Quarantine has truly put a damper on this whole year, hasn’t it? Although things are beginning to go back to normal at a gradual pace, it still feels different. Here are 10 of the best inspirational quotes that will hopefully make this quarantine a little more bearable.
“Life is like a box of chocolates. You never know what you’re gonna get.” - Forrest Gump
This is the perfect quarantine quote that was said by one of our lifetime’s greatest actors, Tom Hanks in Forrest Gump. As of the publishing of this blog, it’s been more than a year since the pandemic took its hold on not just a state, country, or continent...but the entire planet. But with it comes the opportunity to adapt and change, or stay stagnant and resist. Throughout the course of the last 12 months, I’ve seen people use this as an opportunity to start a new relationship, lose weight, change jobs, refinance their home, write a book, even buy a boat! Just don’t live in the moment, live FOR the moment. Bite into that chocolate. That’s half the fun!
“I think it’s very healthy to spend time alone. You need to know how to be alone and not be defined by another person.”- Oscar Wilde
Famous author Oscar Wilde always seems to have the perfect quotes that just make sense during quarantine. This quote in particular is extremely accurate because you do not have any other choice but to take this time to yourself and get to know yourself as a person.
Trust me…this can be a difficult thing. Are you where you want to be in your life? 10 years go, if you said, “I want to be in this place emotionally, financially, socially, etc...” Are you? Once this painful experience is over, you can come out of this a lot stronger and wiser than you were before.
“What you do today can improve all of your tomorrows.”- Ralph Marston
Ralph Marston summed it up perfectly. Every single thing you do depends on what you have done already. So the little changes and breakthroughs that you make today will make tomorrow that much easier and allow you to keep growing and improving every day.
When is a tree strongest?
There's a popular Chinese proverb that says: “The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second best time is now.” Some people may think this means, “Let’s go now!” We live in a world where results are expected immediately. Why? Everything we do is immediate. From fast food to fast phones…speed is the key. But how many times have you heard someone say, “Boy, if I had only known x, y, and z, I would have bought that lot 10 years ago and be a millionaire today.” Take action today to reap the rewards later…just be patient. And that’s the hard part.
“Keep your face always toward the sunshine- and shadows will fall behind you.”- Walt Whitman
The Boston Celtics always perform their stretching exercises facing the banners and awards the teams in the past have accumulated over the years. Why? It reminds them of where they want to go. What Whitman means by this is that you should always be optimistic no matter what. You must look on the bright side of life, but also keep your eye on the prize. If you do so, you will no longer see “shadows.” That means that you will not focus on the possibilities of bad things, but rather consume by the opportunity of what can be.
“You are what you think about all day long.”- Dr. Robert Schuller
Dr. Schuller has a very good point with this quote. Our subconscious mind grasps everything that we say. So if you tell yourself that you are stupid enough times, your mind will start to believe that. During this quarantine, you are alone with your thoughts a lot, so it is best if you start thinking good things about yourself and programming those negative thoughts into positive thoughts! Note: Freud said “Whatever you focus on, even if it’s not what you want, you’ll get more of it. If you continue to say to yourself, “Stop eating bad food..stop eating bad food, stop eating bad food..” What do you think you’ll eat more of? Bad food. Focus on what you want, not what you don’t want.
“Although the world is full of suffering, it is full also of the overcoming of it.”- Helen Keller
This is an amazing quote that was said by someone who knew both the suffering and the overcoming of suffering. By trying your best at everything you do, you not only increase your chances of achieving your goal of overcoming whatever it is that you are suffering, but you are almost certain to change your point of view in the process. Even if you do not entirely overcome your suffering, you will most likely lessen it.
“Doing the best at this moment puts you in the best place for the next moment.”- Oprah Winfrey
This quote was said by the great Oprah Winfrey. My love for this quote is about “luck.” “Johnny is so lucky” is a common phrase amongst my siblings. And maybe I am. But I also believe luck is when preparation meets opportunity. My company was started on a $100 dollar bet. The moment showed up. If I did nothing with it, then I wouldn’t have “done my best,” I would have chickened out. Sometimes your best is about having the courage to even attempt something new. That was 18 years and 250,000 trained sales professionals ago. Who knew. Thank you, Oprah.
“Without great solitude, no serious work is possible.”- Pablo Picasso
Pablo Picasso is a name that I think everyone has heard before. This quote in particular relates to quarantine because it is saying that all the messing around you have been doing before the pandemic has not benefited you in any way. It is key for you to start working now so you can make good progress toward your goals.
“You cannot be lonely if you like the person you’re alone with.”- Wayne Dyer
This quote is so simple but says a lot. If you truly love yourself, if you are at peace with who you are as a person, if you feel that you were not placed on this Earth to measure up to other people’s expectations and society’s perception of you, then you will never be alone because you have yourself.
“Don’t wait. The time will never be just right.”- Napoleon Hill
Nobody said it better than Napoleon Hill. Rather than stressing about making sure everything is perfect, just try as hard as you can. If you try and wait for something that is 100% flawless, you might miss out on a lot of amazing opportunities that are right in front of you. This is a common theme to “When is the right time to have kids.” I’ve always said, “If you’re waiting for the perfect time to have kids, you’ll never have kids. Go get some kids. They’re pretty cool!” Of course, I say this line with a strong slant of humor, but if you’re waiting for the perfect time of most things, chances are that time has already passed. So, create a new timeline…like right now!
If these 10 quotes inspire you, check out John Costigan to become even more inspired!
