inspired by.....??

Inspiration:

–verb (used with object)

1.	to fill with an animating, quickening, or exalting influence: His courage inspired his followers.

2.	to produce or arouse (a feeling, thought, etc.): to inspire confidence in others.

3.	to fill or affect with a specified feeling, thought, etc.: to inspire a person with distrust.

4.	to influence or impel: Competition inspired her to greater efforts.

5.	to animate, as an influence, feeling, thought, or the like, does: They were inspired by a belief in a better future.

6.	to communicate or suggest by a divine or supernatural influence: writings inspired by God.

7.	to guide or control by divine influence.

8.	to prompt or instigate (utterances, acts, etc.) by influence, without acknowledgement of responsibility.

9.	to give rise to, bring about, cause, etc.: a philosophy that inspired a revolution.

10.	to take (air, gases, etc.) into the lungs in breathing; inhale.

11.	Archaic. a. to infuse (breath, life, etc.) by breathing (usually fol. by into). b. to breathe into or upon.

(Taken from dictionary.com)

As you can see from reading the 11 definitions above inspiration takes a wide variation of forms.

So, how does a person decide what inspires them?
Here's a few thoughts that have been bouncing around:

• Life experience; the things that have gone well for them and therefore that they know to be true, or the things that they've never experienced and wish that they had. Therefore causing them to draw inspiration from people who have managed to achieve what they could not.

• Individual characteristics and personalities - personality traits shape how a person interacts with their environment and the people around them, it controls their interests and hobbies - how they spend their time and invest their money....so will people with similar character traits inspire someone?

Althought, are there times when someone with a completely different character, personality, outlook and experience of life can inspire someone who is their 'complete opposite' or is common ground essential to inspiration?

• An especially challenging or profound event/thought experienced by another individual. In which case, what criteria are used to determine whether that is classed as inspiring.

Or does the reason for inspiration depend on which of the 11forms of inspiration I'm talking about!?

Is inspiration measured in the level of emotion aroused or thought provoked, in the number of tears cried or the number of brows creased into a frown?

For example...
“Reach high, for stars lie hidden in your soul. Dream deep, for every dream precedes the goal.”
Is this inspirational to you?

What about this.....
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hCwBf9TIaV0

Are there some individuals and experiences that are inspirational to everyone?

If not, why not?

Any thoughts and ideas on this welcomed.....