For all of time since I can remember, I will grab a journal or, these days, notepad on my iPhone, and store quotes that strike me. I live for beautifully articulated thoughts that inspire you on the spot. Here are some empowering words I have saved… x

“If you inherently long for something, become it first. If you want gardens, become the gardener. If you want love, embody love. If you want mental stimulation, change the conversation. If you want peace, exude calmness. If you want to fill your world with art, begin to paint. If you want to be valued, respect your own time. If you want to live ecstatically, find the ecstasy within yourself. This is how to draw it in, day by day, inch by inch.”

—Victoria Erickson

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“We must take it upon ourselves to grow. We grow by learning, and we learn by daring to take action. There will always be risk, because we can’t control the outcome. This is the way of life, and it’s unavoidable. What is avoidable, however, is being perpetually haunted by all the things that could have been if you had only dared. Begin by giving yourself permission to believe you’re worth the risk.”

—Ryder Carroll

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“Re-create yourselves: and let this be your best creation.”

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“When nobody else celebrates you, learn to celebrate yourself. When nobody else compliments you, then compliment yourself. It’s not up to other people to keep you encouraged. It’s up to you. Encouragement should come from the inside.”

—Joel Osteen

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“There’s benefit and utility in failure. When actively embraced as a learning mechanism, it can help us grow. Rather than perceiving failure as an end, it should be redefined as an essential part of the creative process, the unavoidable precursor to success.”

—Ryder Carroll

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“The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.”

— Eleanor Rosevelt

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“I haven’t failed, I just found 10,000 ways it won’t work.”

— Thomas Edison

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“People romanticize their plans but dread the execution. The magic you’re looking for is in the work you’re avoiding”.