5 Inspirational Quotes for Momentum

This week, we have another round of inspirational quotes — this time we're focused on finding momentum.

For each quote, we invite you to think about what it means to you. Take what you need from it, and use it to fuel your day, especially if you feel overwhelmed!

“You are not a machine. You are a garden.”

So often, we strive for consistent output: send the email, complete the report, do the thing.

Of course, we do have tasks to complete! 

However, here at focused space, we strive to bring awareness and joy to the whole journey, not just focus on the outputs.

We can learn to appreciate the beginning of a goal like a seed we have planted in the ground. We can observe and celebrate our growth, while noticing weeds that are zapping our resources, pruning dead leaves along the way.

We can get curious about the environment we place our goals in and how well that supports our growth. 

Prompts for Reflection 🤔📔

Machines run at the same speed every day — gardens do not. Gardens rest, bloom, wilt, and grow again in cycles. You are built for seasons, not endless output. Honoring your natural rhythms — your energy highs and lows — is how you truly thrive.

“Start where you are. Use what you have. Do what you can.”

- Arthur Ashe

This quote encourages three steps to ground you.

First, start where you are. This is a call to tap into the present moment and perhaps practice some radical acceptance, or “the ability to accept situations that are outside of your control without judging them.”

The non-judgment part can be particularly challenging! Start by just naming the facts of the situation.

Next, “use what you have” can inspire us to embrace an abundance mindset as you consider all that you already have within yourself and resources and people in your community.

In a world that is always encouraging us to seek more, finding that sense of “enough” for ourselves and our belongings can be a refreshing change of pace. This can also encourage us to find gratitude for what is already good and supportive in your life.

Lastly, do what you can. Check in with yourself and see what you can do right now. When we take intentional action that aligns with our energy, we move closer to our goals and learn more about ourselves.

Prompts for Reflection 🤔📔

Start where you are

🤨 What are the facts of the situation?

Use what you have:

💪🏾 What strengths or skills do I already have that I can lean on today?

💞 Who or what in my community can support me? A book on my shelf? A person in my professional network? 

Do what you can

👣 What is the next small step I can take with the energy that I have?

“You can’t push the river.”

Pushing a river sounds futile and exhausting, and probably not something we would attempt in real life.

And yet, we can find ourselves in situations where it can feel this way — we can find ourselves trying to force or control something that is naturally flowing or happening in a way that expends a lot of energy and doesn’t actually work very well.

For example, maybe you have had the experience of trying to push a project or collaboration where there isn’t a lot of enthusiasm. It may be more helpful to look for people who are already excited about your idea, versus those you may have to heavily persuade.

Another way to look at it: maybe sometimes you are the river, too. Your strengths and the unique way you show up in the world can be the river, and maybe some external expectations or systems feel like they are pushing against you… in that case, we suggest you tune into your own sense of flow.

So what can we do instead of pushing the river? Listen to the river. Get curious about what you notice.  Align your actions with the flow to honor life’s natural rhythms.

Prompts for Reflection 🤔📔

Identify one area in your life that feels like pushing a river.

What would it look like to flow in the direction of the river?

“The master has failed more times than the beginner has even tried.”

- Stephen McCranie

Being a beginner is hard!

Brene Brown even has a term for this – FFTs (“Effing” First Time). That icky, awkward, frustrated feeling we might get when starting something new, even something we are excited about! 

Oftentimes, people give up when they encounter those first few failures that are a natural part of being a beginner.

This quote reminds us that the people we revere as excellent at what they do had to encounter MANY failures to reach their levels of success.

Keeping this in mind can ease the pressure of getting everything right in the beginning and allow us to do even more than we think we can!

Prompts for Reflection 🤔📔

😣 Where is the fear of failure holding you back?

🚪✨ What doors could open up if you accepted failure as part of the journey?

“A moment of self-compassion can change your entire day. A string of such moments can change the course of your life.”

- Christopher Germer

Kristin Neff, an expert on self-compassion, says: 

“Self-compassion simply involves doing a U-turn and giving yourself the same compassion you’d naturally show a friend when you’re struggling or feeling badly about yourself. It means being supportive when you’re facing a life challenge, feel inadequate, or make a mistake.”

Instead of just ignoring your pain with a “stiff upper lip” mentality or getting carried away by your negative thoughts and emotions, you ask yourself how you can support yourself to get to a better outcome.

And as the quote says, creating a string of these moments can change the course of your life! 

That means self-compassion is a continual practice.

Self-Compassion Activities

📝 Write a letter or speak to yourself from the perspective of an unconditionally loving imaginary friend

🪜. Try these three steps to reframe negative self-talk: Notice, challenge, reframe

🖤 Loving physical gestures like stroking your arm or giving yourself a hug can activate your parasympathetic nervous system

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We hope these quotes stay with you and encourage you to show yourself kindness in the ebb and flow of your life.

P.S. If you could use help accomplishing your goals this season while still remembering to rest, please join us at one of our live guided work sessions, or morning planning sessions!

Take care,

— Kaila, focused space host