Life changes happen! It is ever-changing. Sometimes changes in life confuse us or confound us, but they will always complete us—IF we listen and learn. Change is a good thing.
As life changes for me (and I’m in the midst of a big one right now), I find inspiration from the wisdom of others. As I scroll through my favorite Facebook groups and read the books I love, I am often inspired by the words of people I follow and respect, like Dr. Wayne Dyer and Louise Hay. Rumi was a smart one, for sure. And there are many others–sometimes the ones I love the best are by “author unknown.”
As I’ve been going through the quotes I love to inspire me through my current life transition as I take care of my husband in his dwindling health, I thought I’d share some of my favorites with you. Wait to see if they shift your thinking, as they did mine. Let them uplift you, too. And, they might even shake you up a bit. A couple of them did that for me. The best thing that happened “for” me is I was inspired to take action.
After each quote, I’ve shared a comment or a thought about my interpretation and how the words landed for me. I would love to hear which one hit home for you today. Leave your thoughts in the comments below this post so we all can benefit from different perspectives.
“Change is the only constant.”
~~~ Heraclitus
And, THAT hasn’t changed in centuries! An oldie but a goodie, and a great reminder.
“All appears to change when we change.”
~~~ Henri Frédéric Amiel
By definition, it has to, right? As our life changes, we transform, and everything around us changes because of our new perspective.
“Every new day is another chance to change your life.”
~~~Author Unknown
That is if we choose to accept the challenge and seize the opportunities that each new day brings.
“Once we accept our limits, we go beyond them.”
~~~Albert Einstein
Limits are a figment of our imagination. Let nothing stop us from reaching for the stars, playing big, and making our dreams come true. I’m ready — how about you?
“If you don’t create change, it will create you.”
~~~Author Unknown
In other words, change may take over and make us into someone with whom we’re not happy. Sounds like taking control to create the right change would serve us better. Agree?
“If you focus on results, you will never change. If you focus on change, you will get results.”
~~~Jack Dixon
This is one of my favorites. As a coach, I am passionate about helping my clients create results for themselves. So, as I walk my talk, I seek change so I get results, too. They go hand-in-hand. When you change, you see results. When you realize the results, you have changed.
“Some people thrive on huge, dramatic change. Some people prefer the slow and steady route. Do what’s right for you.”
~~~Julie Morgenstern
It depends on the situation on which route I choose. Sometimes I need the huge, dramatic kind of change in order to motivate me, and other times, it feels much better to take a slower path so as not to get overwhelmed.
“There are two primary choices in life: to accept conditions as they exist, or accept responsibility for changing them.”
~~~Denis Waitley
Smart guy, this Denis — when things are not working as they are, there’s nothing left to do but change something. Otherwise, we get stuck in victimhood, just go through the motions, and wallow in our own self-pity. That’s not where I want to stay. You?
“It’s not because things are difficult that we dare not venture. It’s because we dare not venture that they are difficult.”
~~~Seneca
This one hits home — my comfort zone is very comfy! I do make things more difficult than necessary for myself, sometimes. But, when I am motivated to put one foot in front of the other and step outside my comfort zone, more often than not I discover that it isn’t so bad or so hard after all. Here’s to stepping out! Are you with me?
“Many fine things can be done in a day if you don’t make that day tomorrow.”
~~~Author Unknown
Ah, yes … procrastination. Who hasn’t mastered this at some time in their life? When life changes and we’re not sure what to do about it, we often procrastinate hoping it will go away or get easier. I had a Ph.D. in procrastination some years ago. That goes along with my Masters in Perfectionism. Thankfully they are both things I’ve learned to let go, so I can get things done.
There are so many other great words of wisdom that I could share; however, I think I’ll leave those for another time. Writing this blog post actually did the trick for me — I’m inspired to start again tomorrow and face my dragons head-on. I’ll be keeping in mind one of my very favorite quotes from a very wise woman, Helen Keller — “Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much.” It’s a good reminder that, as I start each new day facing new life changes, I need to reach out to those who can help me tackle the dragons.
I’m a firm believer in support networks — as you face each new day, think about who can help you move your mountains, brainstorm with you to figure out solutions, and celebrate with you when you conquer your own dragons. I hope these words of wisdom help to motivate you into inspired action!
Take the First Step
If life is changing, and you are facing adversity and living with uncertainty about how to move beyond it, you may wonder if it’s even possible. Making choices that move you forward can be challenging, and getting some guidance may be just what you need. Start by exploring how change can impact you. And learn how to move through it with more dignity and grace by reading my free ebook, then let’s have a chat. Click here to take the first step: From Darkness to Light: Learning to Adapt to Change and Move Through Transition.