, the need to do something may not be realised by mere external motivation. The spark lies within you and can be helped but not truly lit by an external force. Maybe I just confused you further 😉
Shailaja recently posted…Intense-#AtoZChallenge @AprilA2Z
Shanaya Tales
Why did I not think of this? This makes perfect sense. Thank you so much for sharing. 🙂
Shanaya Tales recently posted…What Inspires You? #AtoZChallenge 2015 @AprilA2Z
Megan Morgan
These are wonderful quotes! I really like the one about if you can’t stop thinking about it, don’t stop working for it. I find music inspiring–always gets the creative wheels turning!
Megan Morgan recently posted…I is for Inspiration
Shanaya Tales
Glad you liked it, Megan. Thanks for stopping by. 🙂
Shanaya Tales recently posted…What Inspires You? #AtoZChallenge 2015 @AprilA2Z
Sundari Venkatraman
As you mention, I don’t know if inspiration strikes from within or without. But it’s awesome when it does. I think its the very basis of creativity. Great post as usual. 🙂
Shanaya Tales
Thank you, Sundari. 🙂
Shanaya Tales recently posted…What Inspires You? #AtoZChallenge 2015 @AprilA2Z
Sanch @ Living my Imperfect Life
I’m with you on inspiration coming from both outside and within. After all, it’s the stuff on the outside that might inspire us and then our own creativity chips in. Nice quotes to go with this inspirational post! 🙂
Sanch @ Living my Imperfect Life recently posted…I is for Insectophobia #atozchallenge
Shanaya Tales
Thanks Sanch. Glad you liked it. 🙂
Shanaya Tales recently posted…What Inspires You? #AtoZChallenge 2015 @AprilA2Z
Soumya
Everything around me inspires me. Be it a person, a picture, a feeling or some damn stationary object.
Plus it works with my wide imagination 🙂
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Shanaya Tales
An imagination certainly helps. Thanks for stopping by, Soumya. 🙂
Shanaya Tales recently posted…What Inspires You? #AtoZChallenge 2015 @AprilA2Z
the little princess
I loved the quote that said, amateurs built the arc while professionals built the titanic! so much said in so few words!! I have never thought about where my inspiration comes from….hmmm…as I try to think now, it feels like a pull from within… I do something because I want to do it, and I have to inspire myself to get going….
One quote that I like is: the only person you should try to better than, is the person you were yesterday!
the little princess recently posted…I for Immarcescible
Shanaya Tales
Completely agree with that quote. Thanks for sharing your thoughts. Glad to have you here. 🙂
Shanaya Tales recently posted…What Inspires You? #AtoZChallenge 2015 @AprilA2Z
Prasanna
I believe that it’s wise to be inspired from within because external inspiration is fickle 🙂 However I am learning to be inspired by my own thoughts and not by other people around my life.
Shanaya Tales
Hmm.. I think I too have found a new way of looking at this, thanks to Shailaja -that the spark must lie within you, though it can certainly be helped by external forces. Thanks for sharing your thoughts, Prasanna. 🙂
Shanaya Tales recently posted…What Inspires You? #AtoZChallenge 2015 @AprilA2Z
Devika Fernando
That’s a lovely post, especially the quotes are indeed ‘inspirational’. As a writer, I can get inspired by everything and everyone. I react especially powerfully to photos and art as a spontaneous writing prompt. And of course reading a good book can serve as inspiration.
My link: http://www.devikafernando.com/blog/blogging-from-a-to-z-challenge-letter-i-intimacy
Shanaya Tales
Yes, good books and movies are a surefire way for me. Thanks for sharing your thoughts, Devika.:)
Shanaya Tales recently posted…What Inspires You? #AtoZChallenge 2015 @AprilA2Z
Vinitha
Sometimes inspiration comes from within, sometimes from outside. It doesn’t matter where inspiration comes from as long as it inspires us into leading a happy, positive life. 🙂
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Shanaya Tales
True. Thanks for stopping by, Vinitha. 🙂
Shanaya Tales recently posted…What Inspires You? #AtoZChallenge 2015 @AprilA2Z
Parul
So, once I was reading about introverts and extroverts and I learnt that introverts are those who draw energy from within and extroverts are those who draw energy externally. So, I would relate to that and say that drawing inspiration could be internally or externally – I draw inspiration from within most of the times but external factors do encourage me.
Oops – looks like I got too philosophical! 😀
Great post Shantala and lovely quotes – I loved reading it!
Parul recently posted…I for I, me, myself
Shanaya Tales
Glad you liked it, Parul. Thanks for sharing your thoughts. 🙂
Shanaya Tales recently posted…What Inspires You? #AtoZChallenge 2015 @AprilA2Z
Shilpa Gupte
Shantala, I think inspiration is mostly external. I get inspired when I read a quote, as above, or, when I talk to a friend, or look at an inspiring sketch or read an inspiring post by a blogger. And, when inspiration strikes, it stays for quite some time, till the time I do something about it for myself, my life.
Shilpa Gupte recently posted…A lesson learnt.
Shanaya Tales
External inspiration has been my go-to for a long time. However, after reading what Shailaja has to say about it, I feel that probably there does need to be an internal spark present for the external influences to make an impact. So glad to have you here, Shilpa. Thanks for stopping by. 🙂
Shanaya Tales recently posted…What Inspires You? #AtoZChallenge 2015 @AprilA2Z
elly stornebrink
I believe it can be both externally and internally. 🙂 BTW, I wrote about inspiration too! (http://xpressyouressence.blogspot.ca/2015/04/a-to-z-challenge-i-is-for-inspiration.html). 😉 For myself, it is usually but not limited to the arts: music, theatre, film, books, writing as well as nature and people. 😉 <3
elly stornebrink recently posted…#A to Z Challenge: I is for Inspiration!
Shanaya Tales
Books and movies certainly do inspire me too. Thanks for sharing your thoughts, Elly.
Shanaya Tales recently posted…What Inspires You? #AtoZChallenge 2015 @AprilA2Z
G Angela
I Agree with you inspiration comes from within & also from the external. I have been inspired mostly from external, its a lovely book, or a movie, a talk by some great personality at other times, its music, listening to young people/women – which happens because of my work. Thanks for sharing, I loved the quotes..
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Shanaya Tales
Glad you liked it, Angela. Thanks for stopping by. 🙂
Shanaya Tales recently posted…What Inspires You? #AtoZChallenge 2015 @AprilA2Z