Be Encouraged—16 Positive Thoughts Inspired By Powerful Motivational Quotes.

In difficult times, it can be helpful to look to motivating quotes to help pick up your spirits and give you the courage to keep going.

• “Success is the sum of small efforts, repeated day in and day out.” –Robert Collier
• “The best way to gain self-confidence is to do what you are afraid to do.” –Swati Sharma
• “It’s not about perfect. It’s about effort. And when you bring that effort every single day, that’s where transformation happens. That’s how change occurs.” –Jillian Michaels
• “Limitations live only in our minds. But if we use our imaginations, our possibilities become limitless.” –Jamie Paolinetti
• “It always seems impossible until it’s done.” –Nelson Mandela
• “In order to succeed, we must first believe that we can.” –Nikos Kazantzakis
• “Sometimes you don’t realize your own strength until you come face to face with your greatest weakness.” –Susan Gale
• “You may not be able to control every situation and its outcome, but you can control your attitude and how you deal with it.” –Unknown
• “The best way of learning something is by doing.” –Richard Branson
• “I am not a product of my circumstances. I am a product of my decisions.” –Stephen Covey
• “Your true success in life begins only when you make the commitment to become excellent at what you do.” –Brian Tracy
• “A positive attitude causes a chain reaction of positive thoughts, events and outcomes. It is a catalyst and it sparks extraordinary results.” –Wade Boggs
• “The only way to do great work is to love what you do.” –Steve Jobs
• “If you believe it will work out, you’ll see opportunities. If you believe it won’t you will see obstacles.” –Wayne Dyer
• “The only time you fail is when you fall down and stay down.” –Stephen Richards
• “Successful people are the ones who are breaking the rules.” –Seth Godin

If you’re feeling lost, remember Henry David Thoreau’s quote, “Go confidently in the direction of your dreams, live the life you have imagined.” With all the pressures of modern life, you may feel like you’re being pulled in a million directions. Know that you can take control of your destiny and make decisions that bring you closer to your goals.

Or, to keep your determination going, use Helen Keller’s words, “Keep your face to the sunshine, and you cannot see the shadows.” The motivation here is to stay positive, even when things are hard. Instead of getting stuck in negativity, find ways to be grateful for what you have.

Sometimes, feeling down can be the best opportunity to push your boundaries. The great Aristotle famously said, “It is during our darkest moments that we must focus to see the light.” Thinking optimistically and trying something new can help you to get out of a rut.

For long-term motivation, draw strength from Theodore Roosevelt’s words, “Believe you can and you’re halfway there.” When going after big goals, start them off on the right foot by believing in yourself.

Recognize Your Strengths

Believing in yourself isn’t always easy, which is why it’s so important to recognize and appreciate your strengths. As the motivational speaker Les Brown advised, “Celebrate your success and find humor in your failures. Don’t take yourself so seriously. Loosen up and everyone around you will loosen up.” Learn to laugh at yourself, enjoy your accomplishments, and keep going.

To stay focused, remember what Walt Disney said, “All our dreams can come true, if we have the courage to pursue them.” Have faith in yourself and keep moving step-by-step towards your goals.

Finally, keep in mind what Oprah Winfrey said, “The biggest adventure you can ever take is to live the life of your dreams.” Seek out experiences that make you happier and align with your values, and don’t let fear hold you back.

Be Mindful Of Your Choices

This mindset should extend to your daily life and choices. For instance, don’t be afraid to make changes when necessary, as Eleanor Roosevelt said, “You must do the thing you think you cannot do.” Taking the plunge can lead to great opportunities to learn and grow.

No matter what, keep your self-talk positive, as Vince Lombardi said, “The difference between a successful person and others is not a lack of strength, not a lack of knowledge, but rather a lack of will.” Self-doubt can hold you back, so focus on what you can do instead.

When in doubt, always find the silver lining. Fred Rogers knew the power of optimism by saying, “Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.” Find the positive outcomes and the people who can teach you how to get through a difficult time.

Uplift Others

Mother Teresa taught the power of kindness by saying, “Do small things with great love.” Find small, everyday acts of kindness that you can do for yourself and for others, and recognize how powerful this can be in building yourself up.

Earlier, we discussed how failure can be a learning opportunity, as encapsulated in Thomas Edison’s popular quote, “I have not failed. I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work.” Edison’s words remind us to persist through rejections and roadblocks.

Finally, if you’re feeling overwhelmed by trying to help yourself and others, go back to what Maya Angelou said, “At the end of the day, people won’t remember what you said or did, they will remember how you made them feel.” Make a positive impact and be compassionate to the feelings of others.