Sometimes I’ll read a supposedly inspirational quote on Tumblr or Pinterest (where these sorts of things usually dwell) and think only one thing … F. U. When you are in dire need of some uplifting mantras, sweet sparkly calls to “just be happy!” and “take a deep breath!” and “just believe in yourself!” can have the adverse effect. Basically …easier said than done, sparkly quotes!

I’m not saying these below won’t trigger annoyance from some, but I’ve rounded up some quotes that I can read on hard days and feel inspired … not inspired to throw something at my computer screen.

This has also been quoted as “The trick is in what one emphasizes. We either make ourselves miserable, or we make ourselves happy. The amount of work is the same.” ~ Carlos Castaneda (American author)

Now this one is tricky because it’s important to feel feelings and try to recognize where they are coming from. There is a certain point, however (and it’s different for everyone and in every situation) where spending time with the emotion can lead to dwelling and spiraling into a dark place. I like to make sure I’m not feeding more negativity into my world by meditating on this quote.