Motivation Monday: 30 Inspiring Quotes

Some mornings you wake up ready to take on the world. Others, just getting out of bed feels like running a marathon.

I get it. We all have days when motivation feels out of reach. But here’s the thing: a little spark is all you need to get going. And sometimes, that spark comes from the right words at the right time.

At GoodExistence.com, we believe that small shifts can lead to big changes. Stephen Montagne, our founder, knows this firsthand. His journey of losing over 110 pounds, kicking unhealthy habits like binge eating and drinking, building deep work routines, and strengthening his faith didn’t happen overnight. It started with simple moments of inspiration that fueled action.

Today, I want to share 30 inspiring quotes you can turn to whenever you need a lift. Plus, I’ll give you a few real-life insights on how to make motivation stick in your everyday life.

Let’s dive in.

Why Quotes Matter More Than You Think

A good quote is a quick hit of wisdom. It can shift your mindset in seconds.

When Stephen was struggling with gaming and unhealthy habits, he often wrote down powerful quotes and stuck them where he could see them. Little reminders above his desk, on the fridge, or even as his phone background. Every glance was a nudge back onto the right path.

Simple, right? But incredibly powerful.

30 Inspiring Quotes for Motivation Monday

These quotes aren’t magic spells. But they are reminders. Anchors. Gentle pushes toward the life you want.

Here we go:

• "Do not wait to strike till the iron is hot. Make it hot by striking." – William Butler Yeats
• "Start where you are. Use what you have. Do what you can." – Arthur Ashe
• "Success is the sum of small efforts, repeated day in and day out." – Robert Collier
• "Faith does not make things easy. It makes them possible." – Luke 1:37
• "Discipline is choosing between what you want now and what you want most." – Unknown
• "Don’t wish for it. Work for it." – Unknown
• "The secret of getting ahead is getting started." – Mark Twain
• "Little by little, one travels far." – J.R.R. Tolkien
• "Fall seven times and stand up eight." – Japanese Proverb
• "You don't have to be extreme. Just consistent." – Unknown
• "Everything you want is on the other side of fear." – George Addair
• "The Lord is my strength and my shield." – Psalm 28:7
• "Progress, not perfection." – Unknown
• "Motivation gets you going. Discipline keeps you growing." – John C. Maxwell
• "It’s not about perfect. It’s about effort." – Jillian Michaels
• "Small deeds done are better than great deeds planned." – Peter Marshall
• "A year from now, you’ll wish you had started today." – Karen Lamb
• "God’s timing is perfect. Trust Him." – Unknown
• "The way to get started is to quit talking and begin doing." – Walt Disney
• "The difference between try and triumph is a little 'umph'." – Marvin Phillips
• "You will never always be motivated. You must learn to be disciplined." – Unknown
• "Ask and it will be given to you. Seek and you will find." – Matthew 7:7
• "Hardships often prepare ordinary people for an extraordinary destiny." – C.S. Lewis
• "Believe you can and you’re halfway there." – Theodore Roosevelt
• "You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take." – Wayne Gretzky
• "If you stumbled, get up. What matters is the direction you're moving now." – Unknown
• "God doesn't call the qualified. He qualifies the called." – Unknown
• "The soul would have no rainbow if the eyes had no tears." – Native American Proverb
• "Today is another chance to get better." – Unknown
• "Don’t be discouraged. Work harder." – Stephen Montagne

How to Make Motivation Stick

Reading quotes is great. But how do you make that feeling last longer than a few minutes?

Here are a few practical tips Stephen has shared from his journey:

1. Create a "Motivation Toolkit"

Write down a few quotes that hit home for you. Put them where you’ll see them often. Your desk, your mirror, your phone wallpaper. Wherever you need a quick boost.

2. Celebrate Tiny Wins

When Stephen started losing weight, he didn’t wait until he lost 50 pounds to celebrate. He celebrated every pound, every healthy meal, every right choice. Tiny wins build big momentum.

Ask yourself every night: What did I do well today? It can be small. The point is to notice progress.

3. Set Realistic Goals

Trying to completely change overnight usually fails. Stephen didn’t go from binge eating to a perfect diet immediately. He started with simple steps like swapping one junk food for a healthy snack. One better choice a day. That’s it.

Small, doable goals keep you moving forward.

4. Stay Close to Your "Why"

When motivation got low, Stephen leaned on his relationship with God. Having a bigger "why" behind your efforts gives you strength when your own energy fades.

Spend a few minutes each morning connecting with your deeper reasons. Journaling, prayer, reflection—whatever helps remind you why you started.

5. Accept Imperfection

Some days, you’ll slip. You’ll eat the donut, skip the workout, waste time scrolling.

Guess what? That’s normal.

The goal isn’t never failing. It’s bouncing back quickly. One bad day doesn’t define you. Keep moving.

Quick Action Step

Pick one quote from the list above that really speaks to you. Write it down. Stick it somewhere you’ll see first thing tomorrow morning.

Then ask yourself: What’s one tiny action I can take today to move toward the life I want?

Remember, friend, change doesn’t happen because you feel 100% motivated all the time. It happens when you take small, steady steps forward, even when you don’t feel like it.

You’ve got this. Keep going.