I don’t mind admitting this, but I am a “quotes” type of person.
I love quotes.
I love the different meanings they can have.
I love the effect they can have on a person.
And I love how they can serve as a significant guide in your life when you come across a good one.
Just recently I decided to start this: When anybody steps into my office, they cannot leave until they write a quote they live by or that they think is significant for another to read.
Day by day the Post-it notes grew and eventually word got out about the office where the wall full of vibrant color notes was dropping life gems on those unexpected. Soon I became accustomed to the occasional “ohhhh” or “ahhhhh” from individuals that I was mentoring whose eyes happened to fall on a quote, or I’d see someone standing at the entrance of the door trying to grab a little inspiration.
Below are some of my favorite quotes from the wall and why these hold special meanings in the current chapter of my life:
“Don’t let the lack of confidence be the death of your calling.”
Being confident in one’s self and ability is something you are either born with or constantly working on. I would like to categorize myself as the latter. But what if it’s not just the self-confidence piece that plays a part in how you see yourself? Having self-confidence and self-esteem are two totally different terms.
Self-esteem is being satisfied with yourself overall; this is something you develop through experiences and situations. Self-confidence is how you feel about your abilities, which can vary from time to time depending on the situation.
The two intermingle together because if your self-esteem increases then so will your confidence, and when you are confident about different areas in your life then your overall self-esteem increases more. I believe at different points in our lives, whether it be personal or professional, we always have a checklist for reasons why we should not apply for that job or explore that new opportunity, and that shouldn’t be the case.
Why think things like “Do I check all the boxes?” or “What if I am not the right fit?” when in the pursuit of something we love?
Yes, you are qualified. And yes, you are the right fit. And if you are not, look at everything through a lens of understanding because the only way to grow is through mistakes and being confident in yourself to see the teachable moments so that it won’t happen. Let’s face it: People are afraid of failure but fail to realize that through failure comes understanding, and when you fully understand something you become more confident in yourself and abilities.
“Comparison is the thief of joy.”
No one can do what you can do, and you can’t do what someone else is doing. We all have our unique skills and/or talents but when it comes to the job hunt or even taking on a task, that phrase can be easier said than done.
It is hard to see the progress we are making or the breakthrough we have been asking for when all you see is rejection because you see someone else have an easier time obtaining or achieving the very thing you want. We must remember that everyone has their own start and journey in life and no two paths are ever the same.
We know that comparing ourselves to another almost seems foolish but we still do it. Yeah, that person may seems to have it all but what’s the background story to what you are really seeing. Does that person really have it all and if so, are they truly happy. Instead of being so focused so much on another’s pursuit to happiness, why not focus on inquiring our own happiness through what actually brings us joy and not on what appears to be the world’s view of joy.
“Your network is your net worth.”
In all aspects of life, one must ensure that they are networking with those around them. Coming from someone who classifies herself as an introvert, this can be as hard as public speaking.
“Who do I talk to?” and “What do we even talk about?” are many questions that can sometimes cloud our minds so much so that we end up denying ourselves a genuine connection.
Your networking skills are basically how you are branded in other people’s eyes. Maya Angelou stated that people will forget what you said and what you did, but they’ll never forget how you made them feel. Creating relationships, whether personal or professional, are vital for the course of life.
Meaningful relationships that are transformational and not transactional make you worth more as a person, which makes people more willing to invest in you.
“Be faithful in the seeds you plant.”
This one hits home. In reference to what was said above, you too will ultimately end up being somebody’s net worth in terms of their network. So whether you deal with people, numbers or objects, being intentional on what you are crafting and/or who you are affecting should be a top priority because you want be sure that whatever you are impacting goes on to improve the lives of others.
Ultimately, you pour into others what you are filled with.
So what quotes are you using at the moment to guide you through your journey and why?
A wall can never have too many quotes.
Christal Peterson is a graduate student in UCF’s DeVos Sport Business Management Program and a member of the President’s Leadership Council. She can be reached at chhpeterson@knights.ucf.edu.