(Like me).
By Kayla Kibbe — Written on May 05, 2019
Live, laugh, love — Yeah, you know the drill.
I know, I know, you’ve heard it all before. And trust me, I get it. When you’re going through a rough time, sometimes inspirational words of wisdom are the absolute last thing you want to hear. Yeah, yeah. I know everything happens for a reason. Please keep your positive energy, cliches and self-care advice to yourself; I’ll handle this by napping too much and eating junk food — thanks.
I used to be firmly against “good vibes” of any kind. I was the relentlessly cynical friend who made it my job to always point out when the glass was really half empty. (Yes, I was a delight at parties.)
I liked to pretend that I was just being realistic, that what other people called cynicism or negativity was really just the truth. I told myself that I saw the world for what it really was, and everyone else was just lying to themselves.
The reality? I was just scared. I was trying to protect myself from disappointment by never allowing myself to hope or try for anything at all.
I didn’t want to deal with the shame and disappointment of wanting something and failing to get it. If I never allowed myself to want anything, I couldn’t be disappointed, now could I? Life hack!
And it worked… Sort of. I was never disappointed, but I sure as hell never actually got any of the things I secretly wanted. (It turns out you can’t actually turn off the part of your brain that wants stuff.) It took me a long time, but eventually I realized that the negative attitude I thought was protecting me had really just been holding me back.
Listen, I’m not saying I’m a completely reformed convert to the "good vibes" lifestyle. Don’t just dye their hair black to show everyone that they’re a beacon of optimism. But, the truth is, positive thinking and energy really are powerful. It may not seem like a bunch of inspirational quotes are the key to your success, (and frankly it does take much more than that) but a positive mindset really is crucial to getting the things you want in life.
Whether you're working toward a long-term goal, experiencing a major life change or just trying to get through the day (like turning off Netflix and putting on real pants), words can inspire, heal and uplift even the most downtrodden souls. Here's the ultimate collection of 50 inspirational quotes to live by and motivate you. I promise they’re not that cliche.
1. Embrace uncertainty.
"Embrace uncertainty. Some of the most beautiful chapters in our lives won't have a title until much later." — Bob Goff
2. Trust yourself.
"The hardest step she ever took was to blindly trust in who she was." — Atticus
3. It's better, not bitter.
"Let your past make you better, not bitter." — Unknown
4. Find the beauty in everything.
"It is up to you to see the beauty of everyday things." — Unknown
5. No one has a simple past.
"I've never met a strong person with an easy past." — Unknown
6. Not everyone will understand.
"Not everyone will understand your journey. That's okay. You're here to live your life, not to make everyone understand." — Unknown
7. Life is a gift.
"Life is a gift. Wake up every day and realize that." — Unknown
8. It's OK to be afraid.
"It's okay to be scared. Being scared means you're about to do something really, really brave." — Unknown
9. Life is your masterpiece.
"Edit your life frequently and ruthlessly. It's your masterpiece after all." — Unknown
10. Leave your comfort zone.
"Life begins at the end of your comfort zone." — Unknown
11. Be good.
"No matter what happens in life, be good to people. Being good to people is a wonderful legacy to leave behind." — Unknown
12. Life is short.
"Life is too short to give another minute to anyone or anything that doesn't make you happy." — Unknown
13. You will grow.
"Everything you go through, grows you." — Unknown
14. Calm down.
"Stop trying to calm the storm. Calm yourself, the storm will pass." — Unknown
15. Let your dreams take the lead.
"Don't be pushed around by the fears in your mind. Be led by the dreams in your heart." — Roy T. Bennett
16. Take chances.
"Take every chance you get in life, because some things only happen once." — Karen Gibbs
17. Share the love.
"Always leave people better than you found them. Hug the hurt. Kiss the broken. Befriend the lost. Love the lonely." — Unknown
18. Life is happening.
"Stop doubting and stop overthinking. Life is happening right now and you shouldn't waste it wishing it was different." — Unknown
19. Seek out your passion.
"It's a very short life. There's no reason not to go after what sets your soul on fire." — Unknown
20. Be happy now.
"Be happy with what you have while working for what you want." — Unknown
21. Happiness is your decision.
"How to be happy: Decide every morning that you are in a good mood." — Unknown
22. Trust it.
"Trust the timing of your life." — Unknown
23. Doubt kills dreams.
"Doubt kills more dreams than failure ever will." — Karim Seddiki
24. Living takes courage.
"Have the courage to live life the way you want to." — Unknown
25. Do what's best for you.
"There's nothing wrong with trying to hold on and there's nothing wrong with letting go. The trick is deciding which one is best for you." — Unknown
26. Support each other.
"Supporting another's success won't ever dampen yours." — Unknown
27. The past is in the past.
"If you don't leave the past in the past, it will destroy your future. Live for what today has to offer, not what yesterday has taken away." — Unknown
28. You get what you ask for.
"You get in life what you have the courage to ask for." — Unknown
29. It'll all work out.
"Life has a funny way of working out just when you start to believe it never will." — Unknown
30. Never stop moving forward.
"It does not matter how slowly you go as long as you do not stop." — Confucius
31. Become what you respect in life.
"Attract what you expect. Reflect what you desire. Become what you respect. Mirror what you admire." — Unknown
32. Remember the positives.
"Remember the compliments you receive. Forget the insults. (If you succeed in doing this, tell me how.)" — Mary Schmich
33. There's no time for boredom.
"There's no time to be bored in a world as beautiful as this." — Unknown
34. Don't leave regrets.
"In the end, we only regret the chances we didn't take." — Unknown
35. The next chapter will be better.
"I trust the next chapter, because I know the author." — Unknown
36. Rely on yourself.
"I got my own back." — Maya Angelou
37. Crying is not a weakness.
"Crying does not indicate that you are weak. Since birth, it has always been a sign that you are alive." — Charlotte Brontë
38. New beginnings can still be sad.
"New beginnings are often disguised as painful endings." — Lao Tzu
39. Keep going.
"I didn't come this far to only come this far." — Unknown
40. You're ready now.
"Stop talking yourself out of opportunities because you don't feel like you are ready yet. It's time to jump. You are ready now." — Unknown
41. Jealousy is pointless.
"Don't waste your time on jealousy. Sometimes you're ahead, sometimes you're behind. The race is long and, in the end, it's only with yourself." — Mary Schmich
42. Always rise up.
"What defines us is how well we rise after falling." — Unknown
43. Life's too short for worrying.
"Life appears to me too short to be spent nursing animosity or registering wrongs." — Charlotte Brontë
44. You're enough.
"Be strong enough to stand alone, smart enough to know when you need help, and brave enough to ask for it." — Unknown
45. It's OK to be different.
"The older I get the more I understand that it's okay to live a life others don't understand." — Unknown
46. Hold on to that key.
"Never put the key to your happiness in somebody else's pocket."
47. Trust your process.
"The waiting. The meantime. The in-between. It all serves a purpose. Trust your process, even the delays and detours." — Unknown
48. Try new things every day.
"Do one thing every day that scares you." — Eleanor Roosevelt
49. Love yourself first.
"In order to love who you are, you cannot hate the experiences that shaped you." — Andrea Dykstra
50. Our best is yet to come.
"What a wonderful thought it is that some of the best days of our lives haven't happened yet." — Unknown
If you’re looking for a little inspiration, we’ve got the best quotes to share and savor. For quotes from the most inspiring celebs, activists, and poets, look no further! You might even find the quote that motivates the best parts of your life (and love!) forever.
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Kayla Kibbe is a writer wrapping up her final semester at Connecticut College where she is an English major with a concentration in creative writing. She writes about astrology, love and relationships, covering everything from dating and single life to love and marriage.