That’s why we want to offer words of encouragement for women who might need some inspirational reinforcement to cope with these stressors. According to studies, working women are 50% more stressed than men, as women are managing careers as well as performing traditional roles in the home. Women may have more choices than in years past, but sometimes these choices can foster anxiety and overwhelm. Juggling the demands of work-life balance, caregiving (for children or elderly parents), relationship issues, gender expectations, and general life responsibilities can be daunting. It leaves us feeling unsure of ourselves and our abilities to do anything well and robs us of our confidence and self-esteem. But women, we do have the power to turn this around with a little inspiration and self-reflection. Read through the women’s quotes below and think about how each one might apply to your life. Then brainstorm some mind shifts or action steps you can take to improve your life.
What Can I Say to a Woman To Encourage Her?
Everyone needs encouragement. Soothing, uplifting, inspiring words can help someone crawl out of an emotional ditch or clear a professional hurdle. But it’s important to get it right and think before speaking, which begs the question: What should you consider when encouraging a woman?
Her State of Mind: Is the woman you’re comforting in a state of shock? Has she just received awful news? Be thoughtful about her state of mind and speak accordingly. The Situation: Where are you? Are there other people around? Assess the situation and consider whether you need to curb certain sentiments in favor of contextual propriety. Her Mental Health History: Does the female you’re soothing have a history of mental health conditions? If so, and you know what they are, try not to trigger them. The Reality: We all want things to go perfectly for ourselves, friends, and loved ones. Unfortunately, life is obstinately uncooperative. So when speaking words of encouragement, try not to be unrealistic. That doesn’t mean you should trample on someone’s dreams. (Even if you don’t think a friend is a good painter/writer/dancer/lawyer/et cetera, tell them they’re wonderful and talented — because that’s what friends do.) But if someone dies, there’s no way to bring them back. Your Role and Relationship: How do you fit into the picture? Are you a compassionate, third-party shoulder, a supervisor, or somehow involved in the situation at hand? Your role should dictate the words you choose to encourage a woman.
Words of Inspiration for Her
The encouragement quotes in the other section are credited to other people. This section features a few original ideas you can use as your own or tweak to match your situation.
How to Use These Quotes and Uplifting Words for Women
How can you use these quotes and sayings to cheer up or encourage a woman in your life? It largely depends on the situation, but here are a few ideas.
Say It: If you’re comforting a friend, lover, colleague, or family member, soothe your charge verbally. Try to match your tone to the situation. Write a Letter: People love getting encouraging notes, so why not send one to someone in your life who needs it? Instead of typing it, write it longhand. Doing so is more intimate, plus it’s better exercise for your brain. Post It: If you’re not comforting or encouraging a particular person, make a quote card and share it on social media.
65 Words of Encouragement for Women
- “No one can make you feel inferior without your consent.” — Eleanor Roosevelt
- “Love yourself first and everything else falls into place.” — Lucille Ball
- “Don’t let anyone rob you of your imagination, your creativity, or your curiosity. It’s your place in the world; it’s your life.” — Dr. Mae Jemison
- “People respond well to those that are sure of what they want.” — Anna Wintour
- “Everyone is a complicated human being, and everyone is strong and weak and funny and scared.” — Laverne Cox
- “Sometimes your joy is the source of your smile, but sometimes your smile can be the source of your joy.” ― Thich Nhat Hanh
- “By being yourself you put something wonderful in the world that was not there before.” — Edwin Elliot
- “Whenever you see a successful woman, look out for three men who are going out of their way to try to block her.” — Yulia Tymoshenko
- “Developing resilience isn’t something you do overnight – it’s the work of a lifetime.” — Connie Matthiessen
- “If you don’t like the road you’re walking, start paving another one.” — Dolly Parton
- “You learn something out of everything, and you come to realize more than ever that we’re all here for a certain space of time, and, and then it’s going to be over, and you better make this count.” — Nancy Reagan
- “We realize the importance of our voices only when we are silenced.” — Malala Yousafzai
- “Don’t compromise yourself. You are all you’ve got. There is no yesterday, no tomorrow, it’s all the same day.” — Janis Joplin
- “Every accomplishment starts with the decision to try.” — Brian Littrell
- “Don’t be afraid to speak up for yourself. Keep fighting for your dreams!” — Gabby Douglas
- “Nobody cares if you can’t dance well. Just get up and dance. Great dancers are not great because of their technique, they are great because of their passion.” — Martha Graham
- “Joy does not simply happen to us. We have to choose joy and keep choosing it every day.” — Henri J.M. Nouwen
- “It’s a helluva start, being able to recognize what makes you happy.” ― Lucille Ball
- “The power you have is to be the best version of yourself you can be, so you can create a better world.” — Ashley Rickards
- “The best protection any woman can have … is courage.” — Elizabeth Cady Stanton
- “I do not try to dance better than anyone else. I only try to dance better than myself.” — Arianna Huffington
- “Dreams are lovely. But they are just dreams. Fleeting, ephemeral, pretty. But dreams do not come true just because you dream them. It’s hard work that makes things happen. It’s hard work that creates change.” ― Shonda Rhimes
- “A woman with a voice is, by definition, a strong woman.”— Melinda Gates 10 Of The Best Women’s Retreats 110 Of The Most Positive, Uplifting Affirmations For Women 119 Positive Affirmations For Women
- “And to all the little girls who are watching this, never doubt that you are valuable and powerful and deserving of every chance and opportunity in the world to pursue and achieve your own dreams.” — Hillary Clinton
- “If I stop to kick every barking dog I am not going to get where I’m going.” — Jackie Joyner-Kersee
- “I believe that as women, it is time to show love towards our fellow sisters, and to encourage and build up one another and not tear each other down.” — Stephanie Williams
- “Be there for others, but never leave yourself behind.” — Dodinsky
- “I have stood on a mountain of no’s for one yes.” — B. Smith
- “It took me quite a long time to develop a voice, and now that I have it, I am not going to be silent.” — Madeleine Albright
- “A strong woman is a woman determined to do something others are determined not be done.” — Marge Piercy
- “Make the most of yourself by fanning the tiny, inner sparks of possibility into flames of achievement.” — Golda Meir
- “Life shrinks or expands in proportion to one’s courage.” — Anais Nin
- “I can’t think of any better representation of beauty than someone who is unafraid to be herself.” — Emma Stone
- “You must be the change you wish to see in the world.” — Mahatma Gandhi
- “You must get your thoughts in line because they determine what comes out of your mouth. Our words are powerful and have the ability to change not only our mood but the direction of our lives.” — Yvonne Haughton
- “You don’t always need a plan. Sometimes you just need to breathe, trust, let go, and see what happens.” — Mandy Hale
- “If you think taking care of yourself is selfish, change your mind. If you don’t, you’re simply ducking your responsibilities.” — Ann Richards
- “I want to be like a sunflower; so that even on the darkest days I will stand tall and find the sunlight.” — M.K.
- “Be so good they can’t ignore you.” — Steve Martin
- “I attribute my success to this: I never gave or took an excuse.” — Florence Nightingale
- “I learned compassion from being discriminated against. Everything bad that’s ever happened to me has taught me compassion.” — Ellen DeGeneres
- “I have learned over the years that when one’s mind is made up, this diminishes fear; knowing what must be done does away with fear.” — Rosa Parks
- “If you don’t get out of the box you’ve been raised in, you won’t understand how much bigger the world is.” — Angelina Jolie
- “No matter what happens, or how bad it seems today, life does go on, and it will be better tomorrow.” — Maya Angelou
- “Normal is not something to aspire to, it’s something to get away from.” — Jodie Foster
- “You can never leave footprints that last if you are always walking on tiptoe.” — Leymah Gbowee
- “She was powerful not because she wasn’t scared but because she went on so strongly, despite the fear.” — Atticus
- “Each of us has unsuspected power to accomplish what we demand of ourselves, if we care to search for it. You are no exception.” — Claire Weekes
- “Encourage yourself, believe in yourself, and love yourself. Never doubt who you are.” — Stephanie Lahart
- “In order to be irreplaceable one must always be different.” — Coco Chanel
- “When you notice that you’re having negative thoughts about how all of this is going to pan out, you need to remind yourself that you are not a very good fortune teller.” — Donna W. Hill
- “A man’s got to do what a man’s got to do. A woman must do what he can’t.” — Rhonda Hansome
- “Tell your own story, and you will be interesting.” ― Louise Bourgeois
- “We can do no great things, only small things with great love.” — Mother Teresa
- “Kindness is always fashionable, and always welcome.” — Amelia Barr
- “You have to speak words of continuous encouragement in order to achieve whatever goals you’ve set for yourself.” — Anquanette Gaspard
- “The most difficult thing is the decision to act, the rest is merely tenacity.” — Amelia Earhart
- “Define success on your own terms, achieve it by your own rules, and build a life you’re proud to live.” — Anne Sweeney
- “If you just set out to be liked, you would be prepared to compromise on anything at any time, and you would achieve nothing.” — Margaret Thatcher
- “Instead of letting your hardships and failures discourage or exhaust you, let them inspire you.” — Michelle Obama Did you find strength in these motivational quotes? Words alone may not remove the stressors from your life, but they can go a long way in fostering a mental turnaround. These motivational quotes are from some of the most admired women in history — women who have faced many of the same difficulties and insecurities as you. Use their words to help you reframe your thinking and energize you to define your life just as YOU want it to be. And may your strength, creativity, and self-compassion infuse everything you do today and every day.
