“Quotes help us understand, inspire, motivate, clarify and show our approach to things around, this is why people and I love quotes.” Takyou Allah Cheikh Malaynine

Quotes are truly an escape for me. They provide a story, a feeling, a connection. I am constantly looking for quotes to match my mood, life, personality and dreams. I keep a journal of quotes to reference whenever I need to be encouraged or when I want to read something shorter than a chapter of a book. Quotes always give me a sense of power. Currently, I’m learning to let go of lingering feelings of spite and resentment and instead embrace the beauty that surrounds me daily. Below are a few quotes that have helped me understand and welcome change, which is inevitable.

1. “Expectations lead to disappointments.” – I know I’m not the only one that expects people to treat others a certain way. We have expectations of what others should say and do and then we end up disappointed because they don’t live up to our reality. Now, I’m learning to take the approach of, “It is what it is.” Nothing surprises me about people and even when it does, I shrug and keep going.

2. “To be happy is the choice I wish to make in spite of the circumstances that are strewn in my path.” – This has been hard for me, but I’m finally finding peace in the midst of people’s ignorance. I’m learning to not let their stupidity control my moods.

3. “Master your emotions. Control your moods.” – Self explanatory. It dictates everything and can make or break you.

4. “I don’t want to be at the mercy of my emotions, I want to use them, to enjoy them and to dominate them” – This one right here! I promise you, my emotions can make me weak and feel the need to hang my head low. But I’m a fighter, so I can’t let my emotions get the best of me especially on those difficult days. As with any battle, I keep pushing until I come out victorious.

5. “Never stop being a good person, because of bad people.” – I promise I want to treat people the way they treat me but it’s not a part of my design. I’m learning to accept mean and evil people and know that I don’t have to change because of them. In a world that is ruled by money and power, people will trample over you for positions. I know that what’s for me is for me and I can’t worry about other people’s journey to distinction.

How are you getting by these days? Do you need motivation to get you over hurdles in your life? Do you read books, take vacations, color, or like me, do you find quotes to fit your mood?