To quote or not to quote, that is the question.
The ability of a quote to both captivate and resonate is priceless and something that can live with you forever.
The definition of Quotation — a group of words taken from a text or speech and repeated by someone other than the original author or speaker.
I’ve previously written about Stoicism and my appreciation for the work of Ryan Holiday. The Stoic philosophers were masters in using the power of words to both captivate and inspire.
For me, the power of quotation has played a massive part of my life this past year. All of us will have suffered our fair share of anguish and grief in 2020 due to a number of factors, including Covid. However, I’ve tried to remain positive and look to the future and maintain an outlook which tries to focus on that which I can control.
I feel this has been made somewhat easier by using the power of quoting others , which has enhanced my thinking and also given me something to resonate with. This year, specifically since March when the pandemic hit, I’ve read more than I ever did in the past. This has brought me tremendous pleasure and also a lot of value. During these months, I’ve kept what I call a productivity journal to write down quotes and sayings from said books, and articles, as a reminder and something I can return to on a regular basis to bring development and growth.
Recently, I’ve seen more people using words as a positive method of communicating when, at times, there has been a lot of negativity and scepticism in the world. I’ve actually found Twitter to be such a place where I’ve removed a lot of the media and current affairs I was following and now follow people who use the power of words to inspire and motivate. A few people/handles I would recommend you check out on Twitter include ‘War of Weakness’, ‘Danny Miranda’, ‘Gal Shipira’ and ‘Mackenzie Smith’. What I’ve enjoyed about following these people is they’re trying to enrich the world and are doing so by using the medium of words and the power of positive reinforcement. I believe we all need some sort of support network which we can lean on and also use in times of difficulty or crisis. For me, this has been using powerful quotes and sayings as such a reminder.
With this, I will now talk about some of my favourite quotes and phrases which have had an impact on me and I hope will resonate with you. The first quote I noted in my productivity journal, back in March, was;
- “Clear is kind, unclear is unkind” (Brene Brown)
Brené Brown first heard this slogan in a 12-step Alcoholics Anonymous meeting. “I was on slogan overload at the time, and didn’t think about it again until I saw the data,” the research professor and TED sensation writes in Dare to Lead. https://brenebrown.com/blog/2018/10/15/clear-is-kind-unclear-is-unkind
I think this struck a cord with me, while reading Brene’s fantastic book, due to its simplicity and directness. I believe being concise and clear is seen as being just and helps prevents any deceit.
2. “The cave you fear to enter holds the treasure you seek.” (Joseph Campbell)
I must admit, I tried to read The Hero’s Journey a few years back and I struggled to stick with it and make sense of what Campbell develops. However, over time I’ve gone back to the premise and now appreciate his work and the journey, which I think we all face, in some form or another. The quote listed above speaks to the idea of fear and self-doubt which I know I posses and I’m sure many others too. It’s that idea of overcoming your negative talk to fulfil your aspirations, desires, goals. It’s about knowing there is light at the end of the tunnel or a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. The journey may be winding and fraught with difficulties but the reward will be worth it. Therefore, you must grasp the moment in-order to achieve that which you desire.
3. “Depth is where the gold is buried. And you have to stay committed to something and go deep to dig it up.” (Mark Manson)
Many readers of Medium will be aware of Mark’s work and his two books — ‘The Subtle Art of Not Giving a Fuck’ and ‘Everything is Fucked’. He also produces a weekly Monday email which provides much wisdom and value.
I think this quote, much like the Joseph Campbell one, hit home with me as it’s about overcoming boundaries/obstacles in-order to find that which you are aiming for and wish to achieve. It’s all about eyes on the prize and staying focused and you will succeed!
4. You’ve got to wake up every morning with determination, if you’re to go to bed with satisfaction.” (George Lorimer)
This one fires me up and helps gets me up each morning in a good frame of mind and ensuring I suffer few regrets. It’s using Mel Robbin’s 5–4–3–2–1 rule to seize the morning and ultimately win your day. I truly believe if you can start your day on a positive footing then it will lead you into a better mindset which can only serve to enhance the possibility of having a productive and cherishing day. It’s all about positivity, positivity, positivity.
5. Motivation is what gets you started, habit is what keeps you going.” (Jim Rohn)
We all want to have drive, focus and purpose, in our lives but achieving this can be easier said than done. For many, finding motivation to start something can be achievable, such as joining the gym or learning a language. However, it’s the sticking at it part, longer term, which can be difficult. Thus, I like this quote as it reminds me that I need to put in-place systems and methods which allow me to continue on the path I’ve chosen. Without said systems and methods then it’s quite easy to become distracted or lose motivation.
6. Life instantly improves when you don’t blame other people and focus on what you can control.” (James Clear)
Again, this harps back to Stoicism and that which you can control and avoiding that which is out-with your grasp. I think a great weight was lifted from my shoulders when I started to realise there is no point in worrying or spending time on things out-with my power. It’s quite liberating to begin to adopt this and concentrating on your own actions and mindset.
I hope some of the quotes I’ve listed above will resonate with you and may already be familiar to you.
I’d love people to reply or email me with some of their favourite quotes and affirmations.
