Staying Motivated: The Power of Inspirational Words

A few years ago I started my own cosmetics company. The premise was to put inspirational quotes on the packages to inspire and motivate every time you used them. I'm a huge believer in the power of inspirational words and have favorite quotes for every occasion. Quotes enable you to quickly learn and utilize from those whose life experiences are vast and different than our own, who have gained wisdom we haven't yet. I listed some of my favorite on the sidebar. But the one I love most is the same quote I wrote on my hand during the only full marathon I ran...the same one I had turned into a bracelet in July when I was ready to give up on the Figure training endeavor. It is attributed to Lance Armstrong, though I can't determine if he is the original author:

Pain is temporary. It may last a minute or an hour or a day or a year, but eventually it subsides and something else takes it's place. If I quite, however, it lasts forever.

I found a neat site, Wristband with a Message, which allows you to turn any phrase into a custom silicon wristband. Though I had to shorten the quote, I've been wearing the bracelet since July and will likely not take it off until the Spring competition if the number of weak moments, like going out to dinner with others, is any indication. I'm often asked lately about my diet, "How do you do that?" I usually respond with a simple "It's not easy for me," but the truth is that without motivation in many forms, including motivational quotes which are on my desk, in my closet and even on my wrist, I probably would have already given up. So when I tell students in my class on the first day of school tomorrow, "words have power," I truly mean it.