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210 Attitude Quotes That Will Empower You In Your Life

Life is filled with inevitable ups and downs and it’s our attitude that determines how we ride the wave.Are you more of a glass half empty or half full type?Our attitudes, whether negative, positive or somewhere in between, affect every aspect of our lives from how we view the world to how we show up at work, in our relationships and most importantly, for ourselves.It’s no secret that maintaining a positive outlook not only makes us happier and healthier but it’s also the key to turning our dreams into reality.Similarly, welcoming more gratitude into our lives tends to shift our perspective and if practiced regularly, expressing thankfulness can help us cope through difficult times and ultimately transform our lives.The truth is, developing and maintaining a positive mindset takes work, especially when we have the natural tendency of reverting to negativity, but the good news is that we can train our brain to be more optimistic. freedom quoteIf you need a reminder of what you’re capable of, check out this list of 210 attitude quotes to find some inspiration:Take charge of your attitude. Don't let someone else choose it for you. DALE CARNEGIEIf you can't change your fate, change your attitude. AMY TANMy attitude is that if you push me towards something that you think is a weakness, then I will turn that perceived weakness into a strength. MICHAEL JORDAN (How his mindset made him the greatest)When everything seems to be going against you, remember that the airplane takes off against the wind, not with it. HENRY FORDYour attitude about who you are and what you have is a very little thing that makes a very big difference. THEODORE ROOSEVELTA healthy attitude is contagious but don't wait to catch it from others. Be a carrier. TOM STOPPARDIt's not what you look at that matters, it's what you see. HENRY DAVID THOREAU(More Thoreau quotes)Success or failure depends more upon attitude than upon capacity. WILLIAM JAMESSuccess is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts. WINSTON CHURCHILLPain is inevitable. Suffering is optional. HARUKI MURAKAMISales are contingent upon the attitude of the salesman - not the attitude of the prospect. W. CLEMENT STONEI have this theory that, depending on your attitude, your life doesn't have to become this ridiculous charade that it seems so many people end up living. CHRISTIAN BALEOur life is what our thoughts make it. MARCUS AURELIUSAbility is what you're capable of doing. Motivation determines what you do. Attitude determines how well you do it. LOU HOLTZTake the attitude of a student, never be too big to ask questions, never know too much to learn something new. OG MANDINOWe cannot choose the things that will happen to us. But we can choose the attitude we will take toward anything that happens. Success or failure depends on your attitude. ALFRED ARMAND MONTAPERT Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work. THOMAS A. EDISONI think it's my adventure, my trip, my journey, and I guess my attitude is, let the chips fall where they may. Leonard NimoyAttitudes are more important than facts. GEORGE MACDONALDOne should always play fairly when one has the winning cards. OSCAR WILDELife is hard. Life is difficult. Life is going to punch you in the gut. But when you change your attitude, you change your behavior. When your behavior changes, so do your results. WILL HURDWhen you can’t change the direction of the wind — adjust your sails. H. JACKSON BROWN, JR.A stumbling block to the pessimist is a stepping-stone to the optimist. ELEANOR ROOSEVELTOur environment, the world in which we live and work, is a mirror of our attitudes and expectations. EARL NIGHTINGALEIt is important to expect nothing, to take every experience, including the negative ones, as merely steps on the path, and to proceed. RAM DASSLife is a mirror and will reflect back to the thinker what he thinks into it. ERNEST HOLMESYour attitude is either the lock on or the key to the door of success. DENIS WAITLEYAttitude is everything. DIANE VON FURSTENBERGYour mental attitude is something you can control outright and you must use self-discipline until you create a Positive Mental Attitude - your mental attitude attracts to you everything that makes you what you are. NAPOLEON HILLOften we look so long at the closed door that we do not see the one that has been opened for us. HELLEN KELLEROur attitude toward life determines life's attitude towards us. JOHN N. MITCHELLAny fact facing us is not as important as our attitude toward it, for that determines our success or failure. The way you think about a fact may defeat you before you ever do anything about it. You are overcome by the fact because you think you are. NORMAN VINCENT PEALEBut the attitude of faith is to let go, and become open to truth, whatever it might turn out to be. ALAN WATTSHappiness doesn't depend on any external conditions, it is governed by our mental attitude. DALE CARNEGIEWhen you are thwarted, it is your own attitude that is out of order. MEISTER ECKHARTSeek out that particular mental attribute which makes you feel most deeply and vitally alive, along with which comes the inner voice which says, 'This is the real me,' and when you have found that attitude, follow it. JAMES TRUSLOW ADAMSIf you can't change your fate, change your attitude. CHARLES REVSONAttitude is more important than the past, than education, than money, than circumstances, than what people do or say. It is more important than appearance, giftedness, or skill. W.C. FIELDSThe winner's edge is not in a gifted birth, a high IQ, or in talent. The winner's edge is all in the attitude, not aptitude. Attitude is the criterion for success. DENIS WAITLEYIf you want small changes in your life, work on your attitude. But if you want big and primary changes, work on your paradigm. STEPHEN COVEYSuccess or failure in business is caused more by the mental attitude even than by mental capacities. WALTER SCOTTAttitude is your acceptance of the natural laws, or your rejection of the natural laws. STUART CHASEYou are the conductor of your own attitude! Nobody else can compose your thoughts for you. LEE J. COLANPositive attitude quotesHow would you rate your attitude? Keeping a positive attitude takes effort but making the conscious decision to look at the brighter side of life can have a profound impact on your well-being. We often forget that this simple shift in perspective is within our reach, but when harnessed properly, an optimistic outlook can help us move forward in the face of adversity and feel more fulfilled.Here are a few positive attitude quotes to help you get started.If you look the right way, you can see that the whole world is a garden. FRANCES HODGSON BURNETTAll of our dreams can come true if we have the courage to pursue them. CHRISTIANO RONALDOLife is like riding a bicycle, you must keep moving. ROCKYTry not to become a man of success, but rather become a man of value.ALBERT EINSTEINSuccess consists of going from failure to failure without loss of enthusiasm.WINSTON CHURCHILLOur greatest glory is not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall.CONFUCIUSIf you can dream it, you can do it.WALT DISNEYWith the new day comes new strength and new thoughts.ELEANOR ROOSEVELTLearn as if you will live forever, live like you will die tomorrow.GHANDIStay away from those people who try to disparage your ambitions.MARK TWAINJust one small positive thought in the morning can change your whole day.DALAI LAMAI am not a product of my circumstances. I am a product of my decisions.STEPHEN R. COVEYDo what you can, with what you have, where you are.THEODORE ROOSEVELTDo the best you can. No one can do more than that.JOHN WOODENAdopting the right attitude can convert a negative stress into a positive one. HANS SELYEWe are all in the gutter, but some of us are looking at the stars. OSCAR WILDETo be upset over what you don't have is to waste what you do have. KEN KEYES JR.The only disability in life is a bad attitude. Dale CarnegieChoose to be optimistic, it feels better. DALAI LAMAHe who has so little knowledge of human nature as to seek happiness by changing anything but his own disposition will waste his life in fruitless efforts. Samuel JohnsonA positive atmosphere nurtures a positive attitude, which is required to take positive action. RICHARD M. DEVOSI've always believed that you can think positive just as well as you can think negative. JAMES A. BALDWINA positive attitude is something everyone can work on, and everyone can learn how to employ it. JOAN LUNDENConvince yourself everyday that you are worthy of a good life. Let go of stress, breathe. Stay positive, all is well. GERMANY KENTThere is little difference in people, but that little difference makes a big difference. The little difference is attitude. The big difference is whether it is positive or negative. W. Clement StoneReject your sense of injury and the injury itself disappears. MARCUS AURELIUSPerpetual optimism is a force multiplier. COLIN POWELLPeople deal too much with the negative, with what is wrong. Why not try and see positive things, to just touch those things and make them bloom? THICH NHAT HANHBelieve you can and you're halfway there. THEODORE ROOSEVELTI always like to look on the optimistic side of life, but I am realistic enough to know that life is a complex matter. WALT DISNEYA positive attitude can really make dreams come true – it did for me. DAVID BAILEYA strong positive attitude will create more miracles than any wonder drug. PATRICIA NEALAlways keep that happy attitude. Pretend that you are holding a beautiful fragrant bouquet. EARL NIGHTINGALEEvery day may not be good, but there's something good in every day. UNKNOWNOnce you replace negative thoughts with positive ones, you'll start having positive results. WILLIE NELSONIf I insist on being pessimistic, there is always tomorrow. Today I am blessed. MAYA ANGELOUKeep your thoughts positive because your thoughts become your words. Keep your words positive because your words become your behavior. Keep your behavior positive because your behavior becomes your habits. MAHATMA GANDHIYour level of gratitude determines your level of happiness, as well as your potential for success. It's difficult to be happy without gratitude. BOB BURGIn order to carry a positive action we must develop here a positive vision. DALAI LAMAI have found that if you love life, life will love you back. ARTHUR RUBINSTEIN Between the optimist and the pessimist, the difference is droll. The optimist sees the doughnut; the pessimist the hole!OSCAR WILDEThings turn out best for the people who make the best of the way things turn out. JOHN WOODENYou can often change your circumstances by changing your attitude. ELEANOR ROOSEVELTIt is our attitude at the beginning of a difficult task which, more than anything else, will affect its successful outcome. WILLIAM JAMESA happy person is not a person in a certain set of circumstances, but rather a person with a certain set of attitudes. HUGH DOWNSEvery day brings new choices. MARTHA BECKA positive attitude causes a chain reaction of positive thoughts, events and outcomes. It is a catalyst and it sparks extraordinary results. WADE BOGGSIt isn’t what you have or who you are or where you are or what you are doing that makes you happy or unhappy. It is what you think about it. DALE CARNEGIEThe meaning of things lies not in the things themselves, but in our attitude towards them. ANTOINE DE SAINT-EXUPÉRYAny fact facing us is not as important as our attitude toward it, for that determines our success or failure. NORMAN VINCENT PEALEAttitude is a little thing that makes a big difference. WINSTON CHURCHILLYou always have a choice, even if it is only a choice of your attitude.You always have a choice, even if it is only a choice of your attitude. HENRY FORDKeep your face to the sunshine and you cannot see the shadow. HELEN KELLERChoose the positive. You have choice, you are master of your attitude, choose the positive, the constructive. Optimism is a faith that leads to success. BRUCE LEEAlways bear in mind that your own resolution to succeed is more important than any other one thing. ABRAHAM LINCOLNBe happy in the moment, that's enough. Each moment is all we need, not more. MOTHER TERESABetween stimulus and response, there is a space where we choose our response. STEPHEN COVEYAttitude is everything, so pick a good one. WAYNE DYERHow do you nurture a positive attitude when all the statistics say you're a dead man? You go to work. PATRICK SWAYZEOur attitudes control our lives. Attitudes are a secret power working twenty-four hours a day, for good or bad. It is of paramount importance that we know how to harness and control this great force. IRVING BERLINA positive attitude is not going to save you. What it's going to do is, everyday, between now and the day you die, whether that's a short time from now or a long time from now, that every day, you're going to actually live. ELIZABETH EDWARDSYour attitude, not your aptitude, determines your altitude. Zig ZiglarAll your dreams can come true if you have the courage to pursue them. WALT DISNEYIf you are going to achieve excellence in big things, you develop the habit in little matters. Excellence is not an exception, it is a prevailing attitude. COLIN POWELLHappiness is an attitude of mind, born of the simple determination to be happy under all outward circumstances. JAMES DONALD WALTERSLearning to control and adjust your attitude to a positive one reflects wisdom of the mind. CATHERINE PULSIFERYour attitude is more important than your capabilities. Similarly, your decision is more important than your capabilities. JACK MAFor success, attitude is equally as important as ability. WALTER SCOTTA pessimist is one who makes difficulties of his opportunities and an optimist is one who makes opportunities of his difficulties. HARRY S. TRUMANYour attitude towards life influences your happiness, not what happens to you. THIBAUT MEURISSEI hope the millions of people I've touched have the optimism and desire to share their goals and hard work and persevere with a positive attitude. MICHAEL JORDANReally you just gotta keep chugging along and keep a positive attitude and get through all the problems. You gotta face them, otherwise you don't get through. LESLEY GOREThe most important decision you make is to be in a good mood. VOLTAIREEverything can be taken from a man but one thing: the last of human freedoms - to choose one's attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one's own way. VIKTOR FRANKLThe greatest discovery of all time is that a person can change his future by merely changing his attitude. OPRAH WINFREYSuccess or failure depends more upon attitude than upon capacity successful men act as though they have accomplished or are enjoying something. Soon it becomes a reality. Act, look, feel successful, conduct yourself accordingly, and you will be amazed at the positive results.William JamesPositive anything is better than negative nothing. ELBERT HUBBARDThe greatest revolution of our generation is the discovery that human beings, by changing the inner attitudes of their minds, can change the outer aspects of their lives. WILLIAM JAMESThere are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle. ALBERT EINSTEIN A great attitude does much more than turn on the lights in our worlds; it seems to magically connect us to all sorts of serendipitous opportunities that were somehow absent before the change. EARL NIGHTINGALEA bad attitude is like a flat tire. If you don’t change it, you’ll never go anywhere.UNKNOWNYour living is determined not so much by what life brings to you as by the attitude you bring to life; not so much by what happens to you as by the way your mind looks at what happens. KHALIL GIBRANLike success, failure is many things to many people. With Positive Mental Attitude, failure is a learning experience, a rung on the ladder, a plateau at which to get your thoughts in order and prepare to try again. W. Clement StoneStrong women attitude quotesPowerful women throughout history paved the way forward for younger generations by consistently showing us that when a woman steps into her inner power, nothing can stand in her way.By now we all know strong women are an unstoppable force but what defines a strong woman, anyway? Well, it all comes down to her attitude. If you’re looking for some inspiration to take charge of your mindset and become the best version of yourself, check out our list of quotes by some of the most resilient female legends of all time.Women, like men, should try to do the impossible. And when they fail, their failure should be a challenge to others.AMELIA EARHARTSome people say I have attitude – maybe I do… but I think you have to. You have to believe in yourself when no one else does – that makes you a winner right there. VENUS WILLIAMSNo one can make you feel inferior without your consent. ELEANOR ROOSEVELTI am no longer accepting the things I cannot change. I am changing the things I cannot accept. ANGELA DAVISA really strong woman accepts the war she went through and is ennobled by her scars. CARLY SIMONCourage is like a muscle. We strengthen it by use. RUTH GORDONRun to the fire; don’t hide from it. Meg WhitmanPower is not given to you. You have to take it. Beyoncé KnowlesThe best protection any woman can have... is courage. ELIZABETH CADY STANTONAlways aim high, work hard, and care deeply about what you believe in. And, when you stumble, keep faith. And, when you're knocked down, get right back up and never listen to anyone who says you can't or shouldn't go on. HILLARY CLINTONGrowth and comfort do not coexist. GINNI ROMETTYThe most courageous act is still to think for yourself. Aloud. COCO CHANELOnly the gentle are ever really strong. JAMES DEANPermanence, perseverance and persistence in spite of all obstacles, discouragements, and impossibilities: It is this, that in all things distinguishes the strong soul from the weak. THOMAS CARLYLEIt took me quite a long time to develop a voice, and now that I have it, I am not going to be silent. MADELEINE ALBRIGHTLife shrinks or expands in proportion to one’s courage. ANAIS NINIt is our choices... that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities. J. K. ROWLINGA strong woman is a woman determined to do something others are determined not be done. MARGE PIERCY If you don’t like something, change it. If you can’t change it, change your attitude. MAYA ANGELOUThe most common way people give up their power is by thinking they don’t have any. ALICE WALKERI’m not afraid of storms, for I’m learning to sail my ship. LOUISA MAY ALCOTTBe a first rate version of yourself, not a second rate version of someone else. JUDY GARLANDI've never met a woman who is not strong, but sometimes they don't let it out. Then there's a tragedy, and then all of a sudden that strength comes. My message is let the strength come out before the tragedy. DIANE VON FURSTENBERGWomen are like teabags. We don’t know our true strength until we are in hot water. ELEANOR ROOSEVELTThe way I see it, if you want the rainbow, you gotta put up with the rain. DOLLY PARTONI can never be safe; I always try and go against the grain. As soon as I accomplish one thing, I just set a higher goal. That’s how I’ve gotten to where I am. BEYONCÉOptimism is the faith that leads to achievement. Nothing can be done without hope and confidence. HELEN KELLERA lot of people are afraid to say what they want. That’s why they don’t get what they want.MADONNAA woman with a voice is, by definition, a strong woman. But the search to find that voice can be remarkably difficult. MELINDA GATESIn our society, the women who break down barriers are those who ignore limits. ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGERWe cannot all succeed when half of us are held back. We call upon our sisters around the world to be brave – to embrace the strength within themselves and realize their full potential. MALALA YOUSAFZAIThe thing women have yet to learn is nobody gives you power. You just take it. ROSEANNE BARRShe was powerful not because she wasn’t scared but because she went on so strongly, despite the fear.ATTICUSWe need to reshape our own perception of how we view ourselves. We have to step up as women and take the lead.BEYONCEI do not wish women to have power over men; but over themselves. MARY SHELLEYStop wearing your wishbone where your backbone ought to be. ELIZABETH GILBERTI feel there is something unexplored about woman that only a woman can explore. GEORGIA O’KEEFEEThink like a queen. A queen is not afraid to fail. Failure is another stepping stone to greatness. OPRAH WINFREYStrength does not come from winning. Your struggles develop your strengths. When you go through hardships and decide not to surrender, that is strength. ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGERAttitude of gratitude quotesWhen was the last time you took time to reflect on what you’re grateful for in life? It may feel forced at first but developing an attitude of gratitude is a crucial ingredient for a happier life.It’s easy to overlook life’s simple pleasures, but learning to appreciate the little things really helps us bounce back when things don’t go our way. Let these attitude of gratitude quotes remind you to make it a priority.Wealth can also be that attitude of gratitude with which we remind ourselves everyday to count our blessings. CHRIS GARDNERDo not spoil what you have by desiring what you have not; remember that what you now have was once among the things you only hoped for.EPICURUSGratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow. MELODY BEATTIEAlways have an attitude of gratitude. STERLING K. BROWNI don’t think of all the misery but of the beauty that still remains. ANNE FRANKThe attitude of gratitude revitalizes the entire mental process by activating all other attitudes, thus stimulating creativity. NORMAN VINCENT PEALEBe present in all things and thankful for all things. MAYA ANGELOUI am grateful for all those people who said no. It is because of them that I did it myself. Practice an attitude of gratitude. You can either be miserable dwelling on the troubles you have or grateful for the ones you don't have. Your troubles don't care but it makes a huge difference in your life. MICHAEL JOSEPHSONLet us rise up and be thankful, for if we didn’t learn a lot today, at least we learned a little, and if we didn’t learn a little, at least we didn’t get sick, and if we got sick, at least we didn’t die; so, let us all be thankful. BUDDHAWhen you start noticing even a small portion of all there is to be grateful for, you'll find there is no room for lack, hurt, or want. The attitude of gratitude: the great, full feeling. PETER MCWILLIAMSLet us be grateful to people who make us happy, they are the charming gardeners who make our souls blossom. MARCEL PROUSTIt's your outlook on life that counts. If you take yourself lightly and don't take yourself too seriously, pretty soon you can find the humor in our everyday lives. And sometimes it can be a lifesaver. BETTY WHITEIf you want to find happiness, find gratitude. STEVE MARABOLIThe hardest arithmetic to master is that which enables us to count our blessings. ERIC HOFFERWear gratitude like a cloak, and it will feed every corner of your life.RUMIA lot of times people look at the negative side of what they feel they can't do. I always look on the positive side of what I can do. CHUCK NORRISGratitude unlocks the fullness of life. MELODY BEATTIEGratitude opens the door to the power, the wisdom, the creativity of the universe. You open the door through gratitude. DEEPAK CHOPRAEvery blessing ignored becomes a curse. PAULO COELHOA grateful mind is a great mind which eventually attracts to itself great things.PLATOWhen you are grateful, fear disappears, and abundance appears. TONY ROBBINSBe thankful for what you have; you’ll end up having more. If you concentrate on what you don’t have, you will never, ever have enough. OPRAH WINFREYThe greatest blessings of mankind are within us and within our reach. A wise man is content with his lot, whatever it may be, without wishing for what he has not.SENECAWe can only be said to be alive in those moments when our hearts are conscious of our treasures. THORNTON WILDERAs we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them. JOHN F. KENNEDYSo much has been given to me; I have no time to ponder over that which has been denied. HELEN KELLERA thankful heart is not only the greatest virtue, but the parent of all the other virtues.CICERONow is no time to think of what you do not have. Think of what you can do with what there is. ERNEST HEMINGWAYGratitude is the most exquisite form of courtesy. JACQUES MARITAINIf a fellow isn't thankful for what he's got, he isn't likely to be thankful for what he's going to get.FRANK A. CLARKHe is a wise man who does not grieve for the things which he has not, but rejoices for those which he has.EPICTETUSThe last of human freedoms - the ability to choose one's attitude, especially an attitude of gratitude in a given set of circumstances, especially in difficult circumstances. VIKTOR E. FRANKLLearn to pay attention to your body with the relaxed attitude of gratitude, trust, curiosity and unconditional love rather than being pushed around by habit, fear, anxiety, social customs, other people's schedules and other people's ideas about what is good for you. WALLACE D. WATTLESOf all the 'attitudes' we can acquire, surely the attitude of gratitude is the most important and by far the most life-changing. ZIG ZIGLARWe often take for granted the very things that most deserve our gratitude. CYNTHIA OZICKAn attitude of gratitude creates blessings. JOHN TEMPLETONStormy or sunny days, glorious or lonely nights, I maintain an attitude of gratitude. MAYA ANGELOUFind a place inside where there's joy, and the joy will burn out the pain. JOSEPH CAMPBELLTrain yourself never to put off the word or action for the expression of gratitude. ALBERT SCHWEITZERLive every day with an attitude of gratitude. TONY ROBBINSBoth abundance and lack exist simultaneously in our lives, as parallel realities. It is always our conscious choice which secret garden we will tend. SARAH BAN BREATHNACHCultivate an attitude of gratitude, of giving and forgiving. Nothing can bring you peace but yourself. RALPH WALDO EMERSONA sunny temper [an attitude of gratitude for what blessings and mercies there are] gilds the edges of life's blackest cloud. THOMAS GUTHRIEGratitude can transform common days into thanksgivings, turn routine jobs into joy, and change ordinary opportunities into blessings. WILLIAM ARTHUR WARDAn attitude of gratitude brings great things. HARBHAJAN SINGH YOGIGratitude can turn a meal into a feast. MELODY BEATTIEWhen a person doesn't have gratitude, something is missing in his or her humanity. A person can almost be defined by his or her attitude toward gratitude. ELIE WIESELWhen you view your world with an attitude of gratitude, you are training yourself to focus on the good in life. PAUL J. MEYER

Retiring Choir Teacher Gathers Everyone He Taught Over the Past 30 Years for One Final Performance
Uplifting News

Retiring Choir Teacher Gathers Everyone He Taught Over the Past 30 Years for One Final Performance

We all have that one teacher who changed our lives or who helped us believe in ourselves. The teachers who impact us challenge us just enough, help us improve, and build our confidence along the way.Teachers don’t always get the love they deserve, but there is no doubting the impact they have on our lives. Maggie Smith Kühn, an artist and painter, wouldn’t hesitate if you asked her which teacher changed her life and inspired her to be the creative person she is today.She would tell you it was Mr. Stanley, her choir teacher. So when he called asking for all of his alumni to gather to celebrate his retirement, doing so was a no-brainer. The Choir Teacher Who Changed LivesPhoto by ThirdmanMr. Stanley organized a performance for his alumni and the group only had a single day to rehearse. The former students had busy lives and limited time to devote to this performance; nevertheless, they wouldn’t let their favorite teacher down.Maggie Smith Kühn captured the rehearsal on social media, “My high school chorus teacher, Mr. Stanley, is retiring after 30 years. So he invited his former students to come sing with him one last time.”Maggie explained on Instagram that the singers “[...] clicked immediately.” Listening to the harmony of the group, “clicked” is an understatement. Despite being apart for decades, they were singing like they had never stopped practicing together. Maggie credits this to Mr. Stanley’s power as a teacher, writing:“Listen to how education lives inside students forever, even after decades. Many of us became artists, creatives, musicians and educators.” Maggie put it best in her post:“Never underestimate your impact on children’s lives. Appreciate your teachers and mentors.”How One Man Became an Amazing Example of the Impact a Teacher Can Have Sometimes, you need someone to see the possibilities that lie before you and reflect them back to you. A creative person may not know that it is possible to make a living doing what they love. Then, someone like Mr. Stanley comes along and makes the impossible seem possible. Teachers like Mr. Stanley do more than just teach, they empower. For that, they deserve recognition.“This is what a lifetime of dedication sounds like.”When the performance finally happened, it took the audience’s breath away. Soloist Lisa Lowe Douglas sang “City Called Heaven,” while Mr. Jim Stanley directed and the rest of the choir supported with angelic background vocals.Maggie hoped that her video would go viral so that as many people as possible would see Mr. Stanley’s opus. She got her wish, and Mr. Stanley got his recognition.

Turning Tragedy Into Comedy: Rare Footage of Amazing Deaf Comedian Bringing Her Audience to Tears (VIDEO)
Motivation

Turning Tragedy Into Comedy: Rare Footage of Amazing Deaf Comedian Bringing Her Audience to Tears (VIDEO)

"Believe me when I tell you, there's no limits as to what any human being can possibly do with their lives."- Kathy buckleyWhen it comes to life handing out lemons, deaf comedian Kathy Buckley hit the motherlode.And while she may be laughing now (and making millions of others laugh right along with her), she wasn't always.A five-time American Comedy Awards Nominee for Best Stand-Up Female Comedienne, an award-winning actress, motivational speaker, AND a best-selling author, Kathy's list of accomplishments is inspiring.But it took taking a lot of unbelievably hard hits — literally — to get there. She shares her incredible journey in rare old video footage that will have you crying and laughing. And laughing and crying. But most of all, it might inspire you to know that if someone can face such overwhelming obstacles and still survive -- so can you. Deaf Comedian Kathy Buckley's Life is No JokeKathy was born in Wickliffe, Ohio in 1958. When she was young, her parents chalked up communication challenges to her being "slow." Turns out, she was actually hearing impaired.It wasn't until Kathy was in grade two that her teachers and parents realized the truth. "And they call me slow," she jokes about it now.School wasn't easy for her. Not only did she struggle academically, often unable to lip-read what the teachers were saying, but she also struggled with bullying and being accepted. "I just wanted to be accepted. I just wanted to be a part of something," she says.Eventually, she graduated from high school with a one-point average.Lost and confused and battling depression, she attempted suicide FIVE different times by the time she turned 20. While she may have been done with life, life wasn't done with her.The Hits Kept Coming — LiterallyAt 20 years old, Kathy was sunbathing on the shores of Lake Erie when life really pulled out all the stops.A 3,500-pound lifeguard jeep ran her over. "Talk about not knowing what your job description is," she jokes in her comedy act.Her injuries, however, were no joke. The jeep ran over her face, stomach, chest, thighs, and back. She believes she died at the scene of the accident. "I saw life after death."Paramedics revived her but she was laid up for five years, in and out of a wheelchair for 24 months. Doctors told her she'd never walk again. She refused to listen. "I figured I didn't hear them," she quipped. "I got up and I left." She walked right out the door and ended up in sunny California.And just when you think it couldn't get any worse... it did. A Life-Threatening Cancer DiagnosisOne year after recovering from the jeep accident, life dealt her another crushing blow. Doctors diagnosed her with cervical cancer. They performed surgery to remove it. Six months later, the phone rang. They didn't get it all. Without another surgery, they gave her six months to a year to live.By this point, Kathy had had just about enough. (No kidding.) In her short 27 years, she had known endless ridicule and bullying, suffered depression, been sexually molested, almost died being run over by a jeep, faced living life in a wheelchair, finally learned how to walk again, and was now facing a terminal cancer diagnosis."The gift of choice is the gift that's given to you that nobody can take away from you. You have unlimited choices. If you make the wrong choice you can try to correct it with another choice and make it right."Kathy BuckleyIt sounds like the stuff of a crazy lifetime movie. But this wasn't Hollywood. Instead of giving up, Kathy got angry. And she decided to do something about it.She took control of her life. She stopped listening to all of the people who told her "You can't." She changed her diet and her attitude and kicked cancer to the curb. She changed her life. And turned her lemons into lemonade. With a comedic twist.Deaf Comedian Turns Tragedy into ComedyDespite suffering setback after devastating setback, Kathy refused to let them define her -- even finding the humor in her otherwise very dark circumstances.Hysterically funny and wickedly witty, Kathy found her calling after entering a comedy stand-up contest at a charity event and snagging one of the top spots in a large group of professional comedians.Since then, she's taken the U.S. comedy circuit by storm, becoming America’s first deaf comedienne. She's appeared on The Tonight Show, The Today Show, Good Morning America, CBS This Morning, Entertainment Tonight, Extra, Inside Edition, CNN, HBO, Caroline’s Comedy Hour, An Evening At The Improv, and Howard Stern.She's been off-broadway and also starred in her own original award-winning PBS special called 'No Labels, No Limits.'Additionally, she travels the world as a motivational speaker, inspiring audiences with her amazing story of courage, resilience, and overcoming. And she empowers millions to take control of their own lives, just like she did. Kathy took the absolute worst life had to throw at her and turned it into comedy gold. Can you do the same? "You got one shot at this gift called life. What are YOU going to do with it?"Kathy Buckley

21-Year-Old Single Dad Wakes Up at Midnight to Walk to Work Every Day - So His Co-workers Arrange a Special Surprise
Uplifting News

21-Year-Old Single Dad Wakes Up at Midnight to Walk to Work Every Day - So His Co-workers Arrange a Special Surprise

There’s something noble about working in silence. Many people struggle with maintaining hard work over long periods of time and complain the whole way through. But not Trenton Lewis.Why One Young Dad Wakes Up at MidnightPhoto by Rahul ShahTrenton Lewis is a 21-year-old single father from Little Rock, Arkansas. He values hard work and has a 14-month-old daughter, Karmen, to take care of. Trenton works in the shadows, literally. Every day for roughly half a year Trenton used to wake up around midnight, kiss Karmen goodbye and go to work. Trenton's shifts at UPS began at 4 a.m. Without a car, he would walk 17 km in the middle of the night to get there on time. “I don’t want to miss work at all,” Trenton said. “I had figured I had wanted to be with my daughter to get to support her because I want to be a father.”RELATED: Pizza Hut Deliveryman Has Worked the Same Job for 31 Years – So His Customers Tip Him With a Brand New CarTrenton was never late for work. He did what he needed to do and never complained. He even managed to keep the details of his walk a secret. As an Arkansas native, he takes pride in not making excuses. “I made it to work and everyone was late,” Trenton mentioned, “I’m doing this for my daughter.”Eventually one of his co-workers, Kenneth Bryant, found out about Trentons daily travels. He was shocked to see the standard Trenton holds himself to. “If somebody got that much determination, I’d be willing to help them,” Kenneth told reporters, “Here’s a young man who wants to work and will do whatever it takes to be successful.”Inspired by his story, Kenneth began asking around the office if people would be interested in secretly getting Trenton a new vehicle. Many of their co-workers agreed, even people who had never met Trenton. How a Single Dad Proved Hard Work Is Always RewardedKenneth went to a local car dealership and explained to the salesperson his co-workers’ story. Impressed, the salesperson told Kenneth they’d be willing to get the 21-year-old a good deal. Shortly after, Kenneth and the UPS employees had gathered enough money to get Trenton a car. They brought him to the office parking lot for what they said was a “union meeting.” There, Kenneth held a short speech, and surprised Trenton with the keys to a 2006 Saturn Ion. RELATED: Teen Is Photographed Walking at 4 AM to Reach His Graduation – So a Stranger Gifts Him a Brand New CarTrenton was surprised and grateful for people like Kenneth. For a guy that shows little emotion, he was seen smiling from cheek to cheek. “I had no idea, I guess they’re very good secret holders. This was my first car, I have awesome co-workers,” Trenton said.For his first ride, Trenton stopped by his home, picked up his daughter and went to get a bite to eat. The first of many meals out in the new ride.Its great to see a young man doing all he can for his family. He knows that the best way to support his daughter is to put his nose down and work hard. “I knew days were going to get better if I kept coming to work,” he said, “And that’s just what I did.” Because of his unrelenting determination, Kenneth was awarded something that will make his days a little easier.

441-Lb Dad Loses More Than Half His Weight to Get Healthy for His Kids — Now He’s Running Marathons
Motivation

441-Lb Dad Loses More Than Half His Weight to Get Healthy for His Kids — Now He’s Running Marathons

31-year-old Rob Sparkes of Somerset, England knew he had to make a change. Not just for himself, but for his two children as well.Topping the scales at 441 pounds, Rob was missing out on many of the things that other parents got to do with their children. Things like going on rides at the play park and going to movies. Just walking up a flight of stairs would leave him breathless.But more than the FOMO (fear of missing out) was the fear that if he didn't do something soon, his kids would grow up without a father.So, he decided to lose the weight, and in doing so, gained a whole new life.How a Dad Lost More Than Half His Body Weight After a routine checkup and a dire warning from his doctor that he was on the road to diabetes or worse, Rob began his weight-loss journey in September 2019.Living off of a diet of pizza, bacon, chips, and burgers & fries and chasing it down with a 2-liter of Coke, Rob was consuming a whopping 6,000 calories a day. More than double the recommended amount, according to the Dietary Guidelines for Americans."I just couldn’t stop. I just got in a really bad rut,” Rob said.Using his kids as motivation and with the encouragement of his wife, he started by changing his eating habits. He replaced his junk food with chicken and veggies and ditched the sugary snacks. Six months later he decided to start working out. While the world was coming to a stop thanks to a global pandemic, Rob was just getting going. In March 2020, he downloaded the Couch to 5K app and joined the gym and a running club. Nine months later, he crossed the finish line of his first marathon, having just run 26.2 miles (42.19 km). “It was meant to be an official one, but they all got postponed due to Covid, so my running club did an unofficial one. I had my wife and kids there waiting for me at the end, and it felt amazing. I ran it in five hours and 24 minutes, but I ran the whole thing."And he hasn't stopped.Losing Weight Was Just the Beginning(InspireMore)In just fifteen months, Rob lost an impressive 228 pounds. Not only did he reach his goal weight, but he also gained a new passion for running. Nowadays, he spends nearly every weekend running a half marathon to stay in shape. He's also raced in several marathons and raised $1500 for the Alzheimer Society by hiking the Yorkshire Three Peaks Challenge—a 25-mile hike up the 3 highest peaks in Yorkshire.And in January 2022, Robert Sparkes fulfilled his dream of competing in an ultramarathon, running a grueling 43 miles (69 km). He completed the Country to Capital Ultra Marathon, which winds through the English countryside and into the heart of London, in 9 hours and 55 minutes.Rob's transformation is truly an inspiration. With dedication, commitment, and hard work, he was able to achieve his weight loss goals. Today, not only is Rob able to keep up with his children, but he's also able to do things he never thought possible. By prioritizing his health, he was able to achieve a healthier and happier life for himself and his family. And he no longer worries that he won't be around for his kids, which is the biggest win of all.https://www.goalcast.com/weight-loss-motivation/

How a Shipwreck Victim Who Nearly Drowned After 3 Days Underwater Now Braves the Depths of the Ocean as a Professional Diver
Motivation

How a Shipwreck Victim Who Nearly Drowned After 3 Days Underwater Now Braves the Depths of the Ocean as a Professional Diver

How many nightmares can you cram into one situation before it seems so far-fetched that it’s hard to even imagine? Would the threat of drowning, being trapped in a confined space, in absolute darkness, and the possibility of being eaten by sharks hit that mark?That’s the exact nightmare situation a 29-year-old Nigerian man named Harrison Okene found himself starting in during the early morning hours of May 26, 2013. "Starting" is important to stress here because Okene would end up spending close to three days nearly 100 feet below the surface of the ocean, trapped in a room in a sunken boat and with almost no hope of surviving.RELATED: How A Kidnapping Survivor Who Escaped From A Car Trunk Is Saving LivesThe more you come to learn about Harrison Okene’s shocking ordeal, the more you will appreciate the resilience and will of this man — and when you learn what he ended up choosing as his career in the years after the harrowing days spent stuck in a sunken ship, you’ll only admire him all the more.A Freak Wave and a Tragic AccidentHarrison Okene was a crewmember of a tugboat called the Jascon-4, per 9 News, which was at the time charged with helping tankers ferry fuel oil from offshore oil platforms operated by Chevron. Okene and his fellow seamen had years of experience plying the waters of the Atlantic Ocean off the Nigerian coast, thus no one had any reason to suspect that late May day would prove a fateful one.Almost everyone on the vessel was asleep that early morning when Okene arose and headed to the bathroom before beginning his shift working as the ship’s cook. It was then that a rogue wave smashed into the Jascon-4, capsizing the boat which immediately began to take on water and sink.Thrown violently about but still able to gain his feet, Okene struggled to find a way to escape the sinking boat, but every door he encountered was locked: a standard procedure meant to keep the slumbering crew safe against pirates who may have attempted to raid the ship. But it also, unfortunately, prevented any chance of Okene getting out of the Jascon-4 before it sank all the way to the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean.Okene found himself stuck in a corner of an officer’s cabin, relegated to a pocket of air that had been trapped in the room as the boat sank and then settled on the seafloor. He had no idea then that his ordeal was far from over — in fact, it was just beginning.60 Hours of Quiet TerrorAs the Jascon-4 settled down onto the bottom of the ocean approximately 20 miles off the coast of Africa, Okene assumed all the other members of the 12-man crew must have escaped from the doomed ship. He would not learn for many days that, in fact, he would be the sole survivor.His survival ordeal began that morning, but it would last for a ghastly 60 additional hours. During that time, Okene went entirely without food or water. He was miserably cold. He was entirely in darkness. But he was not alone.More than once during his nearly three days trapped underwater, Okene described hearing aquatic animals moving about in the boat and what he identified as, per 9 News, “the bite of fish,” which may well have been sharks feeding on the bodies of crewmen deceased in adjacent rooms.With time a blur and his strength fading, Okene soon gave up much hope of making it out of the boat alive. He tried many times to free himself, following a rope through the dark, water-filled wreck, but every time he was forced to return to his little air pocket and simply wait for the end to come.When it did, it was not in the form of death, but of rescue."He's Alive! He's Alive!" — A Miracle Under the SeaApproximately 60 hours after the Jascon-4 had capsized and sank, South African rescue and recovery diver Nico van Heerden made his way into the ship. van Heerden and his fellow divers were not there as part of a rescue operation, mind you — they had been tasked by Chevron to recover the bodies of the men lost in the accident.The moment van Heerden entered the space where Harrison Okene was trapped was one neither man will ever forget, and amazingly it’s one millions of others will long remember as well, because Nico van Heerden had a camera running at the time.Watching the video of van Heerden finding Okene brings chills to the spine and a tear to the eye. From the murky depths before the diver’s mask, a hand slowly emerges. The voice of a man watching van Heerden's video feed says via radio: “Alright, we found one,” meaning a body.But then the hand closes around the diver’s glove, and in pure shock, van Heerden exclaims: “He’s alive! He’s alive!”Gently holding Okene's hand, van Heerden emerges from the water into the pocket of air and the camera finds Okene's face at last. His expression is one blending complete exhaustion, disbelief, relief, and wonder. Harrison slowly shakes his head from side to side, then settles back as if too overwhelmed even to sit upright. Overwhelmed, and short of air: it’s likely he would have succumbed to hypercapnia and died as a result of built-up CO2 within a mere matter of hours.His life had been saved, but the ordeal was not over.A slow trip up and a new path in lifeBecause Harrison Okene had been underwater for nearly three days, he had to be brought to the surface very slowly to reduce the risk of decompression sickness —— commonly known as the bends — and he was given a special mixture of oxygen and helium to breathe.Despite being an inexperienced diver, Harrison did well as he donned scuba gear and was led from the boat and slowly helped to ascend to the surface. Above the water, Okene had to spend nearly three days in a decompression chamber, in which he was given plenty of food, water, and medication.Finally free of the depths and released from the decompression chamber, Harrison Okene was reunited with his wife and the rest of his family. Plagued by nightmares and traumatized by his experience, Okene at first vowed never to return to the sea. But then, over time, an amazing thing happened: rather than repelling him, the ocean was calling to him.Inspired by the men who saved his life, Okene began to train as a diver himself. And just a few short years after nearly dying 90 feet below the surface of the sea, he was a diver rated to go down to 150 feet below it.Today, Harrison Okene is an official IMCA (International Marine Contractors Association) Class II certified diver. He is rated to work on and around the very oil rigs serviced by the ships he and his crew once tended to, to dive on wrecks, and, if ever needed, to participate in rescue efforts.

Single Mother of Nine Goes From Homeless to CEO of a Mega Successful Construction Company
Motivation

Single Mother of Nine Goes From Homeless to CEO of a Mega Successful Construction Company

While women have broken through the glass ceilings of the Whitehouse and corner offices, there are few female titans in the construction world. Sadly, harassment and lack of respect continue to keep many of them off that path. Yet against all odds, one hard-hustling woman broke that mold and her story is paving the way for women everywhere. April Malloy had a rough childhood, being abused and bouncing through the foster care system as a teen. RELATED: Mom Learns Her Entitled Son Bullies Classmates for Shopping at Goodwill – Gets Taught a Harsh LessonSpeaking with Fox, she said that things got worse when her troubled marriage ended. It left the single mother of nine homeless, on welfare and living out of her car. When all hope seemed lost, Malloy recalled her source of motivation: "I was in my car, just fighting, then I looked at my kids and you know that love that you have as a mother, and I knew I had to be strong for them."Yet like a ray of light through a cloud, hidden within those trying times would be the key to her rebuild. How a Single Mother Broke Into the Construction WorldDuring those tough foster years, Malloy learned a valuable skill: Handywork. With little time to waste and nine mouths to feed, Malloy got into game mode. With her car doubling as an office, Malloy got to work bidding on construction jobs with laser focus.“I was sleeping in my car and I would answer ads and I was working and pounding the hammer and just pounding the pavement and making it happen.Her resilience paid off, as she landed a contract at the 'Red Lobster' restaurant chain and other jobs. From there, her credentials and clients only grew. Today, Malloy is a force, as the CEO of Construction 1st Class. RELATED: 5-Year-Old Throws Up Every Day Before School Because of Bullies – Then, an Angry Football Star Steps InHer company has developed hotels in Manhattan’s Times Square and restaurants around the Big Apple, not to mention her own property portfolio. No longer cramped in a car, she owns a 7-bedroom home with all the space she or her children can ask for. Yet these days, Malloy is focused on using her success to help other women build a bright future. Her 'She's the boss developers' is a business that is proudly 100% woman-owned that 'strive to hire women and veterans while setting up a mentor program.'Malloy says it's all about elevating women: "I use that opportunity to train more women and I help them financially get on their feet with the non-profit."You Can Build Your Dreams Next job for Malloy? Reality TV. Her 'She's the boss' YouTube channel shares her story to empower and inspire women to become their own bosses. She says there's no mission more important. “Teaching women and training women is the ultimate solution to empower our country. If I can do it, they can do it.”It's easy to read into Malloy's story as a fairy tale that most can't achieve. Yet look closer and see that her toolbox is simple: Block out barriers, and have a strong enough 'Why', and start hammering. Most important of all, she says, is belief. "Walk in the room like you know you’re the boss that you are, and you become the boss."With a foundation like that, you can build castles in the sky.KEEP READING:Racist Bullies Shout Islamophobic Slurs at Girl Calling Her a “Terrorist” — More Than 100 of Her Classmates Stand Up to Protect Her

Weight Loss Motivation Tips to Keep Your Lifestyle Goals on Track
Diet & Exercise

Weight Loss Motivation Tips to Keep Your Lifestyle Goals on Track

Making a lifestyle change is hard work. You often need to override your current habits, get out of your comfort zone and develop new routines. Finding the motivation you need to achieve success isn’t easy. And staying motivated over the long term to hit your goal weight can be just as tough.When it comes to weight loss, so many factors are at play when it comes to sustaining motivation as well as weight loss maintenance. You may be cutting calories, adopting healthy eating, starting an exercise routine and dealing with comments from family members or friends about your new choices, not to mention dealing with everything else in your life. But how to get motivated to lose weight and to keep it off, you may need to adopt new ways of thinking and healthy food intake habits to keep you on track. Here’s what you should know about the (perfectly normal!) struggles many people have when it comes to losing weight, as well as some tested tips for regaining your focus. You can do this! Losing weight: Common strugglesWhether you’re starting an official program or navigating this journey on your own, you may find yourself having a hard time keeping up with your newfound weight loss goal. There are a few reasons you might struggle, even if you’re far along in your weight loss plan and have seen success so far. Maintaining motivation over time takes mental focus and hard work (not to mention a healthy meal or two!)Here are three common weight loss motivation struggles: Focusing too much on on external motivationIf your focus for losing weight is to please other people, or fit into societal standards about what the ideal body should look like, you will likely lose your motivation to continue on your weight loss journey. Why? Because extrinsic motivation—motivation that’s fueled by external accolades and pressure—isn’t as sustainable as intrinsic motivation—the motivation you find within yourself.Extrinsic motivation is categorized by two things. First, there’s avoiding the guilt of not meeting other people’s (or society’s) standards. Then, there’s people pleasing, the desire to win approval from other people. While extrinsic motivation can work well in the beginning, giving you a jumpstart into a new, healthy lifestyle, it won’t allow you to keep up with your weight loss goals over time. Letting your stress go uncheckedLosing weight is sometimes quite a difficult endeavour to undertake. Yet, life still goes on even when you’re working toward this big goal. It’s important to find ways to deal with the stress of everyday life while you’re working on weight loss. Even if this means having to scale back on your exercise so that you can take your dog for a walk and get fresh air, grabbing coffee with a friend so you can get some necessary social time in, or even meeting with your therapist to help manage your stress. (Srdjanns74 / Getty)Too much stress can wreak havoc on your mind and your body. When your body is stressed, the hormone cortisol shoots up. Chronic stress (and that cortisol release) has been linked to increased appetite and weight gain. It can also make you tired, which leads to less energy to work out and a lowered ability to maintain willpower when it comes to keeping up with your healthy habits. Having a perfectionist mindsetWeight loss—like any lifestyle change—is about persistence over perfection. If you’re beating yourself up over every missed workout, every unhealthy snack or every pound gained instead of lost, you’re going to burn out quickly. It’s impossible to maintain perfection when you’re dedicated to weight loss —you’re only human, after all. Operating from an all-or-nothing mentality with lots of restrictions built in (like off-limits foods) can lead you to binging or even giving up entirely. Focus on your journey as a whole, not on every little choice you make having to be perfect. How to stay motivated in your weight loss programStaying in tune with yourself is the best way to maintain weight loss motivation over time. First, harness your inner confidence and autonomy. As mentioned, intrinsic motivation, which comes from within you, is far more likely to help you in accomplishing long term weight loss. Relying on, and pleasing, yourself is far more motivating than losing weight simply to please others or fit in. Just as it is with the American singers Lizzo, weight loss, and Doja Cat's weight loss, body positivity can be a good thing, but not if you’re doing it for the wrong reasons. Accepting yourself as you are outside of how others perceive the way you look is sometimes the better long-term option. (Getty)Check in with yourself periodically about your weight loss goals and intentions. Tuning in to how you are feeling, where your stress levels are at and how you can best work to take care of yourself will be far more motivating than any outside force. When you treat yourself and your body with respect and kindness, you will believe that you are worth doing anything you set your mind to. Tips for staying motivated to lose weightIn addition to finding intrinsic motivation, there are a number of ways you can help inspire yourself to stay motivated. While some of the ideas on this list may seem extrinsic (like enlisting an accountability partner to help motivate you to lose weight), when the ideas come from a place of self worth and self actualization, these outside forces fulfill your goals and desires, not other people’s. Use the tips below as a jumping off point for developing the practices that will help you stay motivated to lose weight. Some of them will speak to you while others won’t fit with your weight loss journey or goals. That’s okay. By curating your own unique motivation techniques, you’ll be successful on your own terms. Set achievable goalsKeep the focus on progress, not perfection. Set a weight loss goal for yourself that you know you can achieve rather than a too-lofty benchmark that you may not be able to meet. This way, when you accomplish your goal, you can feel a sense of pride that will motivate you to keep going. Smallering milestones to meet will create sustainable motivation to keep you moving in the right direction.Zero in your “why”Determine why you really want to lose weight. If you’re focused on meeting societal standards and pleasing your partner (or other family members), remember that these “whys” are based on extrinsic motivation, which won’t be sustainable. Think about what weight loss will bring to your life: Will you be able to stop taking certain medications? Reduce your risk of certain diseases or conditions? Have more energy to do the things you love? Feel more comfortable within your body? Whatever your why is, identify it and keep it top of mind. Build your confidenceIf you’re having a hard time finding the internal motivation you need to keep going with your weight loss goals, work on building your confidence and loving yourself as is, right now. Losing weight is an important, sometimes life-saving, goal. But accepting yourself for who you are, at any size, gives you the necessary inner strength to believe that you are worthy and enough to make changes that will benefit you. Create a vision boardHaving a visual of what your weight loss will bring to your life can inspire you to keep going. Maybe it’s a picture of your kids taped to your exercise bike. Maybe it’s a screensaver of an adventurous destination you want to travel to on your computer. A visual reminder of your why that’s rooted in what motivates you from within can keep you focused on your weight loss goals. Conversely, photos of super skinny models will only make you feel ashamed and unworthy—don’t surround yourself with unrealistic images of beauty and societal standards that nobody can meet without the help of photoshop and filters. Tackle your emotional hurdlesWhat’s stopping you from becoming your best self? Typically when people begin any kind of transformational journey, including a weight loss program, intrusive thoughts and feelings can come up. Sometimes these are voices from people in our past, emotional pain from not-so-great memories and other trauma you may have faced. Give yourself the time and space to work through any issues that arise, enlisting a therapist if you need additional, professional guidance. Keep a journalDocumenting your weight loss journey can be motivating so you can see how far you’ve come. This isn’t a food diary where you write down everything you eat, which usually just makes people feel anxious and guilty. (Ranta Images / Getty)This is more of an emotional diary where you can track how you’re feeling about your weight loss, how you’re maintaining motivation, what’s been hard or easy for you and so on. Being able to write down your thoughts and feelings can relieve stress and serve as a reminder for your future self about where you were in different stages of your weight loss journey. Clean out your fridgeTypically, eating healthy is one of the main weight loss goals people have. One easy way to accomplish this is to clear out any foods that don’t fit with your new lifestyle from your fridge and your pantry. This doesn’t mean that you have to purge everything with sugar or fat. But you can think about what foods are worth indulging in and which ones just aren’t. Maybe you keep your favorite candy on hand as a treat but you toss the (already stale) cookies that you don’t love quite as much. Stocking your home with nutrient-rich foods that you actually like to eat will help you maintain your weight loss motivation. You have to make room for those items. Clear out your closetIt may seem counterintuitive to suggest that you give away any clothing that doesn’t fit you—especially clothes you’ve been saving to wear until after you’ve lost weight. However, when you see these items hanging lifelessly in your closet, they tend to not be very motivating. They just take up space. Instead, donate anything that doesn’t fit you right now and create a wardrobe of items that you feel confident in. Chances are the items you’ve been saving are old and out of style anyway. Feeling good in your body, right now, is better motivation than seeing clothes you can’t fit into—especially if you feel guilty or ashamed because your body isn’t ready for them quite yet. Track your progressFind a way to track your weight loss to help you stay motivated. Some people take a photo each day, do weekly weigh-ins, vlog about their progress—do whatever works for you to have a tangible record of your actual weight loss. (Zinkevych / Getty)This helps you see how far you’ve come, which is motivation to keep going. Do a social media purgeTake stock of your social media feeds and determine if the accounts you follow are helpful, or decidedly not helpful, as you work to lose weight. Follow any unmotivating or toxic accounts—especially any accounts that make you feel bad about yourself physically or mentally. Feel free to block or unfollow toxic people (even people you know in real life). Fill your feed with inspirational people and accounts that encourage you to keep going, make you laugh and help you de-stress in general. You can also limit your time on social media and work toward connecting with loved ones directly. Move your body every dayDo some form of physical activity. Even just five minutes of exercise can boost your heart rate–and your mood. While dietary changes are typically what help people lose weight, moving your body in some way can contribute to weight loss as well. (Prostock-Studio / Getty)Find an exercise routine or workout that you actually enjoy and stick to it. Whether you walk outside, do yoga or crush hardcore weight classes at the gym, exercise can make you feel good inside and out. Find an accountability partnerIs there someone in your life who you can talk to about wanting to lose weight? Someone who you can turn to when you’re feeling your motivation wane? Someone who will check in with you and keep your spirits high? Think about who this person could be: Your partner, a friend, a parent. This person can hold you accountable to your goals and give you the push you need to keep going when you feel discouraged. Be competitiveIf you’re the type of person who thrives in the face of a challenge or friendly competition, enlist a buddy to compete with you, in a healthy way, with your weight loss. You can encourage each other to hit a certain goal by a certain date, compete in how many workouts you can complete in a month or train together for a big competitive event, like a 5K or a marathon. If competition lights a fire under you, it can be a fun way to keep motivated. Work on your self talkThe voice in your head could be your best friend—or your worst enemy. Start being aware of how you talk to yourself when you’re doing what you’d consider a “good job” losing weight. Do you give yourself the credit you deserve or do you downplay your milestones? Also pay attention to how you talk to yourself when your motivation wanes or you do something that’s not in line with your exercise, food or health goals. Do you beat yourself up about it or accept that you’ll make mistakes and gently prod yourself to get back on track? Your inner advocate (or critic) can either inspire you to keep going or hold you back from truly feeling like you’ve accomplished your goals. Reward your milestonesWeight loss journeys need to include rewards for yourself. Make a plan for how you’ll give yourself those rewards, and you’ll contribute a lot towards your personal weight loss success.Give yourself a budget for something fun you can do for yourself, like getting a massage, buying a new outfit or treating yourself to a fancy dinner at your favorite restaurant. (wundervisuals / Getty)Determine when you will get your rewards—is it after losing a certain amount of weight? After a month of sticking with your plan? Figure out how you will measure success and give yourself the credit you deserve by rewarding your hard work. This will help you stay motivated to get the next reward—and the next on, and the next one and so on. Don’t be too hard on yourselfLosing weight is a journey, not a quick fix. Not only is it hard to lose weight, but it’s hard to stick to a diet perfectly and maintain an exercise routine, as well as simply live your life. Weight loss doesn’t happen overnight and you don’t automatically become a totally different person when you start losing weight. You’ll still have insecurities. You’ll still have stress. So be sure that you’re not being too hard on yourself if you’re not changing quickly enough or you feel like you’re not making enough progress with your weight or in other areas of your life. Weight loss takes timeGive yourself the time and space to make the necessary lifestyle changes you need to make in order to be successful in losing weight. It may take years to adapt to a new lifestyle, especially if this includes new ways of eating and moving that don’t come naturally to you. Staying motivated over the long term comes from within: You have to believe that you can do this over the long haul and that means having the confidence to know that these incremental changes will add up over time.(Inside Creative House / Getty)Dig deep into yourself for that intrinsic motivation, knowing that you are worth the time and effort it will take to ultimately lose weight and make your new lifestyle stick. As your confidence builds and you see results, you’ll be inspired to keep becoming the person you were always meant to be.

24 Relatable Relationship Memes to Make You Fall In Love (Again) With Your Significant Other
Motivation

24 Relatable Relationship Memes to Make You Fall In Love (Again) With Your Significant Other

Romantic relationships are one of the greatest joys a person can experience in life. Having someone you love and who truly loves you back unconditionally is a gift, and a feeling that is hard to even put into words. RELATED: 22 Utterly Wholesome Memes to Restore Your Faith in HumanityEven if you're flying solo right now, these dating and marriage memes will still feel relatable and/or give you inspiration. Save them on your phone to send to your crush -- you never know what might happen! Of course, all relationships require work and can be very hard at times, especially if both people aren't sharing the load, but when you find that special person who loves you for you, something truly magical happens.The Others Don't Matter If You've Already Found 'The One'via BoredPandaSome Things Stay Special - No Matter How Often They Happenvia eBaum's WorldArguments Are Temporary - Love and Respect Are Forevervia KnowYourMemeFind Someone Who Cheers You on - No Matter Whatvia ImgurThe Best Feeling in the World Is Knowing How Loved You Arevia BoredPandaSharing Your Partner's Interests Can Help You Bond via MemeBaseWords on the Screen Can Fill Your Hearth with Warm and Joyvia BuzzfeedA Meme for Your Girlfriend on National Pi Day (3/14)via InstagramAbsence Makes the Heart Grow Strongervia BoredPandaSometimes You Gotta Let Them Know... Hands off!via RedditBeauty Is in the Eye of the Beholder and You Look Like a Snackvia @sgtjuju776A Picture Is Worth a Thousand Words...via CheezcakeThe Evolution of a Relationship in One Honest Memevia BuzzfeedWhen You Find a Best Friend and Partner Who Just... Gets Youvia /r/WholesomememesCompromise Is Key to Making a Relationship Workvia MissamysantiagoKnowing Your Partner Cares Is All the Help You Needvia FandomSpotRemember the Importance of Your Relationship Origin Story via boredpandaThere are Moments In Life Where All You Need Is Your Partnervia PinterestNever Forget, They Chose You for a Reasonvia MematicThe Perfect Date Night Can Be a Bed, a Cuddle and a Showvia FunnyJunkLong Distance Relationships Can Be Tough - But Specialvia BoredPandaKeeping the Humor in a Relationship Keeps It Funvia ParksAndRecMemesActions Speak Louder Than Words in Relationshipsvia UpworthyThe Strongest Relationships Survive Despite Divisionsvia SomeEcardsKEEP READING:14 Celebrity Encounters That Will Change the Way You See Your Favorite Stars

Feel Like You’ve Missed Your Shot at a Successful Life? Don’t Give Up Just Yet
Motivation

Feel Like You’ve Missed Your Shot at a Successful Life? Don’t Give Up Just Yet

Have you ever cruelly criticized yourself for not being where you ought to be in life? Maybe you haven’t got the job role you think you deserve, maybe you’re not married or have kids yet. On the other hand, maybe you’ve done everything right -- you were a good student, you landed a great job, have a partner and everything, but you still feel like something it’s missing. You yearn to achieve something that’s undeniably you, not something that society dictates.There’s a societal tendency to venerate youthful achievement and we’re constantly comparing ourselves to others. That’s why most of us are in a hurry to do everything by a certain age. A Stanford study revealed that, across generations, people tend to remain consistent when it comes to the ideal timing for achieving life milestones. They want to get a full-time job, get married, and buy a home -- all of these under the age of 30. However, the researchers show that there is a significant drop in the percentage of people who manage to hit those deadlines (compared to previous generations). RELATED: How to (Actually) Finish A Creative ProjectThis simply means that there are more and more late bloomers out there. Why? Because times have changed and many individuals are sick and tired of following a timeline that leaves them completely dissatisfied with their life.In Aristotle’s Way, Edith Hall talks about the philosopher’s view on the foundation of living a good life. Aristotle says that first you have to become conscious of your skills and talents and then use those resources to make the most of them. If you’re not doing this, you’re not working toward reaching your unique potential -- and it’s only natural to feel dissatisfied. So what’s exactly holding you back from doing it?The Pressure of Becoming an Early-Achiever(Getty)It is insane how important getting into an elite institution has become. Affluent parents fight over putting their children in the most prestigious preschools and then spend tens of thousands of dollars a year.Over the last 20 years, parents have become obsessed with their kids being “the best” to the extent to which they are bribing high-profile universities. Moreover, both the parents and the students are doing whatever it takes to make sure they are making the right connections in order to land an amazing job right after they graduate. While this path is clearly not for everybody, we’re also praising early achievers. Prodigies like Steve Jobs, Bill Gates and Mark Zuckerberg always make the front page because they’ve become billionaires before the age of 30. Less attention is given to late bloomers.A lot of these preconceptions make people either chase the wrong dreams or see themselves as failures. The pressure among teens of not fitting the standards, being important enough or having enough money is increasing the rates of depression, anxiety and, tragically, suicide.RELATED: How to Travel the World Stress-FreeInstead of having varied interests, studying what we actually enjoy and taking our time, we’re encouraged to choose professional excellence over personal fulfillment. It’s a bit ridiculous how discussions around late bloomers remain unchanged even though more and more people are blooming later. We continue to be surprised whenever we hear a story about someone who has succeeded later in life. We still see this type of success as outside the norm, regardless of its prevalence.It’s still a common belief that if you haven’t accomplished something at an early age, then maybe you’re not capable enough. And whenever someone who’s not that young proves their abilities at an older age, we see it as a rare and curious thing. Not only does this mindset make people give up on their goals, but it also makes them doubt their success when it finally arrives. So what can you do to make sure you don’t miss out on your dreams?Shift Your Narrative(Photo by Shawnee D on Unsplash)If you still look at accomplishments in terms of age, you clearly need to shift your narrative. Late bloomers are not the exception -- they are people who due to various reasons have tapped into their potential later in life. Besides, as Todd Rose (author of Dark Horse: Achieving Success Through the Pursuit of Fulfillment) says: “There’s absolutely zero relationship between the age or speed at which you achieve something and the ultimate contribution you can make.”RELATED: 3 Game-Changing Workplace Stressors You Can Cut Right NowSomeone else’s view on what a successful life should look like, won’t get you where you want. Your work should also be a source of fulfillment, not just a means of making money. If you’re fulfilled with what you do, you're more likely to achieve excellence, and excellence is for any age. Sometimes quitting is winningWe sometimes love to hear the idea that “winners never quit and quitters never win”. It motivates us to push our limits even further and that can lead to extraordinary outcomes. But if you misapply your grit, it’ll just burn you out.So sometimes, you have to quit in order to win. Weigh the pros and cons so you can know when to strategically quit. This won’t mean that your first reaction to adversity is to give up. It simply means that you have a realistic view of when quitting is the appropriate thing to do. The Best Pace Is Your Own Pace(Photo by Artem Beliaikin on Unsplash)There are plenty of people who reach their goals, personal or professional, in their own timeframe. As a matter of fact, research suggests that it has become increasingly common for people to accomplish major life events at a later age, compared to previous generations. It simply makes sense for individuals to bloom later in life -- we live longer, we’re switching careers more than ever, and we’re seeking more meaning in whatever we’re doing. Fortunately, as time passes the idea according to which succeeding at an older age is rather surprising than impressive becomes outdated and narrow-minded. RELATED: What Does It Mean to Be In a Romantic Friendship?Rich Karlgaard , the author of Late Bloomers: The Power of Patience in a World Obsessed with Early Achievement, said that “ late bloomers tend to be the ones who find their own path that leads them to this magical place where late blooming occurs”. This statement came after he spent five years researching the concept to make sure it’s backed up by science. So do things at your own pace -- not everything is a competition and it’s better to achieve your goals later than never. Never Give Up on Your Dreams(Getty)It’s obviously easier for this to be said than done when the odds don’t seem to work in your favor. But to make sure you hold on to your dreams by trying to create a goal tailored to a specific activity that truly inspires you. For example, if you are a creative person, don’t say “I want to create something” -- this type of declaration is too general to act on. Instead say “I want to do home décor” or “I want to write a book”. Find a specific task that sparkles passion and use it as a guide.Good things come to those who waitEven if you haven’t got to where you ought to be, remember that “with age comes wisdom”, self-knowledge, resilience and all that good stuff. This means that now you’re more equipped to succeed than when you were younger. However, once you decide on the path that will truly fulfill you, you must keep in mind that it may take years, if not longer, to reach the destination. It’s never too late to become yourself and do what you actually love. Since we previously mentioned Aristotle, know that he fully devoted himself to philosophy when he was nearly 50. And if you need an example from our modern society, think of Joanne. This young, talented, but clinically depressed woman who bounced from job to job feeling like a failure. That was until she felt liberated enough to do what she always dreamed of -- writing fantasy novels for children. You probably know her as J.K. Rowling.So take that feeling of despair and use it to your advantage. Remove the pressure of succeeding earlier in life so you can think clearly. And accumulate enough experience to realize that someone else’s recipe for a successful life, might not apply to you.KEEP READING:You’re Making Friends Wrong – Here’s How to Do It Right