Is there something you really, really want that you’ve really, really wanted for a long time? What’s keeping you from doing it, getting it, being it? Whether it’s losing weight or finding a new job that makes you happy or taking up Brazilian Jujitsu, here are 8 motivational quotes that will help you see your dreams with a new perspective and get out there getting them…
I’m sure we all have things we’d like to do. What keeps us from doing them? Sometimes it’s that we’re too busy, sometimes it’s that it’s not realistic right now. But sometimes it’s because we just have to start. There are all sorts of things, real and imagained, that stand in our way. Don’t let fear of getting started be one of them.
There are so many quotes that have made me feel all, “Yeah…that’s so true.” Seeing something in writing that hits home can be very motivating. So I’ve rounded up some good ones. I had to start with this one…
“Wanting can be done sitting on the couch with a bong in your hand and a travel magazine in your lap. Deciding means jumping in all the way, doing whatever it takes, and going after your dreams with the tenacity of a dateless cheerleader a week before prom night.” -Jen Sincero
How great is this quote? It’s not enough to want it. If you want it bad enough, you need to decide to do it. Go from wanting to deciding. Wanting doesn’t demand commitment. Deciding does. Make a decision, plan, and commit to give it all you’ve got.
“I am willing.” Gary John Bishop
Know what you are willing to do. Be honest with yourself. Just because you want something doesn’t mean you’re willing to do what it takes to do it.
Sometimes it’s more about what you’re not willing to do. If you’re not willing to work hard or make sacrifices maybe you don’t really want it that bad. And maybe that’s ok.
Thinking about it this way also helps you set realistic goals. If you want to lose weight, be honest about what you are willing to do to lose that weight. You may have to adjust based on what you want to achieve. Getting a six-pack and losing the muffin top require different levels of commitment and work. Trust me. So know what you want and what you are (or aren’t) willing to do to get there.
I wrote a post about this quote a while back. You can read it here. Such a simple quote, just a few words, but I find it so powerful.
“If you want to live a life you’ve never lived, you have to do things you’ve never done.” -Jen Sincero
Like it or not, it’s going to take some discomfort. Getting out of your comfort zone and all that. But, let’s face it, we can’t just keep doing the same old thing if we want different results.
“Knowing is not enough; we must apply. Willing is not enough; we must do.” -Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
If we could achieve goals just by knowing stuff wouldn’t that be amazing?! I’d be so fit and all my babies would have slept through the night and eaten all their veggies. All those books I’ve read would really pay off.
Sadly, though, we actually have to do the stuff. Follow the advice. Just wanting something and knowing what it will take to get it does not get us there. We actually have to take action. We can think and read and talk and plan, but it’s the doing that moves us forward.
“Do you want to know who you are? Don’t ask. Act! Action will delineate and define you.” -Thomas Jefferson
Closely related to the last one, but I like the knowing “who you are” thing. You don’t have to know everything, you don’t even have to be sure. Just get going. You can figure it out as you go. I am all about self-reflection and seeking knowledge, blah, blah, blah, but that can lead us to get stuck. Again, trust me. You don’t have to have it all figured out before you do it. You can figure it out (and figure yourself out) as you go…
And you can make mistakes.
“If you want to grow, you need to get over any fear you may have of making mistakes.” -John C. Maxwell
You have to be willing to make mistakes, feel stupid, have doubt. Don’t let wanting to be perfect to keep you from starting. Don’t let mistakes or roadblocks or things going wrong or bad days stop you.
“Inaction breeds doubt and fear. Action breeds confidence and courage. If you want to conquer fear, do not sit home and think about it. Go out and get busy.” -Dale Carnegie
I over-think everything. But sitting back and thinking about it won’t get you anywhere. It won’t help you grow. Sometimes you need to just do.
“Don’t wait for the perfect moment, take the moment and make it perfect.” -Aryn Kyle
Don’t wait for next year, next month, the weekend, a Monday, graduation, when x, y, or z happens. Chances are the “perfect moment” will never arrive. Think of all the wonderful things that have happened in your life, things that maybe didn’t happen at the perfect time. Or think about things you wish you’d done sooner, time wasted waiting for a perfect time that never came. Don’t wait.
What do you want?
Is there something you want to accomplish? Something you’ve been thinking about without really taking action on…
Which quote resonates most with you? I’d love to hear from you!
P.S. If you liked this post please share it with someone who could use some encouragement!
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