Words have power in them. Words serve as a powerful motivator for people to work harder. As such, most people, myself included, would turn to powerful phrases, verses, and quotes when in need of motivation.
Below are the underrated quotes that have helped me transition and improve my life.
These quotes have served and still serve me as I continue on my life’s journey of learning and improving myself for the benefit of my family, friends, and others.
Simplicity
A few months before the pandemic hit, I had just transitioned from a clutterbug into a minimalist. This quote is one of the many that helps me continue with my journey. Allowing me to live with a few more items than necessary but not too much that items become clutter.
The intention of voluntary simplicity is not to dogmatically live with less. It’s a more demanding intention of living with balance. This is a middle way that moves between the extremes of poverty and indulgence.
— Duane Elgin
No worries
Similarly, when I feel doubts or worries creeping in, I turn to this bible verse to calm myself. Especially when I was encountering difficulties at work, these words reminded me that everything would be all right.
Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present all your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding will guard your hearts and your mind in Christ Jesus.
— Philippians 4:6-7
New beginnings
Following my leap of faith from the corporate world to freelance writing, these quotes have become my new mantra.
No, this is not the beginning of a new chapter in my life; this is the beginning of a new book! That first book is already closed, ended, and tossed into the seas; this new book is newly opened, has just begun! Look, it is the first page! And it is a beautiful one!
— C. JoyBell C.
Every moment is a fresh beginning.
— T.S. Eliot
These underrated quotes serve as a reminder that as long as we are alive, nothing is final. And that we can always start anew.
Age is just a number
Yet another factor that hinders people, again, including me is that of age. Although I am still on the right side of 40 when I decided to quit my job, I am still two decades far from 20. The age when people can experiment and jump from one job to another.
At 43 I felt that I am already old to be starting life anew, albeit one that I love to pursue. In the end, I realized it’s better to regret having done it later rather than not having done it at all.
In this situation, the quote below helped cement my decision to go on ahead with my writing career.
It’s never too late to become who you want to be. I hope you live a life that you’re proud of, and if you find that you’re not, I hope you have the strength to start over.
— F. Scott Fitzgerald
Failure is not final
Another factor that I had to contend with is failing in my attempt to become a writer. I haven’t even started yet but I was already afraid of failure.
So these words from Thomas J. Watson undoubtedly helped me overcome my fear of failing. I may fail, but it will provide a learning experience.
Would you like me to give you a formula for success? It’s quite simple, really: Double your rate of failure. You are thinking of failure as the enemy of success. But it isn’t at all. You can be discouraged by failure or you can learn from it, so go ahead and make mistakes. Make all you can. Because remember that’s where you will find success.
— Thomas J. Watson
Writing
I love writing but I know that I am not a great writer. I also know that as a beginner at writing, I certainly have a lot to learn. However, I console myself with the fact that one of the requirements to improve my writing is to keep reading.
These notable writers definitely say so:
“Read, read, read. Read everything – trash, classics, good and bad, and see how they do it. Just like a carpenter who works as an apprentice and studies the master. Read! You’ll absorb it. Then write. If it’s good, you’ll find out. If it’s not, throw it out of the window.”
— William Faulkner
“You should write because you love the shape of stories and sentences and the creation of different words on a page. Writing comes from reading, and reading is the finest teacher of how to write.”
— Annie Proulx
Now, this is something I could do, and this is something I LOVE to do.
Keep learning
Learning new things nourishes the mind and allows a person to be adaptable to change. New learning also allows for an easier transition from one career to one that is completely different. It is an extremely important part of the shift.
These quotes perfectly express how important it is to keep learning.
“Those people who develop the ability to continuously acquire new and better forms of knowledge that they can apply to their work and to their lives will be the movers and shakers in our society for the indefinite future.”
— Brian Tracy
There is no end to education. It is not that you read a book, pass an examination, and finish with education. The whole of life, from the moment you are born to the moment you die, is a process of learning.
— Jiddu Krishnamurti
So those are the 10 underrated quotes that helped my transition and improved my life. From becoming a minimalist to finally deciding to pursue my dream of becoming a writer. These powerful words inspire me and keep me moving in the right direction.
How about you? What are your favorite motivational quotes? Please share them in the comments.
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