Are you struggling to make things come together in your life? You are not alone.
Here are some of the most inspirational quotes for women, from women who have been where you are.
1. “A strong woman is a woman determined to do something others are determined not to be done.” –Marge Piercy
Photo by Ira Wood
In life, we have to learn to convince ourselves that there is no such thing as impossible. There are ways to work around any problem, as long as you are willing to put in the effort to come up with a solution that requires a little creative thinking. There will be times when you will tell someone you want to do something, and they will tell you it won’t work. That is when you have to stand up and press on, to make it happen anyway, no matter who tries to stop you.
2. “The most difficult thing is the decision to act, the rest is merely tenacity.” –Amelia Earhart
Getting started is the hardest part of any major decisions we make in our lives. It is very easy to say, “I have an idea,” and never pursue it. It is easy to say, “I don’t like how this is,” and never do anything to try and change it. But once you decide to do something, everything thereafter becomes easier. It seems much less intimidating, and somehow you find the confidence to go forward without looking back.
3. “No matter how difficult and painful it may be, nothing sounds as good to the soul as the truth.” –Martha Beck
Tell the truth. People will respect you more in the end for telling the truth than they will resent you for your honesty. Be someone people know they can rely on, someone who will present things as they are, even when it’s difficult to do so.
4. “I was smart enough to go through any door that opened.” –Joan Rivers
Photo by Underbelly Limited
Sometimes, you will have to turn things down when they do not fit with your values or goals. But that does not mean you should not always seek the opportunities that are within reaching distance, whether you are one hundred percent sure they will work out or not. Reach for the opportunities that open up to you, even if they scare you. You never know where they might lead.
5. “When I’m hungry, I eat. When I’m thirsty, I drink. When I feel like saying something, I say it.” –Madonna
Photo by chrisweger
You have thoughts and opinions, and you should never feel like you have to hold those things back because of who or where you are. You have a right to speak your mind, and no one can take that away from you. Be confident in the value of the things you have to share with the world.
6. “Knowing what must be done does away with fear.” –Rosa Parks
Deep down, you are probably a lot smarter than you think you are. When you see a problem, you know almost instantly what needs to be done to change it. You might not know the details, but you know what the end result needs to be, and you know it needs to become a goal. Once you come to that conclusion, once you know what needs to be changed, you will find the courage to make it happen.
7. “If you don’t like the road you’re walking, start paving another one.” –Dolly Parton
Photo by Alan Light
The only person to blame for your life being the way it is, is you. If you aren’t happy with the way things have turned out, you are the only one who can alter the course of your life and define a new path for yourself. No person or circumstance is going to do it for you. It is up to you.
8. “You can waste your lives drawing lines. Or you can live your life crossing them.” –Shonda Rhimes
Photo by greginhollywood
Shonda Rhimes’ TED Talk chronicles the risks she took when deciding to say yes to everything, and this quote follows the same theme. In life, we cannot ever hope to accomplish anything without pushing and redrawing boundaries. Even the boundaries we set for ourselves. We have to do what we believe is right, and go where we think we need to go. No successful human being has ever gotten to where they are by conforming to what everyone else believes is best.
9. “Change your life today. Don’t gamble on the future, act now, without delay.” –Simone de Beauvoir
Why wait? If there is something in your life you want to change, do it now. Don’t let excuses stand in your way. You are the only one in control of your life, and you have to make the decision to transform it into something you are going to forever enjoy and be proud of.
10. “Spread love everywhere you go. Let no one ever come to you without leaving happier.” –Mother Teresa
Personal picture taken in India by Evert Odekerken
Things happen. People do things seemingly for the sake of hurting our feelings or inconveniencing us in the most disrespectful ways. We don’t always know what is going on behind the scenes. The best way to handle other people is to just be kind. Spread love, even when you don’t understand someone’s behavior. It isn’t always something personal. You can be the better person.
11. “I’d rather regret the things I’ve done than regret the things I haven’t done.” –Lucille Ball
Perhaps, if you have made a mistake, you are still sitting here wishing you hadn’t let it happen. But how would you feel if you never would have tried, and failed? We have all dealt with regret in some degree. While it is important to learn how to handle regret, it is also essential to realize that acting and missing the mark is better than never taking a step at all. At the end of your life, it isn’t the things you have done that you will regret the most, but the things you never dared to do.
Get out there and do what you are afraid to do. Be who you are afraid to be. Say what you are afraid to say. Those who respect you will follow your lead.
