Words are and always have been much more than just random patterns and symbols on a screen. They’re megaphones of the mind, warmongers and pacifists, expressions of the inexpressible. They have the power to change you, and you, in turn, have the power to change the world.
This is why, even though the words and phrases on this list may seem simple and insignificant to many, I believe they are truly capable of making a difference in mindsets, perspectives, and future feats.
1. I am/you are enough
There is nothing wrong with simply wanting more in life. We all have a very limited amount of time on this planet, yet it’s still enough to truly live and make a difference. However, don’t let this perception of “more” make you think of yourself now as “not enough”. Every once in a while, you need reassurance, may it be from yourself or from others, that who you are presently is a pretty great person deserving of happiness and love.
“But here’s the deal, sweet stranger. You deserve to be the protagonist of your own wonderful, bizarre, terrifying little life. If you decide you are enough, you are enough. You don’t need to wait for some grand external validation of your worth before you offer your kindest heart to yourself.”
- Kathy Brown
2. I care
It’s so easy to get trapped inside your own head. When it seems like life is just too much, it’s natural to feel alone. With all this weight on your shoulders, how is it possible you're carrying it on your own?
That is why, sometimes, one needs to be reassured that they aren’t facing life’s obstacles with no one by their side. Just the simple reassurance that there’s at least one person out there who sees you struggling, understands your burdens, and is willing to go through it all with you can make a huge difference.
“Caring for others is an expression of what it means to be fully human.”
- Hillary Clinton
3. I need help/a break
So many of us see the world as a place wherein productivity equals validity. This type of thinking will turn your hobbies into dreaded obligations and your motivation into burnout, as this “productivity” is found in what makes you smarter or stronger rather than happier.
Really, it’s okay to admit you’re tired and need time for yourself. Not every day will be one full of standing ovations and accolades; sometimes, one must simply make it through, and that is good enough.
“Let her sleep, for when she wakes, she will shake the world.”
- Napoléon Bonaparte
4. I made a mistake
We live in a world where we’re always assured we don’t need to achieve perfection, yet somehow, people always feel like they must. It may be hard to openly admit that you aren’t flawless, but, by doing so, you learn to accept yourself, with all your weaknesses and fears and shortcomings, and still love that person regardless.
“I can say that I am only human and I have made mistakes. I can say that I try to live my life in the most true, honest way that I can. I am not perfect, no one is.
No one is harder on me than me. No one can please everyone. No one can live in the past and expect to grow. I have been moving forward and hope that I am not defined by just a few moments in my life but all of the moments that will make up my life.”
- Chris Brown
5. I tried my best
In life, you won’t always get your way. You may work hard for something, and things might still not go according to plan. Because of these failures, you tend to belittle your efforts or diminish your self-image.
These may manifest in the form of telling yourself, “I didn’t even study hard for that test, anyway” or “I’m just naturally bad at it. There's nothing I can do about that”.
You must learn to embrace what comes to you and be proud of your hard and honest work, regardless of outcome.
“So I’ll do that, and I’ll do my best, and if my best isn’t good enough, at least I will have done everything I could, everything that is in me. I don’t have to try to be someone else, someone I could never be.”
- Garth Nix
6. This isn't good for me
While toxic relationships, both romantic and platonic, seem to be so normalized and even romanticized in today’s world, you have to make the conscious effort to realize when something or someone is negatively impacting your mental health and believe that you deserve better.
“Don’t associate yourself with toxic people. It’s better to be alone and love yourself than surrounded by people that make you hate yourself.”
- Robin Williams
7. I can/will do it
One of the most important things when it comes to the achievement of your goals is your mindset. You have to believe that, despite all the challenges and doubt and discouragement and fear, you are capable of living the life you wished for on those nights you couldn’t seem to fall asleep, if only you'd get up and work for it.
“Don’t ever let somebody tell you you can’t do something. You got a dream, you got to protect it. People can’t do something themselves, they want to tell you you can’t do it. If you want something, go get it. Period.”
- Will Smith
8. I will live, not simply exist
You shouldn't let your future dreams and goals blind you from the present, because this will eventually lead to regret and missed opportunities. Today, even if you aren't living your dream yet, is something you will never get back once it’s gone. Make it count, because only when you realize that fact do you truly experience just how wonderful it is to simply be alive, right here and right now.
“Suddenly you’re ripped into being alive. And life is pain, and life is suffering, and life is horror, but my God, you’re alive and it’s spectacular.”
- Joseph Campbell
9. I will make it
Life gets painfully hard for us all. Sometimes, you may feel too broken to be repaired. You think it’s impossible for a single person to be faced with so much. You are so consumed by worries and insecurities that it seems so much easier to just stay down when you're knocked over.
When life feels like this, you must assure yourself that the sun will set, the hour hand will flick past midnight, and that, despite it all, you will still be here, just you, a new day, and a world full of possibilities.
“You were given this life because you are strong enough to live it.”
- Robin Sharma
10. I have grown
In all the craziness of your day-to-day life, you often forget to simply take time to appreciate where you came from, how you got to where you are now, and the experiences, both good and bad, that shaped you into who you are. Regardless of new problems, you should acknowledge that you've conquered all those that came before, that you have grown into a better person, and that you will continue to grow every day of your life.
“Life is growth. If we stop growing, technically and spiritually, we are as good as dead.”
- Morihei Ueshiba
