Are you feeling stagnant in your career or personal life? Get the motivation you need to pick yourself up and continue moving forward with words of advice from some of the most celebrated women in history. These 10 inspirational quotes will push you to start making positive changes and share everything you have to offer with the world.

1. “How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world.”

-Anne Frank

We often put off the goals that are most important to us because we’re afraid of failure. Don’t wait until you’re “ready” to start a project that you know will make a difference – you might never feel fully prepared. Start now. Work with the skills you currently have and improve them along the way.

2. “Optimism is the faith that leads to achievement.”

-Hellen Keller

Having an optimistic outlook is often necessary for success. If you’re only focused on how things haven’t gone your way, you’ll miss the opportunities you have to improve the future. Make a point to slow down and feel grateful when things work out in your favor, and enjoy the process as you work toward success.

3. “Luck is a matter of preparation meeting opportunity.”

-Oprah Winfrey

It’s very rare that successful people get to where they are because they got “lucky.” It’s not just about knowing the right people or being in the right place at the right time. While seemingly lucky coincidences might help you further your success, you need to do the work first and be prepared for every opportunity that comes your way.

4. “You may encounter many defeats, but you must not be defeated. In fact, it may be necessary to encounter the defeats, so you can know who you are, what you can rise from, how you can still come out of it.” 

-Maya Angelou

We can learn so much about ourselves through difficult times. Think about an unpleasant experience you had, and all the ways that it made you stronger. How does that newfound strength help you through other situations in your life today?

5. “No one can make you feel inferior without your consent.”

-Eleanor Roosevelt

When people talk to or about you, whether it’s positively or negatively, you choose what you want to internalize. Developing a strong sense of self and building a solid inner foundation will make it hard for people to knock you down. Consent to kindness, and disregard everything else.

 6. “People respond well to those that are sure of what they want.”

-Anna Wintour

When you are confident and determined to achieve your goals, others will sense that. People will be more willing to present you with opportunities when they believe you know what to do with them. Believe in yourself first. Trust yourself, and others will be inclined to trust you, too.

7. “Find out who you are and be that person. Find that truth, live that truth, and everything else will come.”

-Ellen DeGeneres

Staying true to yourself is the best way to find your calling. Finding yourself is a continuous journey, and part of that journey is developing a core set of values and discovering what’s most important to you. Know what you stand for, what you’re passionate about, and what kind of an impression you want to make on other people’s lives.

8. “I don’t like to gamble, but if there’s one thing I’m willing to bet on, it’s myself.” 

-Beyoncé

Be somebody you can rely on. When you set goals and make commitments to yourself, stick to them. No matter what you’re faced with, trust in your strength and know that you’ll be able to persevere.

9. “It is our choices… that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities.”

-J.K. Rowling

You are not limited to your current abilities. You can choose to build a growth mindset and acquire the skills you need to achieve success. You choose how you want to use your current talents, and whether you want to invest in your own self-development.

10. “What you do makes a difference, and you have to decide what kind of difference you want to make.”

-Jane Goodall

Don’t underestimate the difference you can make in people’s lives. Everything you do and every interaction you have affects those around you, so you might as well make it positive. Even if it’s just making someone’s day a little better, there’s power in your actions.

Feeling motivated? Download the self-development planner for free and get a head start on setting and achieving your goals.