Inspirational Quotes to Boost Your Well-Being
Learn how inspirational quotes can help your mental well-being and discover what speaks to you.
Have you ever felt a lack of motivation to work towards your goals and dreams? If so, you might benefit from getting some inspiration. Inspiration is the feeling that happens when you feel moved to action because of an experience. A strong burst of inspiration may even be accompanied by feelings like goosebumps or an urge to cry because of how moved you are.
There are times that you may become discouraged or downtrodden due to life obstacles you encounter. Inspirational quotes can be helpful during these times to remind you of all the positive impact you have on the world. When integrated into treatment programs, inspirational quotes have been shown to help adults with stress, anxiety, depression, and substance abuse (Bedrov & Bulaj, 2018).
Inspirational quotes can increase:
● Self-confidence
● Motivation
● Empowerment
● Satisfaction (Bedrov & Bulaj, 2018)
In addition, inspirational quotes have been used as a tool to help students learn English as a second language (Al-Jarf, 2021). Students reported that they enjoyed using the quotes as a way to enhance their understanding of the English language rather than in “dry” textbooks. This means that inspirational quotes can have both educational and clinical benefits.
Below, you will find a short compilation of popular inspirational quotes for a variety of people and situations. Once you find a quote that resonates with you, try making it your phone’s background or writing it on a post-it and sticking it to your mirror for an extra boost of encouragement when you need it the most.
"If you don't like the road you're walking, start paving another one."—Dolly Parton
“Don't be pushed around by the fears in your mind. Be led by the dreams in your heart.”―Roy T. Bennett
"The bad news is time flies. The good news is you're the pilot."—Michael Altshuler
"I believe we are here on the planet Earth to live, grow up and do what we can to make this world a better place for all people to enjoy freedom."—Rosa Parks
“Whatever you are, be a good one.”—Abraham Lincoln
“Fall seven times, stand up eight.”—Japanese Proverb
“Believe you can and you’re halfway there.”—Theodore Roosevelt
“You must do the thing you think you cannot do.”—Eleanor Roosevelt
“Nothing is impossible. The word itself says ‘I’m possible!'”—Audrey Hepburn
“If you dream it, you can do it.”—Walt Disney
“Turn your wounds into wisdom.”—Oprah Winfrey
“Dream as if you’ll live forever, live as if you’ll die today.”—James Dean
"Don't bother just to be better than your contemporaries or predecessors. Try to be better than yourself."—William Faulkner
“Perseverance is the hard work you do after you get tired of doing the hard work you already did.”—Newt Gingrich
"If you set your goals ridiculously high and it's a failure, you will fail above everyone else's success."—James Cameron
"I know the price of success: dedication, hard work, and an unremitting devotion to the things you want to see happen.”— Frank Lloyd Wright
"Success isn't always about greatness. It's about consistency. Consistent hard work leads to success. Greatness will come."—Dwayne Johnson
"Success is not final; failure is not fatal: It is the courage to continue that counts."—Winston S. Churchill
“We tend to forget that happiness doesn't come as a result of getting something we don't have, but rather of recognizing and appreciating what we do have.”—Frederick Keonig
“Happiness is when what you think, what you say, and what you do are in harmony.”—Mahatma Gandhi
“If you want to live a happy life, tie it to a goal, not to people or objects.”—Albert Einstein
“Instead of wondering when your next vacation is, maybe you should set up a life you don’t need to escape from.”—Seth Godin
"If you want to be happy, set a goal that commands your thoughts, liberates your energy, and inspires your hopes."—Andrew Carnegie
“Being able to be your true self is one of the strongest components of good mental health.”—Lauren Fogel Mersy
“There is hope, even when your brain tells you there isn’t.”―John Green
“My dark days made me stronger. Or maybe I already was strong, and they made me prove it.”—Emery Lord
“Recovery is not one and done. It is a lifelong journey that takes place one day, one step at a time.”—Unknown
“There is a crack in everything, that’s how the light gets in.”―Leonard Cohen
In Sum
Inspirational quotes are nuggets of wisdom that usually come from well-respected historical, or current, figures. These nuggets can help ignite a spark in you if you feel that your motivation or zest for life is waning. They are not meant to be a stand-alone treatment but can be helpful as an additional tool for increasing confidence, motivation, empowerment, and life satisfaction (Bedrov & Bulaj, 2018).
References
● Al-Jarf, R. (2021). Enhancing EFL freshman students' reading skills with inspirational quotes. Asian Research Journal of Arts & Social Sciences, 1–11.
● Bedrov, A., & Bulaj, G. (2018). Improving self-esteem with motivational quotes: Opportunities for Digital Health Technologies for people with chronic disorders. Frontiers in Psychology, 9.