What are some quotes you turn to for when you feel lost?
Quotes are special. There have been many moments in my life where a quote has made a real difference. A good quote, one that speaks directly to your soul, can be life-changing. And, from my experience, they have a funny way of finding me when I need them the most.
A few years back, I was lost. Not only was I completely burned out, but I was also unsure of who I was or what I wanted to do for the rest of my life. I just knew I was miserable, and quite frankly, physically and mentally ill. I felt trapped in my sorrow and couldn’t see any light at the end of the tunnel. It was a scary time, to say the least.
During this challenging time in my life, some days felt worse than others. What made some days better was the tiniest bit of hopefulness that crept into my mind. This sense of hope, even if it only lasted for 10 minutes at times, would put a fire in me that was determined to get to a better place.
On one of these better days, I would seek out ways to feel better. I would pick up a self-help book, browse the web for tips on recovering from burnout, or reach out to a family member or friend for support. One day, during my search for help, I landed on some Maya Angelou quotes.
I didn’t know much about Maya Angelou at the time. Of course, I had heard of her, but I wasn’t familiar with her work or words of wisdom. As I read through her quotes, I was inspired. And then I stumbled upon this one…
“If you don’t know what you’re here to do, then just do some good.”
Reading this hit me like a ton of bricks. It was like Dr. Angelou was standing in front of me, saying these words specifically to me. They were exactly what I needed to hear at that moment. And instantly, I felt less lost and less scared.
It was simple. I was questioning my future, my purpose, and what I was here to do. And Maya Angelou answered this question for me. I just needed to do some good.
I immediately wrote this quote on a post-it note and stuck it up in my room where I could see it daily. From that day forward, I was different. I still had painful days, but, over time, they slowly started to dwindle. And that’s because the uncertainty I felt about my life, that was feeding my unhappiness, was starting to disappear. The more I lived with purpose, the stronger and happier I began to feel.
And it didn’t matter whether I knew exactly what I wanted to in this life of mine. Heck! I still have days where I wonder what direction to go in. But what makes it easier and less intimidating is I now know that I just want to do some good.
In whatever way, shape, or form, I want to live a life where I am trying my very best to bring some good to the world. And knowing that makes me feel incredibly empowered and optimistic about my life.
Yes, folks! A Maya Angelou quote changed my life. And I’m eternally grateful for it.
Related: 28 MAYA ANGELOU QUOTES ABOUT SELF-LOVE
Has a quote ever changed your life? What quotes help you when you feel lost? I’d really love to hear!
Until next time, my sweet friends <3
By the way, I’ve since discovered that the quote actually belonged to a longer quote of hers. Equally as inspiring, of course! You can read that below.
“What is a fear of living? It’s being preeminently afraid of dying. It is not doing what you came here to do, out of timidity and spinelessness. The antidote is to take full responsibility for yourself – for the time you take up and the space you occupy. If you don’t know what you’re here to do, then just do some good.”
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