I’ve always loved quotes. I find they wrap up into concise words the feelings I have a hard time understanding. Throughout my life, I’ve added quotes to my ‘Live By’ file. I’ve decided to share the top 10 quotes I live by, maybe to inspire you or maybe to help keep me going. Maybe a bit of both.
Either way, I’ve listed them below and offered my insight into why they’re so fantastic (yes, I knew you were hoping for my commentary, I got you). So without further ado, let’s dig in.
1. “You must sacrifice what you want for what you want more.”
Now this quote is a paraphrase from a quote by President Lincoln, but I like my friend’s version better. This is the make-or-break mindset that decides whether or not you will ultimately succeed in pursuing your dreams. There will always be something fun, exciting, and alluring that comes along as you treck to your destination. I use this quote to keep me on track, no matter how bittersweet it might be.
2. “You take your life in your own hands, and what happens? A terrible thing: no one to blame.” ~Erica Jong
I found this quote back when I was 15, and hung onto it. It’s a good reminder, and one I give myself daily. If I want to become a person who is able to follow her dreams, I must own my life, the good, the bad, and the ugly. The only other alternative is giving that power to someone else. No thank you.
3. “If you aren’t also in the arena getting your ass kicked, I’m not interested in your feedback.” — Brene Brown
I love this quote. It resonated with me because I hate struggling with worry about the opinions of others. And this solidified that for me. I know whose advice is important to me. If I receive comments from people not on that list, I smile, nod my bead, and ignore them. And believe me when I tell you that the list is a very short one. It frees me to not get caught up in the petty thoughts of those who aren’t trying nearly as hard as I am.
4. “Refule your soul love, this is a long drive.” — JH Hard
With chronic illness, it can be easy to get lost in the frustration of it all. This simple but beautiful saying reminds me to slow down, be patient, and remember that this isn’t a sprint but a marathon. It is also a good reminder to have something that is intrinsically refreshing — a long bath, going to the movies solo once a month, whatever it is that simply hits the reset button.
5. “I am practicing being kind over being right.” — Mathew Quick
There’s not enough compassion in this world. And when you do so much internal work, it’s easy to feel like you’re a step above others and allowed to make that known. But the higher road is to meet people where they’re at, especially if you’re progressing. I’m striving to be a kind soul, no matter what my pride thinks.
6. “Courage, dear heart.” — C.S. Lewis
This one is pretty self-explanatory. Simple but so powerful, it makes me smile every time. The mind can look at situations clinically, and that’s fabulous. But your heart doesn’t operate that way. It’s more sensitive, more susceptible to the blows that life deals. It’s important to remember to strengthen your internal walls. Not to keep people out, but to cultivate the courage you need to move forward.
7. “A lack of boundaries invites a lack of respect.” — Anonymous
I work to implement this in my personal life as well as my professional life. This is the current struggle that I’m working on at the moment. I believe that boundaries set will give you the clarity and energy to move forward in life. It isn’t always easy, but it’s always worth it.
8. “And suddenly you know…it’s time to start something new and trust in the magic of beginnings.”
I don’t consider myself a romantic, but this is as close as I get to it. I read this every time I’m about to embark on something new. Which has been a lot recently. This isn’t to be confused with the idea that you should give up on something when it’s hard and try something else. But I find that a lot of people don’t believe they have the permission to start over once a decision is made…and that’s simply not true.
9. “Stop focusing on dumb shit!” — Gary Vee
Here’s the thing. It’s easy to get wrapped up in problems, or perceived problems, that have nothing to do with your goals. Why get bothered by distractions that aren’t relevant when you can spend that energy and time on what truly matters? And don’t get me wrong, it may feel like it matters initially, but if you really think about it, it’s a small blip in the grand scheme of things. So why are you bothering with it?
10. “It’s a funny thing about life; if you refuse to accept anything but the best, you very often get it.” — Somerset Maugham
I love this so much. I found this quote when I was 15 as well, and man, it’s powerful. So often we believe we don’t deserve the best, or we can’t reach that level. Or we’re worried that if we truly give it our all we might fall short. But that fear is what is ultimately holding us back. And friend, it’s time to breakthrough.
