7 Inspirational Quotes to Keep in Mind This Year (And Decade!)

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(This is an old pic from April 2019 so this exact dress is sold out, but here is one that is super similar!)

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Hi friends! Happy 2020, it seems like it’s been a while since I’ve gotten to say hello to everyone on here. I took last week off from posting to the blog because I honestly just wanted to take time to be present with Jordan and my friends and family and focus on starting the year off with my priorities straight. I’m happy to be back though and I have a lot of great content in mind for these next few weeks, so I’m excited to get to start sharing with you guys!

Today’s post is something I’ve been wanting to write about for a while, but it honestly just felt right to wait until the new year. To me, a new year means a fresh start and, in this case, a chance to begin the decade exactly how you see fit. I feel like I have learned a lot in the past couple of years about what I want from life, love and my career, and I want to start the year and the decade off on the right foot. So, with that being said, here are 7 inspirational quotes that I have read and found over the past few years that have helped me set my sights in the right direction thus far. These are also the quotes I plan to take with me as I continue my journey down the path of life over the next year and decade. I hope they speak to you as much as they speak to me and I hope they help you realize your priorities and what you want from this truly wonderful life!

 

7 INSPIRATIONAL QUOTES TO KEEP IN MIND

THIS YEAR (AND DECADE!)

 

Starting off with a light quote, this is one that I actually have printed out and tacked to my wall over my desk at work. I like to remind myself that sometimes, life isn’t always going to be easy, but I can always handle it. Sometimes I may need to take a second to collect my thoughts and remind myself of who I know I am, but at the end of the day, I get done what I need to get done, and 9 times out of 10, I do it with a cup of coffee in hand and some early 2000s Eminem blaring from my speakers.

Bottom line, whatever it takes you to get your stuff done, just remember you are more than capable of handling it, because you’re a bad-ass boss.

 

*Claps hands*

I can’t tell you how many times I’ve stopped myself from doing something I’ve wanted because it wasn’t what a family member or friend wanted me to do. I let so many people influence my life and decisions I made for so long because I wanted to get everyone’s opinion and show I cared about what they thought. Now, I’m not saying I don’t still care about my loved one’s opinions and what they think, because I certainly do and I value their input; however, I realize now that it’s just that… opinions and input. It doesn’t mean that’s 100% what I have to do just because someone I’m close to says so. Has it caused friction at times when I do what I want or what I think is best, even if it goes against what they tell me to do?

Yes. But as you grow older, I think it’s important to pave your own path and find your own way. I always ask my family and my friends for their advice to see what they think, because I know they like knowing the decisions with which I’m faced. However, they know now that I’m going to do whatever I think is best for myself in the long run because I’m the one who has to live with the decision. And as weird as it may sound for me to say, I honestly and truthfully believe my relationships have strengthened with those close to me since I’ve done this because they have a deeper respect for my decisions and know I’m capable of making them for myself. And if they don’t…

Well, this leads me to the next quote…

 

It sounds harsh, I know. But again, it’s YOUR LIFE. You are NOT going to be able to please everyone in your life, that’s just a fact of the matter. It’s most important to please yourself and make decisions that make you happy, so long as those decisions don’t hurt anyone else along the way.

If you want to have a second glass of wine at Thanksgiving dinner as your judgy family members look at you disapprovingly… Have it.

If you want to get that tattoo even though your grandparents think they’re trashy… Get it. 

If you want to move on to experience bigger and better things even though your friends want you to stay in your hometown with them forever… Move.

It’s hard to make these decisions as an adult and some people’s opinions of you may change along the way, but your opinion of yourself is the only one that should matter.

 

One of the things I’ve learned over the past few years is that people constantly grow and change. This was hard for me at first because I think back to when I was in high school and college and I remember how my friends were then, versus how they are now. Some people I don’t still keep in contact with, some people I’ve grown even closer to, but I think it’s evident to see in each case that we have all changed. Some of us think differently, look differently, act differently, etc but that doesn’t necessarily mean that it’s bad. The relationships and friendships I have today are strong because I was willing to accept the fact that they needed to grow and change, just as they realized and accepted the same for me.

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, friends don’t judge friends. The sooner we learn and accept that, the more our friendships and relationships will grow and prosper.

 

  I feel like this is one quote that so many people have confused. Just because you have the title of a boss, doesn’t mean you are automatically a leader. A boss makes people listen to them and tells them what to do. A leader on the other hand, leads by example and makes people want to follow in their footsteps. A leader doesn’t try to be the boss and tell people what to do, but rather helps others and works alongside them to accomplish a task. I’ve learned a lot about this quote in the last few years as I’ve entered the workforce and experienced first hand the difference between a boss and a leader. It’s made me conscious of how I, myself, want to be when placed in a role of power and how I want to treat those around me both at my job, as well as in life in general.

This quote is one that really speaks to my heart. I believe this is true really for both relationships, as well as friendships. I’ve always said that I want a relationship where the other person doesn’t fight my battles for me, but fights alongside me. I think it’s important to remember that just because two people are in a relationship together, they still are two independent people. They don’t try to change each other or make them into something they’re not; they support each other and stand by their side as they learn to fight their own battles in life, always ready to jump in if need be, but never taking over.

As many things as I love about Jordan and about being with him (and there are a lot, believe me!), the main thing is that he truly wants me to experience happiness and success, in whatever form that may be. He’s my biggest fan and has never once told me he didn’t think I could do something or that I shouldn’t try. He inspires me with the things he does and makes me want to work harder and be a better person everyday. I think this is so important to keep in mind and has truly helped our relationship thrive over the past few years.

Last but not least is this quote. I saved this quote for last because it it probably the quote I’ve lived by for the longest. I don’t remember exactly when I read this quote (maybe middle school?), but it has stuck with me for years, so I felt compelled to share it with all of you. I have always had big dreams of being someone great, someone important. For as long as I can remember, I’ve wanted to be able to take care of myself, have my own career and pave my own path in life. I wanted to do great things and be someone that people look up to one day. So I worked hard and I tried even harder, giving each and every task I ever started my absolute best. I learned that I wasn’t super great at a lot of things, but if I was willing to work at it and give it my hardest, usually I could get the result I wanted.

I’m someone who loves routine; I crave stability and work well on a schedule, so it’s easy for me to want to stay inside my comfort zone. I’ve always known this about myself and have recognized this for a long time, which is why I’ve always tried to push myself to do more. I always wanted to try new things, move to a new place, experience something totally different than what I was used to. It seems odd as I write it out, since I just explained that I like stability, but I almost feel like I owe it to myself to push the limits and force myself to step out of my comfort zone. I’ve accomplished so many things I’ve always wanted to do in my life, so far — living in California, earning my MBA, working in a job I love with people I love, etc — and I’m so very thankful for the things I’ve been able to do and the opportunities I’ve had. I’m happy and I’m content with my life the way it is.

But, then again…

I’m 22. This is the time to GO and to DO. I never want to look back 20, 40, 50 years down the road and think “I wish I would have done that at the time.” Is that always a risk? Sure it is, and I know that. But I want to push myself now while I have the resources available and the support system around me. I’m proud of myself and the things that I’ve done, but… I didn’t come this far to only come this far.

And neither did you.

So with that, I’ll say Happy New Year friends. Happy 2020, happy new decade and happy new YOU. I hope these quotes gave you a little extra inspiration to start your year and if you made it this far… Thanks for reading! 😉 Xx.

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