Let’s Talk Mental Health — Get Inspired

The act of just reading a positive quote can instantly boost your mood and help you put things into perspective. Here’s a list of some quotes to keep you motivated and lift you up when you’re feeling down!

“Life is 10% what happens to you and 90% how you react to it.” — Charles R. Swindoll

You have full control over your thoughts, decisions, and how you react within a situation. If you constantly think negative thoughts or doubt yourself, it will bring you down. Try thinking positively and change your focus from time to time rather than fixating on the negative.

“A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.” — Lao Tzu

Starting out a new challenge is not easy and requires a lot of courage. But remember that the first step is necessary in order to begin your new, exciting adventure! It is daunting not to know what lies ahead, but when you later look back at the experience you’ve had, you will be proud of yourself for being brave enough to take that first step.

“You’ll never know until you go!”

Simple, but true! We all have that fear of the unknown. Having said this, being scared doesn’t mean you shouldn’t do it! Why not try it? If it doesn’t work out, then you can always come back, but chances are you’ll have the best time.

“Do one thing every day that scares you!” — Eleanor Roosevelt

The things that we are most scared of are often the most rewarding in the end. Sometimes we need to just feel the fear, embrace it, and do it anyway, because you never know what may lie ahead.

“Man cannot discover new oceans unless he has the courage to lose sight of the shore.” — André Gide

To accomplish things we’ve never done before, we must step outside the area in which we feel safe and comfortable. We must challenge ourselves and go into the unfamiliar to see what we are really capable of. If things don’t work out as you’ve planned, at least you had the courage to try!

“Believe in yourself! Have faith in your abilities! Without a humble but reasonable confidence in your own powers you cannot be successful or happy.” — Norman Vincent Peale

If you believe in yourself, you’re already halfway there! Self-confidence is the first step for success; when you have faith in yourself, you’re capable at whatever it is you set your mind to — no matter how big or small.

“Optimism is the faith that leads to achievement. Nothing can be done without hope and confidence.” — Helen Keller

A positive attitude can help a lot in making your experience abroad much better. Of course, it will not guarantee that there won’t be any challenges along the way, but it will make you better prepared to deal with them. A negative mindset doesn’t produce positive results. It’s important to have faith in yourself and courage that you can do this, because the only person stopping you from acting is yourself!

“Your now is not your forever” — John Green

We all have those bad days, so it’s inevitable you’ll have them as an expat living abroad, too. Moving to a new country can at times be difficult and sometimes lonely. However, when you’re having these negative thoughts remember that this situation is only temporary. Life isn’t plain sailing and there will be bumps along the road — this doesn’t mean you won’t enjoy yourself! Put things into perspective and reassure yourself that the hard times will pass, and it will all be worth it!

• Let’s Talk Mental Health — Top 10 Things to Do to Overcome the Expat Blues
• Let’s Talk Mental Health — Preparing Yourself for Expat Life
• Let’s Talk Mental Health — Expat Challenges