Inspirational Insight

“Stay Positive. Work Hard. Make It Happen.” “Kindness Always Wins.” “You are braver than you believe, stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think.”

These are a few of my favorite inspirational quotes that I use to shape my daily mindset and outlook on life. Some people picture inspirational quotes littered on living room and kitchen walls and see them as empty words stringed together for aesthetics. But other people, like myself, think of inspirational quotes as truly meaningful statements that resonate with you–as long as you buy into them.

I think of myself as a pretty optimistic person. At this point in my life, there are always obstacles I must overcome and negative thoughts I need to work through. All three of these quotes play a role in how I look to live my life and they help put things in perspective.

“Stay Positive. Work Hard. Make It Happen.”

This was one of the first quotes that I was gifted, and they stare back at me on a white block as a decoration for my desk. This was a graduation gift and one of the first items I displayed in my freshman dorm room. Freshman year was hard. The transition to collegiate soccer and collegiate life was one I had been preparing for yet still left me at times feeling sad, lost, confused and unworthy. There came a point when, as they say, the only way to get through it was to get through it. When things aren’t going your way or you start to lose who you are or when any variation of difficult mental, physical and emotional challenges present themselves, the best thing you can do for yourself is stay positive. It sounds impossible sometimes and pointless to make that decision, but it truly changes your whole outlook. You start to appreciate where you are, who you are and what you’ve been able to accomplish so far. Working hard is a no-brainer for me. If you know me, hard work is a given. But by piecing these two pieces together, you make it happen. This quote leaves you no other option than making it happen. And I can tell you, this piece of advice transformed me. I have grown into the best version of myself. I have accomplished more than I ever thought I could. And I live every day and face every challenge with this mindset, knowing that I will make it happen.

“Kindness Always Wins.”

Self-explanatory but important. This quote hangs on my wall next to my mirror. I bought it from an online store where they handmake each sign on a wood frame. It was made with kindness, and it reminds me every day to be kind to myself and kind to others. There’s so much hatred and unpleasant behavior in this world. If I can make the world just a little bit better by being kind, then I’m going to do it. Kindness is free and it can make someone’s day. It also reassures me that the good people in this world will prevail in the end.

“You are braver than you believe, stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think.”

This is a quote by A.A. Milne from “Winnie the Pooh,” and it’s engraved on the end of a chain gifted by a family member. I kept it in my first car as a symbol of protectiveness and now it sits in my college bedroom–not always in sight but always on my mind. It’s a self-fulfilling prophecy. If you convince yourself these things are true, then they will be. We all have the bad habit of putting ourselves down and degrading our courage, strength, intelligence. Christopher Robin and everyone from the Hundred Acre Wood would tell me that I am so much more than I give myself credit for.

As a communications student, I have a particular obsession and meticulous way with the words I use and quote. There are some other favorites of mine like “It’s a Great Day to Have a Great Day” and “Success is Not Final; Failure is Not Fatal: It is the Courage to Continue that Counts.” As cliché as inspirational quotes can be, I have always found them comforting and effective in my mind. And I hope I’ve encouraged some readers to find their own favorite messages and affirmations. 

About the author

Editor-in-Chief

Leave a Reply