23/02/2024
Inspiration and influence! What do you value more?
My biggest goal in life is to ‘inspire’ my children; Sofía and Harry. As you can see they have been ‘influenced’ by me from a sporting perspective. Trust me, this won’t always bring happy times!
They will also be inspired and influenced by others, and in most cases, as they get older this will be out of my hands. Who inspires and influences us can have a major impact on how we feel and behave.
Inspiration and influence are related concepts but have distinct nuances.
Inspiration often refers to the process of being mentally stimulated to do or feel something, typically creative or artistic. It’s that spark that ignites creativity, motivation, or passion within someone. It can come from various sources such as nature, art, music, literature, experiences, or even other people’s accomplishments. It tends to be more personal and internal, driving individuals to pursue their unique visions or goals.
Influence involves the capacity to have an effect on the character, development, or behaviour of someone or something. Influence can be intentional or unintentional and can stem from a variety of factors including authority, persuasion, manipulation, or simply the power of example. Influences shape attitudes, beliefs, decisions, and actions, often exerting external pressure or guidance on individuals or groups.
Inspiration sparks internal creativity and motivation, influence can shape external behaviours and decisions. Inspiration often precedes influence, as it can lead to actions or choices that then become subject to external influences.
Essentially we are all inspired and influenced by external factors. However, we are in control of who and what ‘we let in’.
Who inspires and/or influences you?
