5 quotes to get you through a tough day
A quick scan through Instagram will confirm something everyone already knows: People love inspirational quotes. We love them, even more, when they’re written in beautiful modern calligraphy and printed over an image of a mirror-calm lake.
Many of us resort to reading an inspirational quote to spur us on, a quick and timely burst of wisdom to get our focus back, offering the inspiration needed for the day or occasion - and a reminder that we’re not the first person to need a little bit of advice.
With that in mind, here are five quotes to get you through a difficult day - and why they’re important to bear in mind.
Confidence isn’t optimism or pessimism, and it’s not a character attribute. It’s the expectation of a positive outcome.
- Rosabeth Moss Kanter
Remember:
Contrary to popular belief, confidence is not about always being sure, never doubting, never questioning yourself. It’s not even about self-confidence - although that helps, too.
It’s about having faith in yourself, and in the people around you. Not that they won’t make mistakes, but that when they do, they will own them, and learn from them, and things will be better for it.
When you place confidence in others, they return it back to you.
Doubt can motivate you, so don’t be afraid of it. Confidence and doubt are at two ends of the scale, and you need both. They balance each other out.
- Barbra Streisand
Remember:
It is not actually possible to have too much confidence, although sometimes that can be hard to believe when a colleague is telling the world how amazing they are. But it’s important to remember that these loud outbursts of self-appreciation typically highlight a lack of self-confidence and self-respect.
At the same time, doubt can be a corrosive force. When someone is faced with doubt, you can be almost certain they’re not bringing their best to the table.
It’s OK to feel confident - and it’s ok not to, sometimes. The best of us work in this perfect balance of doubt and confidence - confident enough to drown out the fear, but with enough doubt to motivate ourselves and learn.
“Stop thinking you’re doing it all wrong. Your path doesn’t look like anybody else’s because it can’t, it shouldn’t, and it won’t.”
— Eleanor Brownn
Remember:
It’s human nature to compare ourselves to others, but the next time you find yourself worrying about someone else’s achievements, ask yourself what it will achieve.
Does it really help you improve your life? Does it help you to move forward?
Rather than measuring yourself against others, measure how much you contribute to them.
Measure yourself against principles and goals instead of others.
That’s what’s important.
“Be an Encourager: When you encourage others, you boost their self-esteem, enhance their self-confidence, make them work harder, lift their spirits and make them successful in their endeavours. Encouragement goes straight to the heart and is always available. Be an encourager. Always.”
— Roy T. Bennett
Remember:
Our busy world can be so cutthroat and competitive, and the desire to build ourselves up can often lead us to bringing others down in the process.
“Think like a queen. A queen is not afraid to fail. Failure is another stepping stone to greatness.”
— Oprah Winfrey
Remember:
In the workplace - and life - failure is seen as a worst-case scenario to be avoided at all costs.
Sure, failure stings, but it’s also a powerful learning tool. You don’t learn by doing things right the first time.
Failure plays a huge role in fostering innovation. It’s a useful tool that gives us the perspective to try new approaches and see what works and provides the insight needed to put new ideas into action.
Viewing our failures through a positive lens can teach us not just to evolve and innovate, but to grow as people.
Here’s hoping your day gets better.