The 2016 presidential election has left millions of people disappointed and fearful, and such immense feelings can be overwhelming, and even stressful to comprehend. Many of us woke up on November 9th with heavy hearts and feelings that resembled those that come with grief and loss. The weight of this election has left many people feeling depleted and I, for one, am in desperate need of some self-care.

Many of my Odyssey articles talk about the importance of self-love and looking after yourself to the best of your ability, and right now, that is more prevalent than ever. Many of us held on to the hope that had been instilled by Hillary Clinton and her running mate Tim Kaine, Bernie Sanders, Shailene Woodley, and so many other influencers through social media, rallies, debates, and speeches throughout the past 18 months or so. As I said to many of my friends and family, and even through various forms of social media, "This is not the time to back down, but a time to stand tall and embrace fear as it propels us forward. Love trumps hate, and it always will." In the midst of uncertain and fearful times, here are some of the best quotes to come out of this election from a variety of influencers.

1. "To all the little girls...never doubt that you are valuable and powerful and deserving of every chance and opportunity in the world to pursue and achieve your own dreams." - Hillary Clinton

In her recent concession speech to Donald Trump, Hillary spoke to the young girls of America, reminding them that they do have a purpose in this world and that our dreams matter. As I heard her speak these words, I remember my eyes welling up, not with sadness, but for the hope she presented to America in a time of fear and hopelessness. Hillary Clinton is a reminder of the importance of hard work, passion, and perseverance for all women, and her message will ring true for years to come.

2. “We don’t fear the future, we shape it." - President Barack Obama.

No matter the results of this election, President Obama is right: we do, indeed shape the future. While the results of this election were unfavorable for many of us, we still have the ability to shape our futures through the pursuit of passion, activism, love, and the support of one another.

3. "If I can be a small voice in just encouraging others to look at those facts and realize, yes, you win some, you lose some, but we’re on the right path. We are going somewhere. We’re making progress. We’re moving forward to keep that momentum alive." - Shailene Woodley.

Be that small voice in encouraging others. While things may not have turned out the way we wanted and so desperately needed them to, we are, indeed, still going somewhere. We have to keep moving forward, no matter what. Make your voice heard and help keep this momentum alive.

4. "When they go low, we go high." - Michelle Obama

“When someone is cruel or acts like a bully, you don’t stoop to their level. No, our motto is, when they go low, we go high." Sometimes it seems easier to stoop to the level of the people who push us down, but it is so much better to hold our heads high and embrace compassion, openness, and kindness. Peaceful protests? Go for it. Stand up for what you believe in? Without a doubt.

5. "I have had successes and I have had setbacks. Sometimes really painful ones. Many of you are at the beginning of your professional public and political careers. You will have successes and setbacks, too. This loss hurts but please never stop believing that fighting for what's right is worth it." - Hillary Clinton

I couldn't have said it better myself. Don't ever stop fighting for what you believe in, especially when it comes to human rights. Love trumps hate.

The coming weeks, months, and even years may be uncertain, but what I do know is this: this is a time to unite. This is a time to turn that fear into passion and to let it propel us forward. We can't let go of what it means to love one another, to support one another, and to protect one another. We have to hold on to hope, because with hope comes passion, and with passion comes momentum.

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Do you, or someone you know, need help? There are a number of confidential and safe hotlines you can call to discuss depression, stress, suicidal ideation, self-harm and more. No problem is too big or too small. Here are some resources that are available to you:

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: The Lifeline Crisis phone and chat services are available 24/7. To chat with a specialist online, go to their website and start a new conversation. To speak with a specialist over the phone, call 1-800-273-8255 (TALK).

The Trevor Project: A 24/7 suicide prevention hotline for LGBTQ+ youths (between the ages of 13 and 24). They also offer texting (Thursdays & Fridays from 4pm-8pm ET) and chat services (daily from 3pm-9pm ET). Call 1-866-488-7386, or go to their website to chat.

Crisis Clinic: The Crisis Clinic phone service is also available 24/7 at 866-427-4747 (CRISIS).

If you're between the ages of 13 and 20, another great resource, phone and chat line is Teen Link. While this is not a 24 hour hotline, this service is run by trained and supervised teen volunteers between 6:00 p.m. and 10:00 p.m. Their chat line runs between 6:00 p.m. and 9:30 p.m., too. To speak with a trained teen volunteer, call 866-833-6546 (TEENLINK).