“What day is it?” asked Pooh.
“It’s today,” squeaked Piglet.
“My favorite day,” said Pooh.
When you first awake, be mindful and take a second to think about what a privilege it is to simply be alive and relatively healthy. Breathe onto the bathroom mirror just to see how amazing your breath looks. The moment you start acting like life is a blessing, I assure you it will start to feel like one. And when you start the day in a mindful state like this, it’s easier to focus more effectively on what matters most.
If you’d like to practice starting your mornings more mindfully in the weeks ahead, below you will find 52 good morning quotes. I choose one of these quotes every Sunday morning and sit quietly for two minutes, repeating it silently in my mind as if I were meditating. I also write it on a sticky note and put it next to my computer monitor for the duration of the week. This weekly ritual has helped reduce unnecessary stress in my life by reminding me to keep things simple, peaceful, and in perspective. Perhaps this practice can add value to your life too.
1. The secret to being grateful is no secret. You choose to be grateful. Then you do it again and again, every day. When you forget, begin again.
2. If you worry too much about what might be, and wonder too long about what might have been, you will ignore and completely miss what is.
3. You don’t know what the future will bring, so your best strategy for living is to make the best and most positive use of the present.
4. Two things, more than anything else, define you daily: Your patience when you are struggling, and your attitude when you are not.
5. Patience is not about waiting — it’s the ability to keep a positive attitude while working hard for what you believe in.
6. It’s not selfish to enjoy life. What’s selfish is to insist on being negative despite all the positive possibilities available to you.
7. Before you waste it on anger, resentment, spite or envy, think of how precious and irreplaceable your time is today.
8. You may be exhausted. You may be discouraged. You may feel uncomfortable. No matter what, your best option is to move forward one tiny step at a time.
9. Those times when you don’t feel like being positive are the times when choosing to be positive makes the biggest difference.
10. It’s impossible to accomplish what you assume you cannot do. Be careful not to become a prisoner of your own negative assumptions.
11. If you truly wish to improve your self-confidence, self-esteem, and self-worth, stop allowing other people to be responsible for them.
12. Your track record for getting through hard days is 100% so far.
13. When you fail to get what you want, consider that it just might be a blessing in disguise, enabling you to have something even better, soon.
14. Use your struggles and frustrations today to motivate you rather than annoy you. You are in control of the way you look at life.
15. What may seem like a setback is really an opportunity for you to learn something new, and develop a more effective, more realistic strategy.
16. Again and again, remind yourself why. With a strong enough reason why, you will be able to do what’s required at any time and in any circumstance.
17. Be determined and ambitious, but not out of a desperate sense of need — do it out of a love for the possibilities. Appreciate your journey.
18. Do your thing with passion and integrity even if folks don’t notice you. We do what we do not for an applause, but because we know it’s right.
19. If the grass looks greener on the other side… Stop staring. Stop comparing. Stop complaining and start watering the grass you’re standing on.
20. When you are lost in worry it’s easy to mistake your worries for reality, instead of recognizing that they are only thoughts.
21. Whatever your challenge is, worrying about it won’t help. Either do something to address it, or do something to move past it.
22. Unless you let go of what’s behind you, unless you forgive yourself, unless you forgive the situation, unless you accept that it’s over… you cannot move forward.
23. Most people make themselves unhappy simply by finding it impossible to accept life just as it is presenting itself right now.
24. You can’t calm the storm. What you can do is calm yourself, and the storm will gradually pass.
25. Nothing is permanent. When you understand this, you can do almost anything you wish because you’re not trying to hold onto everything anymore.
26. The most powerful changes happen when you take control of what you do have power over, instead of craving control over everything you don’t. (Read “The Untethered Soul”.)
27. Too often we see ourselves as the past victim, rather than the creator of our present situation. This is why our life is so difficult to change from one moment to the next.
28. When you are no longer able to change a situation, you are challenged to change yourself. And that changes everything.
29. Being grateful in life doesn’t mean everything is perfect; it often means you’ve decided to look beyond the imperfections.
30. Your life will improve only when you take small chances, and the first and most difficult chance you can take is to be honest with yourself.
31. It’s not what you say to everyone else that determines your life; it’s what you whisper to yourself that has the greatest power.
32. Awareness is not just noticing what’s going on around you, but what’s going on within you as well. (Keep your eyes open and your Self in mind.)
33. Be careful about who you give the microphone and stage to in your life, especially when times are tough. Don’t just listen to the loudest voice. Slow down and listen to the truest one.
34. Don’t let someone who has done nothing tell you how to do your thing. Don’t let small minds convince you that your ideas and dreams are too big.
35. You can’t base your ideas of success and happiness on other people’s opinions and expectations.
36. Sometimes you need to distance yourself to see things clearly again.
37. Don’t be scared to walk alone down the path less traveled, and don’t be scared to appreciate every minute of it.
38. Wherever your heart is — wherever your truth is — that’s where you will find your reason to smile.
39. Don’t let not knowing how it’ll end keep you from beginning today. Uncertainty chases us out into the open where life’s true magic is waiting.
40. You can’t be afraid to have certain conversations. It’s better to talk and find out, than to keep going and get nowhere. Communication is key.
41. No matter what happens in life, be good to people. Being good to people is a peaceful way to live, and a beautiful legacy to leave behind.
42. Changing the world doesn’t necessitate earth-shattering feats, but rather doing small things with great love. Think simple and consistent, not spectacular.
43. Our days are always happier and more fulfilling when we give people around us a bit of our heart rather than a piece of our mind.
44. Don’t judge someone harshly just because they’ve made different mistakes than you have.
45. When you choose to see the good in others, you end up finding the good in yourself.
46. Set an example. Do your best to treat people with kindness and respect, even those who are momentarily rude to you — not because they are nice, but because you are.
47. Be thankful for all the rude, obnoxious, and difficult people you meet in life. They serve as important reminders of how NOT to live.
48. There are no permanent jobs on this planet. We are all interning here. Learn from everyone, remain humble, and don’t forget to have some fun along the way.
49. There’s no such thing as a self-made person. Someone else believed, encouraged, and invested in you. Be grateful and be that someone for others when you can.
50. Accept what is, let go of what was, and have faith in your journey one day at a time.
51. Every day is a new beginning; treat it that way. Stop thinking about what could have been and start looking at what can be starting today. (Marc and I discuss this in more detail in the “Passion and Growth” chapter of “1,000 Little Things Happy, Successful People Do Differently”.)
52. Right now it all starts over. The possibilities ahead are endless. Be strong enough to let go, wise enough to move forward, diligent enough to work hard, and patient enough to wait for what you are gradually earning.
Now, it’s your turn…
What’s one additional quote or personal reminder that has given you some extra clarity in life? Please share it with us by leaving a comment below.
Also, if you haven’t done so already, be sure to sign-up for our free newsletter to receive new articles like this in your inbox each week.
Photo by: Pan.
Larissa says
I look for your posts everyday, and this one in particular is one of my favorites. I want to save it and read it over and over again. I’ve shared some of them with family and friends already this morning. Thank you for making a difference Marc and Angel!
Michelle says
My go-to daily reminder from one of Marc’s older emails:
“Choose to be miserable and you’ll find plenty of reasons to be miserable today. Choose to be peaceful and you’ll find plenty of ways to be at peace.”
Ain’t that the truth on most days? It sure is for me.
Thank you for another enlightening post and challenge, Angel.
Chelsea says
Angel and Marc, your words continue to help me find positivity in some very stressful recent times.
I read one of your emails, posts, or a page of your 1,000 Little Things book almost every day before I leave my home. Doing so keeps so many important principles in perspective and creates a kind of peace and awareness that somehow encourages me to face the day positively and productively. This really assists me a lot in getting back on track whenever life’s struggles pull me down. Also looking forward to attending your next live event when you announce it.
Devon says
Like Chelsea mentioned above, I have many morning (and evening) quotes and reminders, dozens of which I have taken directly from your books, emails, and blog over the years. One particular quote from your 1,000 Things book that I have had pasted to my bulletin board for a while now, and frequently repeat to myself:
“No matter how chaotic the past has been, the future is a clean, fresh, wide open slate. You are not your past habits. You are not your past failures. You are not how others have at one time treated you. You are only who you think you are right now in this moment. You are only what you do right now in this moment.”
Joanell says
“This too shall pass.”
“Say what you mean, mean what you say and do what you say you’ll do when you say you’ll do it.”
And thank you for your 52 great reminders. I will use them in the coming days and weeks.
Tami VanBuren says
I enjoyed coming across these 52 quotes, I subscribed to your newsletter.
My longtime fav quote: ‘Your regrets, become your burdens.”
Rosalind Harris says
Great quotes. Very inspirational.
One of my 87 year old mother’s quotes I try to live by is” “Life is what you make it.”
Cage says
“One path to peace of mind is to remember that people do not think about you as much as you think they do.”
And thank you for all you share each week, M&A.
Cynthia says
These are all really great! I would really love if you made this into a deck of cards, so that you could pull one every day, or place around the house, or even give to friend in need.
Mary Charewycz says
You guys have gradually changed my life just from reading your site posts and newsletters. Thank you. You’re keeping me on track.
Johan says
Excellent words of wisdom
One quote that has resonated with me is
We cannot direct the wind, but we can adjust our sails
That’s for doing what you do .. you are making a difference in this world ! ?
Diana says
We don’t see things as they are…We see things as we are.
Both attributed to the Kabbala & Anais Nin
Bold Eagle says
Uplifting and Insightful quotes. Thank you for continuing to feed my hungry heart with meaningful reading.
Much Love!
Sue says
God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, courage to change the things I can, and wisdom to know the difference.
Thank you Marc and Angel, and everyone.
E says
When I was growing up my Mom wouldn’t allow the word Can’t.
She would always tell me….can’t, can’t do anything
Tanner says
I had a a good friend on mine I served with tell me one time.
Good decisions come from experience…..
Experience comes from bad decisions.
Tony Porter says
Excellent inspiration for one day at a time, that is all we have. Yesterday is a canceled cheque,tomorrow is a promissory note, but today is cash, spend it wisely.
Denise Dunn says
Mark and Angel, I have come across your articles so many times and each time there has been wise and beautiful ways to help people like myself to navigate life’s journey. Each quote seems to untangle my constant questioning to myself of why? I feel I’m not alone by reading these morning quotes and I immediately feel calmer to face each day with positivity and with less worry and feelings of being alone. Thank you so much for your kindness and empathy.
Pat says
You both are the real deal. Each day you unselfishly give to your readers all of the necessary nuggets of truth that we all need to live happy lives. Thank you so very much and God bless you.
Amberflora says
It’s always a beautiful thing looking forward to your articles… you’re a life saver…
“Taking one step at a time”
Stephanie Hunts says
My father wrote this on a post it note over 20 years ago.. I have it where I see it everyday..
“If you live your life today as if it is your last, one day you will certainly be right.”
Thank you Dad!
O. Orwell says
“40. You can’t be afraid to have certain conversations. It’s better to talk and find out, than to keep going and get nowhere. Communication is key.”
I really needed to see this, there was a rather difficult conversation I had to have with a romantic partner that I had just kept putting off. Thank you for giving me the courage to rip off the band-aid.