Words have immense power on the way we think, the way we feel, and the way we approach life. In times when we lack inspiration or are having a tough time figuring out our next step into the future, we should always read through quotes to spark our minds. Below are 15 quotes that you should remind yourself of daily so that you can live by them through any experience.
1. “Raise your words, not your voice. It is rain that grows flowers, not thunder.” --Jalal ad-Din Muhammad Rumi
When we’re participating in an argument or when we get frustrated over a certain outcome, we tend to scream and yell to the person standing across from us. Although we might feel more dominant and overpowering by raising our voices, the quality of our words is what is actually more imperative. Instead of screaming at the other person, step back, think about what you’re about to say, and speak in words that will mentally conquer the person in front of you. The quality of your words will provide a stronger impact.
2. “Would you still want to travel to that country if you could not take a camera with you?” --Nayyirah Waheed
This quote is actually very versatile. Not only do we have to think about it when it comes to traveling, but also in our daily encounters. Would you still want to eat that meal if you couldn’t take a picture of it? Would you still want to go to that party if you couldn’t photograph it? If something is truly important to you and if it will truly stimulate your mind, you wouldn’t need a camera with you to document it. Next time you’re about to do anything, think about this quote.
3. “You just have to make a decision and move on.” --Phillip Lim
We all waste time dwelling on situations that we don’t have complete control over. Instead of wasting time and energy, and instead of going back and forth on whether or not to do something, make a choice and move on. Life is too short to dwell on meaningless scenarios.
4. “Trust nothing but your own experience.” --David Bowie
It is a common impulse to believe what other people say, especially if you have put trust into their words. However, never take anyone’s words for truth. Trust your own personal experience, your own eyes, and your own heart. Although others may be right about certain situations, your personal experience will provide you with the right or wrong answers in life.
5. “You have power over your mind -- not outside events.” --Marcus Aurelius
Instead of focusing on what is happening in the outside world, focus on what is happening in your own mental world. You don’t have the power to control external situations but if you control what you think and what you feel, you will find strength to accomplish everything.
6. "You know you are doing well when you lose the interest of looking back." --Unknown
If you’re truly satisfied with the direction of your life, you wouldn’t feel the need to reminisce through past events. The simplest way to know if you’ve moved on is by noticing if you’ve thought about the past or not. If you haven’t thought about it, you’ve lost interest in it.
7. "Do things your future self will thank you for." --Unknown
Every time you’re about to do something -- whether it be related to your career, your love life, or your family life -- think if your future self will be thankful for your upcoming action. Do something today that you’ll be grateful for in the future, and make sure that your present actions and decisions will be acknowledged by your future self.
8. "When thinking about life, remember this: no amount of guilt can change the past, and no amount of anxiety can change the future.” --Unknown
Live and let be. Don’t dwell on the past and don’t worry about the future. You have no control over what has already occurred, so why go through the horrible feeling of guilt? You also don’t have control over the future, so why go through the uneasy feeling of anxiety?
9. "A great future doesn’t require a great past." --William Chapman
Every day is a new day. You don’t have to have a perfect history to succeed in the future. Today is a new day to achieve great things, so start fresh and create the future you had always hoped for.
10. “If you know yourself, then you’ll not be harmed by what is said about you.” --Imam Sufyan Al Thawri
It is very simple to focus on what others say about you. However, if you know your true self and you realize the person that you are, then you won't be affected by what others say about you. Stay true to yourself and focus on your personal satisfaction because if you know who you are, the opinions of others about you will not matter.
11. “If it is important to you, you will find a way. If not, you’ll find an excuse." --Jim Rohn
We tend to push tasks aside by simply telling ourselves that we don’t have time. However, if you’re truly passionate about a task, you will make time and you will put your heart and soul into it. If you push something aside or come up with an excuse for it, then it isn’t important. When you truly desire something, you’ll go after it.
12. "In 20 years, you will be more disappointed by what you didn’t do than by what you did." --Mark Twain
You will feel more regret over the opportunities that you didn’t take than the occurrences that you did partake in. Experience things and go for them -- regret is a feeling that will cause a burden on you forever. The courage to do something will only last one moment, whereas the regret of not doing it will last a lifetime. Even if you do regret something that you did do in the past, at least it was an experience that you learned from.
13. "Everyone you will ever meet knows something you don’t." --Bill Nye
Listen to what others have to say, pay attention to detail, and be open minded. You can learn simple daily knowledge, intellectual information, or factual evidence that you didn’t know before from anyone that you come across. By opening your eyes and your ears to those around you, you will constantly be learning new material.
14. "Work until you no longer have to introduce yourself." --Unknown
Build a powerful and a positive name for yourself so that, when you walk into any room, the audience automatically knows who you are for what you have achieved.
15. "Sunshine all the time makes a desert." --Arab Proverb
Even though warm sunny weather sounds nice, many problems can come along with that. Rain is something necessary so that plants won’t die. Similarly in life, we all need thunderstorms (or bad times) in our lives. We need both sunshine (the positives) and rain (the negatives) to live a complete life because, without both, your life will be empty and dry just like a desert. Next time you experience a tough time in your life, remind yourself that a little bit of negativity is necessary for overall happiness.
