Doing It From Love Or For Love?

Untangling the quiet difference between soulful inspiration and self-pressure

Are you being called to do it?

Or are you doing it to avoid a consequence?

I think so many of our decisions come down to this.

Whether it’s creating something, making a health choice, or deciding how to spend your free time—there’s a quiet but powerful difference between doing something from love, and doing it for love.

To me, that’s the difference between inspiration and motivation.

Inspiration comes from a place of inner fullness, alignment, or curiosity.

Motivation, especially when fear-driven, often stems from the belief that we’re not enough yet—that we need to earn love, approval, safety, or worth.

The Subtle Difference Between Fear And Trust

Sometimes we act because we’re afraid of what will happen if we don’t:
We’ll fall behind.
We’ll be forgotten.
We’ll be judged.

But when we act from inspiration, it carries a quieter clarity—a soft but steady “yes.”

Take something as simple as exercise.

Are you doing it because you’re drawn to the way it makes you feel—more energy, more joy, more at home in your body?

Or are you doing it because an ad convinced you that if you don’t, you’re doing something wrong?

This isn’t about whether exercise is good or bad.

It’s about the energy behind the choice.

There’s a difference between doing something because you want to… and doing it because you’re afraid not to.

It’s a subtle difference. But it matters.

How This Showed Up In My Own Life

I’ve been noticing this dynamic in my creative life lately.

There’s been more traction on Substack recently—more eyes on what I post, especially in Notes.

I’m grateful. But I also noticed… a wobble.

When no one was reading, I wondered why not.

When people did start reading, I wondered if I was doing enough.

Isn’t it funny how the mind will find a problem either way?

At first, I tried posting five or more Notes a day because I’d read that was a good strategy.

Unsurprisingly, I burned out quickly.

Eventually, I found a rhythm that felt better—one longer post a week, and one Note a day. It feels spacious. Sustainable. More like me.

The Gentle Voice Of Inspiration Vs. The Harsh Voice Of Expectation

Still, the questioning voice creeps in:

Is it enough?

It’s a familiar pattern.

Whenever I find a new sense of balance, my mind resists the stillness. It wants to do more. Push harder. Prove something.

I’ve felt it on YouTube too.

I recently posted a video that got fewer than ten views (half of which were probably mine).

And just like that, my mind started telling stories:

“You’re not good enough.”
“This isn’t worth it.”
“Maybe you should stop.”

But I paused. And I asked myself:

Am I creating from inspiration, or from motivation?

The truth is, I don’t love the whole process of making videos.

But I do love speaking when I feel connected to a topic. I love the feeling of having made something meaningful.

Still, the rest—planning, filming, editing—can feel hard.

And when I’m in that space, I become the meanest boss I’ve ever had.

Nothing is ever good enough.

When Enough Finally Feels Like Enough

But I care about the message.

I want to support others who—like me—have spent years putting everyone else first.

I want to offer something that reminds them of their own enough-ness.
And in doing so, remind myself of mine.

But I don’t want to create from pressure.

I don’t want to chase love through numbers—views, likes, followers.

So I keep returning to this question:

Am I doing this from love, or for love?

It’s not always easy to tell.

But asking the question helps me soften.

It reminds me that there’s a different way.

A way that feels…
kinder.
quieter.
truer.

What about you?

How do you think of inspiration vs. motivation?