5 Powerful Quotes That Changed My Perspective (And Might Change Yours Too)
For me, reading just one simple but powerful sentence can give me a boost of motivation and shift how I see things. In this post, I’m sharing five of my favorite quotes. They’ve shaped how I think and see life, and they’ve also helped me a lot while studying.
After reading my first post from the Study Tips series (if you haven’t yet, I encourage you to check it out!), you already know that, for me, the key to successful studying is consistency, not motivation. However, we all need a little motivation sometimes, especially when things get tough. One of my ways to boost motivation is listening to motivational videos on YouTube or Spotify, or by reading articles and books about life and self-improvement.
The five quotes I will share come from different sources and people. They’re not just about growth and studying but also about life and how to approach it.
I’ll present each quote, and share my couple of thoughts.
1.
He who says he can and he who says he can't are both usually right. - Confucius
The first quote is from Confucius. The first time I read it, it didn’t seem as powerful as it does now. It’s short, with a simple message, but it’s so true. When we’re planning, for example, to pass an exam, telling ourselves that we can do it instead of thinking we can’t doesn’t hurt anyone, but for us, it can be incredibly encouraging. Even if you’re struggling with some exam problems or feeling tired, believing in yourself can often make a difference, helping you succeed.
Assuming from the start that you can’t do something you truly want is like placing limits on yourself, and those limits exist only in your mind. I strongly believe that if we want to achieve something, believing in ourselves is a crucial first step. Of course, we still need to put in the effort—whether it’s studying, working, or exercising—but it all starts with the confidence that you can!
2.
If you can be in a bad mood for no reason, you might as well be in a good mood for no reason. - Alex Hormozi
Alex Hormozi isn’t a philosopher like Confucius was. He’s an entrepreneur I follow on many social media platforms, and he inspires me to take action. The quote I’m sharing below was eye-opening for me, especially for my younger self, who often used his mood as an excuse not to go to the gym, skip university classes, or avoid studying for an important exam.
Sometimes we wake up feeling bad or tired and assume the whole day will be awful. But that’s false—it only turns out awful if we let our mood dictate our plans and stop us from taking action to make the day better.
Feelings are powerful tools that can guide us in understanding whether certain people, actions, or events are good for us. Recognizing and reflecting on them helps us better understand ourselves and our decisions. However, there are times when there’s no real reason to feel so bad, so why not try to find the positives and get the work done anyway?
3.
There is nothing in this world that can hurt you more than your thoughts. And there is nothing in this world that can heal you as much as your thoughts. - Unknown
Do you sometimes think negatively about yourself? Do you have catastrophic thoughts about what could happen next? Or maybe you overthink all the possible negative scenarios of your decisions? I’ve been there. Do I want to go back to that mindset? Not.
Instead, I choose to think positively about myself, focus on the things I can control, and, while making decisions, acknowledge the risks but focus more on the possible positive outcomes.
The thoughts in our heads will always be there. But our minds are ours to shape, and recognizing that we have full control over how we think is a game changer. It’s not always easy, but it is possible to work on changing your thought patterns, confronting your fears, and looking at things from a different perspective. When you do, you’ll feel more at peace and much calmer.
4.
Spend so much time on self-improvement, that you have no time to criticize others. - Jay Sean
Let’s look at this from another perspective. In our lives, we encounter many people. Some are close, like family and friends. Others we know from school, college, or work. Some we don’t know personally, but they still know about us. Each of these people will have different opinions and visions of you and your life. Why is that?
Because you don’t share the same information with everyone. You might have met them at different stages of life—at age 12 or 20—you may have different political views, or you simply don’t talk to them as much as you do with others. But should any of these opinions define you? Of course not, because the only person who truly knows you best is you.
For me, the goal is to be better than the person I was in the past and to achieve my goals for the future. Competing with others is rarely the best motivator, and the same goes for criticizing others—especially people you don’t know well.
If each of us focuses on improving ourselves and shares kindness with those around us, I believe the world would be a much better place to live.
5.
So, maybe it’s not that you’ve been cheated out of an unlimited supply of time; maybe it’s almost incomprehensibly miraculous to have been granted any time at all. - Oliver Burkeman
The last quote comes from one of my favorite books, Four Thousand Weeks by Oliver Burkeman. Many might say that the ideas he writes about are cliché, simple, or things we already know. But is that really true?
For me, it wasn’t. He writes about shifting our perspective on life—how short it really is—and how accepting that we will eventually die can actually help us live better lives.
I remember many moments when I feared mortality. The thought that one day would be my last—my last meal, my last workout, my last everything—felt unfair and deeply sad. I couldn’t help but wonder, Why does it have to be this way?
But then, I started thinking differently. The fact that I was born in this century, or born at all, feels nothing short of miraculous. The reality that life has an end actually brings a sense of meaning to our daily actions.
Every action or relationship becomes more significant. You have limited time, and yet you choose to do something or spend time with someone. That choice—to share a part of your finite time—makes those moments and connections all the more meaningful.
Thank you for going through all five quotes that changed my perspective—and maybe they’ll change yours a little too. Do you have any specific quotes that motivate you? Or maybe one quote that helped you get through a tough time? Feel free to share it in the comments below, or reach out to me by email or on LinkedIn.
In the end, each of us has a different background, and different words inspire us to study, grow, and achieve our goals.
But maybe some of you will agree that some quotes are nearly universal, like this one from Michael Scott...
