Life is weird. It’s frighteningly easy to get so wrapped up in the day-to-day routine that you forget to pick your head up and look around once in a while.
How do you live? How do you WANT to live? Do you have an underlying life philosophy that helps guide your moment to moment choices?
Sometimes a powerful quote that really grabs hold and SPEAKS to you is just what you need.
Finding the perfect quote is like having a good friend who somehow knows just the right thing to say to give you some much needed perspective.
These are 11 of my favorites quotes to live by. They remind me of how I would LIKE to live and help me back and pull my focus out of the endless running tasks of life.
So if you are feeling a little bogged down by mundanity, pull up a chair, take a breath, and let’s get inspired together.
How to Live Life
“You’re only here for a short visit. Don’t hurry, don’t worry. And be sure to smell the flowers along the way.” - Walter Hagen
It has been said, by more than a few people, that life is short. And the less we notice about our surroundings, the faster it seems to go. What’s the rush? It’s not like you’re going to make it out alive.
“Keep your eyes on the stars and your feet on the ground.” - Theodore Roosevelt
It’s so easy to slip into the trap of thinking you have to pick between being “realistic” or being “a dreamer”. That’s a false choice. You don’t have to choose. Dream up among the stars and work to make your dream a reality here on earth. Fix your eyes on that dream and then walk your butt to it, step by step.
"Those who don't believe in magic will never find it." - Roald Dahl
If you don’t believe in magic it’s easy to overlook it or explain it away as circumstantial. Don’t waste your breathe trying to convince other people to see what they refuse to acknowledge.
And don’t let someone else’s doubt keep you from flying.
“Life is too important to be taken seriously.” - Oscar Wilde
Joy and laughter are divine and cleansing and pure.
Life is wonderfully absurd. Embrace it.
“Life is either a daring adventure or nothing at all.” - Helen Keller
Pick one! You get to find YOUR OWN adventure, not anyone else’s. So don’t let other people tell you what it should look like. Trust your vision.
“Life isn’t about finding yourself. Life is about creating yourself.” - George Bernard Shaw
We have all the agency in our own lives. Take responsibility for the shape and path of your own life! You are your own masterpiece.
“I’m always doing things I can’t do. That’s how I get to do them.” - Pablo Picasso
Don’t worry so much about what’s possible or not. You can figure out how you did it after it’s done.
“You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself in any direction you choose.” - Dr Suess
This is a classic quote for a reason. It brings us right back to taking responsibility for the choices we make and how they affect our lives.
Side note – When I read this I always picture a Gandalf type figure scolding me while I lament all of the misfortunes of my life.
“You just have to trust your own madness.” - Clive Barker
Sometimes you have to just make the flying leap when your heart tells you it’s time.
But first you have to learn to listen to yourself. Which can be really hard if you have spent a good part of your life being taught to unquestioningly follow orders and mistrust your own instincts.
“Worry is a misuse of the imagination” - Dan Zadra
Next time you find yourself imagining everything that could wrong, take a deep breath and think of what could go right!
“Smile, breathe and go slowly” - Thich Nhat Hanh
The simplest and most difficult advice of all.