Lovers are the best source of inspiration

Romantic partners don’t just provide love and support but are also the biggest source of inspiration in each other’s lives, according to research by distance learning provider Home Learning College. In a survey of 3,000 British adults, over a fifth (21%) named their other half as the person who inspires them most. Interestingly, the sexes were in complete agreement, with equal numbers of men and women choosing their partner as their primary positive influence. Parents were named as the second most popular source of inspiration, as chosen by 17% of women and 14% of men. Friends were in third place, with 12% of the vote, followed by children with 11%. Famous role models, such as sports stars or celebrities, are more likely to act as motivational figures for men than women. Just under a tenth of males named a well-known personality as the person who inspires them most compared to 5% of women. It would seem that inspiration is in short supply within the workplace though: only 4% of people named their boss or colleagues as their main source of motivation or encouragement. “While self motivation is undoubtedly important, we all need to look beyond ourselves for inspiration from time to time,” comments Dave Snow, Academic Director at Home Learning College. “Having a positive role model can provide that extra boost to make the most of our lives and achieve our goals. This research shows that inspiration is most likely to come from those closest to us. However, we shouldn’t underestimate the value of high profile individuals to show what can be achieved with a little dedication and sense of purpose.” Life coach and best-selling motivational author Fiona Harrold comments on the research: “It’s vital to choose a partner you can respect and admire. The qualities and attributes we admire in our nearest and dearest are the ones we often aspire to for ourselves. Being around someone who inspires us with their values is one of the best ways to develop and grow ourselves. We learn by example and we learn most from those closest to us, by consciously and unconsciously embodying and mirroring their standards and behaviours. The message is, choose your partner carefully!” For more information on Home Learning College and enhancing your life through further study visit http://www.homelearningcollege.co.uk. Further inspirational advice can be found on www.fionaharrold.com. Interviews with Dave Snow and Fiona Harrold are available on request. ENDS

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