They say that you have not truly lived until you have persevered and survived adversity. Sometimes, though, the pain can be so intense that it feels better not to have lived at all.
If you feel this way, you are not alone. Millions—if not billions—of people don’t know how to feel better about themselves when something negative is introduced into their lives. Getting back on your feet may seem easy enough to do, but when the weight of the world is on your shoulders, even the thought of trying to get back up can be overwhelming.
How to feel better about yourself
The good news is that as downtrodden as you may feel, you are the one person who has the power to turn things around. Realizing that you don’t have to depend on anyone else to make you feel better is the first step to recovery and discovery. Sure, it will probably take time for you to accept the idea that everything will be all right, but if you look at the bright side of things, you will see that it is possible.
Whether you’re fighting an illness, or trying to get over the fact that the intern got promoted above you, it would do you a world of good to be positive about the whole situation. Here are 15 secrets to teach you how to feel better about yourself, from people who truly know what they’re talking about. [Read: Low self worth – 5 steps to see yourself in better light]
#1 C.S. Lewis: “Failures are finger posts on the road to achievement.” Oprah Winfrey, Steven Spielberg and Albert Einstein may be leaders in very different fields, but the one thing they share is that they have all failed multiple times. Oprah Winfrey was fired from her first television job. She is now worth $2.9 billion. Steven Spielberg was rejected by the University of Southern California’s film school multiple times. He has won three Academy Awards. Albert Einstein had trouble learning in school. He won the Nobel Prize in physics.
Don’t feel bad for not succeeding. All you have to do is try again. If these people can pick themselves up, so can you. Read more about other wildly successful people who persevered despite failure here.
#2 Elizabeth Gilbert: “This is a good sign, having a broken heart. It means we have tried for something.” Heartbreak is one of the hardest things to overcome. At times, having your heart literally ripped from your chest may seem like the more appealing option. However the author of “Eat, Pray, Love” is right: love should not be a cause for regret because even if it ends badly, you can stand tall and say that you gave it your all. That is certainly worth something. [Read: The real reason behind why love hurts when it goes bad]
#3 Lailah Gifty Akita: “Celebrate your life, this is your only life.” No matter how tough life gets, you have to fight hard to make it amazing, because this is the only one you’re going to get. There is no use in feeling sorry for yourself. Whether you’re fighting an illness, dealing with a death in the family, facing bankruptcy, trying to get over a heartbreak, or simply having a bad day, you have the power to make the most of it. Don’t give up on life just yet because, unlike video games, you don’t get a new one.
#4 Audrey Hepburn: “Happy girls are the prettiest.” To all you ladies out there, listen to Audrey Hepburn. She says that happy girls are the prettiest. It really doesn’t matter what you weigh, what color your skin is, what your hair looks like, how much makeup you have on, or how much your clothes cost. As cliché as this may sound, inner beauty shines through all of that, and will be the biggest thing others see. So celebrate you and be happy. [Read: 11 tips to fall in love with yourself and be a much better YOU]
#5 Marilyn Monroe: “Wanting to be someone else is a waste of the person you are.” Don’t feel bad if you don’t live up to the bar set by someone else. You have to strive to become the person you were meant to be, not the person someone else expects you to be. Be strong, be proud, and you will dazzle the world.
#6 Tony Hawk: “You might not make it to the top, but if you’re doing what you love, there is much more happiness there than being rich or famous.” Don’t feel let down if you don’t get that promotion you wanted, or if you didn’t score that job interview. There will always be other opportunities. At the end of the day, as long as you love what you do, that’s what counts. If you don’t already do what you love, then perhaps it’s time to try.
#7 Jillian Michaels: “Once you figure out the why, you can tolerate any how.” This saying applies to every facet of your life. From sticking to a workout regimen, to dealing with a long-distance relationship, there’s no reason for you to doubt your ability to accomplish what you set your mind to. Despite failure along the way, there’s no doubt that if you know what you want, you can do whatever it takes to get it.
#8 Shaun Hick: “You need to spend time crawling alone through shadows to truly appreciate what it is to stand in the sun.” Most people don’t appreciate what they have until it is taken away from them. From a lover, to a bank balance, only once you have seen the darkest of days will you feel grateful for everything you have. Don’t feel bad for losing something because, at the end of the day, it is that feeling of loss and regret that will push you to appreciate what you have. [Read: The 13 happy things you need to have the happiest life]
#9 Paulo Coelho: “When someone leaves, it’s because someone else is about to arrive.” Gone through a heartbreak? Well, fret not! Despite what you are stubbornly telling yourself, that person isn’t the one for you. Life is all about timing. Only when the wrong one walks out of your life will it be the right time for The One to walk in.
#10 George Bernard Shaw: “Life isn’t about finding yourself. Life is about creating yourself.” Don’t be depressed if you don’t quite know who you are. It isn’t an easy task. Why not take matters into your own hands and become who you want to be? It’s not too late to figure that out. Take time off from work, travel a little, meet new people, discover new sights, and absorb everything around you. It’s only a matter of time before your inner self will point you in the right direction. [Confession: I don’t know what to do with my life]
#11 Jennifer Aniston: “Once you figure out who you are and what you love about yourself, I think it all kind of falls into place.” Take it from Jennifer. She knows what it means to love yourself. She was publicly embarrassed when her husband left her for another woman. She dealt with it elegantly and moved on. No matter how bad things get, you can certainly pick yourself up and move on. Focus on loving yourself and the rest will follow suit.
#12 Edward Bloor: “You get as many chances as you want; as many as you dare to make for yourself.” The number of times you fail doesn’t matter. What matters is perseverance and a continuous belief in yourself. Understand that the harder and more frequently you try, the higher your chances of success will be. If you persevere, it’s only a matter of time before you get what you want. [Read: How to stop being jealous of someone else’s success]
#13 Ken Poirot: “The only thing limiting you is yourself.” As long as you realize that you are your own worst enemy, you will understand that no one can stop you from accomplishing your goals. Self doubt isn’t a good look on anyone, so it’s best for you to shed your doubt and live up to your true potential.
#14 Sunday Adelaha: “You are not on earth to simply make a living for yourself; that is too small a purpose.” Many of us hate what we do for a living. Don’t feel bad for questioning the direction your life is taking. Understand that it is healthy to wonder if you were meant to do something else. We are all on earth for a far higher purpose than being a part of the rat race and paying bills. Find that purpose in your own life. [Read: The importance of purpose in your life and 5 things it can do for you]
#15 Anonymous: “There comes a time when you have to stop crossing oceans for people who wouldn’t even jump puddles for you.” If you feel terrible for cutting people out of your life, or for even thinking about it, stop right there. You are worth far more than what other people think of you. You aren’t a floor mat whose sole purpose is to be walked over and wiped upon. If you don’t feel appreciated and think that you will fare much better without certain people in your life, go right ahead and slash them out of your world.
[Read: 10 signs to recognize selfish people and 5 steps to cut away from them]Feeling better about yourself may not be the easiest thing to accomplish, but if you pay attention to the 15 feel-good quotes listed here, you will learn how to achieve this goal. As you read the inspirational words above, remember that you are worth so much more and hold more power than you realize.
