How Motivational Quotes Change Lives, And Even Save Them

I think we all know that incredible and addictive feeling that sometimes comes with reading motivational quotes.

Euphoria.  Bliss.  Wonder.  Astonishment.  Zen.  Inspiration.  

I often like to call it the “wisdom buzz”.  (Funny enough, I got that term in about 1993 or so, when a local Toronto singer had a song on the radio, which I *thought* was called “The Wisdom Buzz”.  Only last year did I find that she was actually singing “The Wisdom Bus”.)

Either way, a “buzz” is not a bad term to describe that feeling.  

I got into quotes many years ago when I found a small pocket book of quotes in a store in Washington D.C.  I carried it everywhere, and pulled it out when I had a spare moment.  It’s basically what we all do now with cell phones.

I committed many of those 400+ quotes to memory, and they were DEEP substantial quotes.  Thoreau, Emerson, Montaigne, Seneca, etc.  Stuff that really made you think. (not the silly fluff most people like today)

After that, I began taking quote books out of the library and I’d write down all the ones that hit me with the wisdom buzz.  I read through quite a few over my adolescence, and collected several notepads full of quotes.

Why are inspirational quotes so great?

1. They’re often the the very BEST, most useful thoughts from books, therefore, instead of reading entire books, you get the best chunks of knowledge, summarized into short pithy blocks.
2. Instead of spending years making your own mistakes, you learn from the experiences of others…saving you from unnecessary, hard life lessons. 
3. <Insert your reasons here> (or add them to the comments below)

Another aspect of this topic is just how much some quotes can change us.  Sometimes, there are aphorisms which hit us in such a potent way, they stop us in our tracks, and change the direction of our lives.

Have you had this experience?

On a side note, I find it strange whenever I see sticks-in-the-mud or negative-nancies complain about the motivational quotes that are all over social media.  At worst, quotes inspire people and make them think more positively than they were before.  So how is that a bad thing? Have you seen this new sentiment starting to pop up?

Recently I created a quote-pic/meme for my page that asked, “Has a quote ever changed your life?”

I expected people would share experiences of their lives changing for the better, but in a very strange reaction, 90% of the replies were people sharing the quotes that meant something to them.  People are usually very enthusiastic when you ask them to share their favourite quotes!

Here is the picture: 

If you would like to see the quotes that people shared, you can see the post/thread here: http://bit.ly/2QaDrf0

Emails I’ve Received Tell More of the Story

Over the years, I’ve kept SOME of the thank-you emails I get from subscribers to my thought-of-the-day by email.  Here’s just a few:

“This quote just came to me at a time when I am feeling attacked from the outside.
Getting it just when I did helped me to process through the maze…
Thank you, and I want you to know what you do does help. I needed this particular quote this day.” -Jo Anne

“I really appreciate those thoughts! I’ve saved all the ones that I’ve ever gotten from you and I also went to the website and printed out a bunch that I really liked. I’m laminating them and giving them to my brother to put on his wall in his hospital room” -Carmella

“Hi Shawn, Thanks for always sending quotes that really touch hearts, esp this one. I just turned 35 last Aug27 and wrote a life list. I want to try things I’m afraid to do because I might fail, like going into a relationship & settling down.  Reading your quotes made me realize my life was somehow structured and I have to do something so I can be totally free and truly happy. Last weekend, I conquered one of my fears & went snorkeling at Apo Island in Dumaguete. And for me, that experience truly summed up what you just wrote here: it was my moment. I owned it.  
Thanks again, and may God bless your loving & kind heart so you continue to touch more lives!” -cillevillamor

Thanks for your efforts Shawn.  They definitely are worthwhile for me.  I have been a member to receive your information since you began.  I have downloaded your books and printed them out and sent them to people in prison, those I knew with problems, etc.  What a joy they have brought to them and me. Joycee

Saved Lives

In two cases people have told me that a quote I sent out saved their lives.

In one of those cases, I asked to speak to that person privately, and I got some of the story.

This young man explained that he had decided to commit suicide on a particular day.  However, there was a quote he read that day on fb.com/quotesandsayings which helped him decide to get help instead.  

He and I remain friends to this day 2 years later, and he’s on track to start a coaching business using his particular talents and life story as a way to inspire others.

Pay it forward

I love hearing people say they take the quotes I send out, and:

-forward them to their team’s email
-write them out on a board for a class to see
-forward them or share them in some other digital way

Why not share inspirational messages?  You never know who you might help.

• Author
• Recent Posts

shawn

When he's not starting every sentence with "I read an article that said..." or "I heard a podcast where they said...", Shawn is either studying online business, flipping through FB or IG, hanging with his family, or dreaming up ways to make an impact.

Latest posts by shawn (see all)

• Ep92-How Do You Deal With Toxic People? - March 12, 2020
• Ep91-Do Your Powers Astonish You? - March 10, 2020
• Ep90-Do You Stand Up To Obstacles? - March 9, 2020