Vishen LakhianiFounder of Mindvalley | NYT Bestselling Author | Transforming Lives Globally

Living By Intention Vs. Inspiration | Vishen Lakhiani

25 Mar 2016 · 1 min

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Vishen Lakhiani contrasts two approaches to setting goals: living from intention (choosing goals based on one’s own will) versus living from inspiration (receiving a calling or nudges from a larger source—universe/God—that generate inspiration which then produces intention). He explains that when inspiration precedes intention the goal "comes through you" rather than from you, and endorses living from inspiration as a preferable model. The idea is attributed to authors including Joe Vitale and Reverend Michael Beckwith.

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So there's a big difference between living from intention and living from inspiration. I love this model. This was introduced to me by several authors, including Joe Vitale and Reverend Michael Beckwith. The idea is this. Most people set a goal based solely on intention. I want this, I want that. That's who I'm going to be. Living from inspiration, however, is different. Living from inspiration is the idea that there is a purpose that we are meant to fulfill, that everybody a calling, and that there is a means by which you can be connected to the universe or God or whatever you want to call it and get an impulse or a hint on that calling. That calling creates an inspiration, and that inspiration leads to your intention. That intention is what now becomes your goal. So in other words, the goal doesn't come from you, it comes through you. That's the difference between living by intention and living by inspiration. When you live by inspiration, you feel nudges hints that cause you to step on the right path towards what is your calling. And I believe this is the far better way to live.