How to actually use motivational quotes

If you saw my last post about self-development signalling then you’ll know what this is all about already, if not then you can read that here.

That post could give the impression that I was hating on motivational quotes – I wasn’t, I’m all about them actually being used to inspire change in oneself rather than just being some words or being used to make people think that you’re on a journey or whatever.

The words from the ages when used correctly can truly inspire and change lives.

I should know, I’ve had this experience myself.

I’ll be using my own example of this throughout this blog.

Early in the training for my cognitive behavioural hypnotherapy diploma my tutor presented the class with a quote from Epicurus which is as follows.

“Do not spoil what you have by desiring what you have not; what you have now was once among that which you desired.”
Epicurus

Honestly this quote hit me like an uppercut with its meaning and its sincerity and has shaped how I’ve lived my life since.

But how do you move from reading a quote to it actually changing your life?

Allow me to explain.

How to let quotes truly change your life

Step 1) Find the meaning 

Whether it’s Plato, Aristotle, Marcus Aurelius or just silly old me saying a quote, ultimately the same thing is happening.

We’re putting into poetic or elegant words an action we’d like you to take or an idea that we’d like you to be mindful of.

Take that Epicurus quote from above, when you boil it down to its essence it could be distilled into just 2 words.

Be grateful.

This is the beauty of quotes. 

If Epicurus had just been quoted as saying “Hey, you idiots, start being grateful for everything.” then well 

1. a) it would be hilarious 

and 

1. b) it wouldn’t have stood the 2,300 year test of time like it has.

The fact that Epicurus was able to make this point so eloquently means that it really resonates with people.

This resonation is often where it stops with people who simply share the quote and not let it do anything for them.

They hear the pretty words and move on.

However, the first step in allowing a quote to change your life is to get down to the true meaning of it.

In this case it is learning to have genuine gratitude for all that you have in your life because in the past you dreamed of having what you have at the moment.

If it’s a famous quote then someone somewhere on the internet will have broken down its true meaning. If you’re struggling then email me chris@gystcoaching.co.uk

Step 2) Find the meaning to you

With the meaning of your inspirational quote now clearly in your mind the next step is to work out why it resonated with you so much.

Going to my own example of the Epicurus quote which essentially said “Be grateful”.

It wasn’t as if I was ungrateful as such, I wasn’t a materialistic person always wanting more. It was more as if I knew that I didn’t need anything else but I was pretty unhappy most of the time.

I had a roof over my head, I was in a long term relationship, I had one daughter who I adored fully, I had so much.

I thought back 10 years from that time.

Being a suicidally depressed adolescent who just wanted to be loved.

The me of that time would have snapped the full arm off of the me that had all of those things. Particularly the being loved part.

How dare I feel unhappy when what I had at that time was EXACTLY what the younger me was crying out for?

It was a humongous slap in the face to remember where I’d come from and not forget it.

So the second step is to spend some time thinking over the meaning of the quote and how and why it has resonated with you.

Step 3) Application

With the meaning and why it struck a chord with you solidly in your mind we move on the application of it.

That Epicurus quote had told me to be grateful and I now knew why it meant so much to me.

So now it’s time to actually become more grateful.

If you’re interested in learning how to do this then you can read this blog on becoming more grateful here.

There are several ways which I cover in there but in short.

• Writing gratitude lists
  Simply writing down something every day that you’re grateful for.

• Meditation
  Taking time to meditate over the things that you’re grateful for

• Premeditation of Evils
  This is a fairly extreme Stoic exercise where you imagine losing everything that you love. Literally all your possessions, all your money and even meditate over the death of all the people you hold dear.
  Like I said, pretty extreme. 

• Remove the excesses
  If you have things that you genuinely no longer need than remove them from your life. Clear out your wardrobe, cut the clutter, attempt to own just that you need. 

• Become more mindful
  Ensure that you are present in the important moments in your life. On a day out with your family then have your mind focussed on them. Watching a film with your kids? Then get off your phone. At the gym working out? Concentrate on your reps and your form rather than taking selfies or worrying about what you look like

There are other methods, these are the first that came to my mind.

You may have to experiment with different ways of applying the meaning of the quote to your life, find one that doesn’t feel like a real effort.

Step 4) Live it

This is possibly the most difficult step of all.

Actually doing it and it becoming habitual, this is the embodiment of truly living by a quote that has inspired you.

There’s nothing that says that it has to be a straight line progression and you’ll ALWAYS be perfect at it. There will be times when you feel you have fallen away from whatever meaning inspired you and there will be times when you’ll be nailing it.

The chances are that you’ll be at your most content when you’re living close to your inspiration.

Step 5) Reminders

I’m not suggesting that you get a tattoo of your favourite quote and I’m certainly not condoning getting a “Live. Laugh. Love” sign at the entrance to your home. However gentle reminders of what has inspired you just to guide you back onto track.

This can be post-it notes, reminders on your phone, a daily routine where it is repeated as your mantra or anything really.

The closer you are to being on track the easier it is to remain on track so frequent small reminders are more effective than one huge annual unsubtle one.

Moving forwards

There’s nothing to say that you need anything at all to inspire you, motivational quotes are everything for some people and aren’t for others.

What’s important, in my humble opinion, is that you know exactly how you want to live your life and then you do exactly that.

I try to live my life with honesty, understanding, integrity, kindness and love – gratitude is one of the foundation blocks of this existence and hence this Epicurus quote cements all of it.

If you feel as if you’re lacking purpose, or would like things to be different then get in touch below to see what you could achieve if we work together.