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Single Inspirational Words for Daily Life

By Elle Kammerer

6 minute read

Single Inspirational words to spark creativity, motivation, and empowerment.

Words have a unique power. Even a single inspirational word can help us navigate life’s ups and downs. Inspirational words can serve as daily reminders to keep us focused on our goals. They add a boost to our confidence. They are also a simply help us start our day, whether it’s written on a Post-it note, a sticker in a planner, or a message on the bathroom mirror.

Some words hold special personal meaning, while others connect with our current creative journey or reflect the qualities we want to embrace. For example, I like to use words like “Create” and “Imagine” to remind me that writing is always there for me when I need it. I also have the word “Adequate” to remind me that things don’t have to be perfect. Inspirational words can be whatever inspires you whenever you need that boost.

Here is a collection of single inspirational words you can use to help empower and inspire you. Each is paired with a definition and a quote from writers, artists, and poets who perfectly express their significance. Choose the words that resonate with you to guide your daily life.

Imagination

Noun: the faculty of imagining or forming mental images or concepts of what is not actually present to the senses.

“If you fall in love with the imagination, you understand that it is a free spirit. It will go anywhere, and it can do anything.” ―Alice Walker

Creativity

Noun: the ability to transcend traditional ideas, rules, patterns, relationships, or the like and to create meaningful new ideas, forms, methods, interpretations, etc.; originality, progressiveness, or imagination.

“A creative life is an amplified life. It’s a bigger life, a happier life, an expanded life, and a hell of a lot more interesting life” – Elizabeth Gilbert

Wisdom

Noun: the quality or state of being wise; knowledge of what is true or right coupled with just judgment as to action.

“There is a wisdom of the head, and a wisdom of the heart.” ~ Charles Dickens

Courage

Noun: the quality of mind or spirit that enables a person to face difficulty, danger, pain, etc, without fear.

“It takes courage to grow up and become who you really are.” — E.E. Cummings

Strength

Noun: the vigor of action, language, feeling, etc., or effective force, potency, or cogency as of inducements or arguments.

“When I dare to be powerful — to use my strength in the service of my vision — then it becomes less and less important whether I am afraid.” — Audre Lorde

Hope

Noun: the feeling that what is wanted can be had or that events will turn out for the best.

“Hope is the thing with feathers
That perches in the soul
And sings the tune without the words
And never stops at all.”
― Emily Dickinson

Joy

Noun: the emotion of great delight or happiness caused by something exceptionally good or satisfying, or something or someone greatly valued or appreciated.

“We need joy as we need air. We need love as we need water. We need each other as we need the earth we share.” —Maya Angelou

Dream

Noun: an aspiration, goal, or aim a wild fancy, or something of an unreal beauty, charm, or excellence.

“Hold fast to dreams,
For if dreams die
Life is a broken-winged bird,
That cannot fly.”
― Langston Hughes

Focus

Noun: a central point, as of attraction, attention, or activity or the ability to concentrate one’s attention or to sustain concentration.

“What you focus on grows. What you think about expands. And, what you dwell upon determines your destiny.” — Robin S. Sharma

Resilience

Noun: the ability of a person to adjust to or recover readily from adversity, major life changes, etc; or the ability to return to its original form.

“The oak fought the wind and was broken, the willow bent when it must and survived.” ― Robert Jordan

Passion

Noun: any powerful or compelling emotion or feeling or a strong or extravagant fondness, enthusiasm, or desire for anything.

“I think that in order to be successful, women have to figure out what they’re passionate about first. No matter what you aspire to, you’ve got to love what you do in order to be successful at it.” – Michelle Obama

Kindness

Noun: friendly feeling; liking, or the state or quality of being kind (adjective: having, showing, or proceeding from benevolence, good or benevolent nature or disposition)

“Compassion isn’t about solutions. It’s about giving all the love that you’ve got.” — Cheryl Strayed

Balance

Noun: a condition in which different elements are equal or in the correct proportions.

“You will never feel truly satisfied with work until you are satisfied by life.” —Heather Schuck

Perseverance

Noun: steady persistence in the course of action, a purpose, a state, etc., especially in spite of difficulties, obstacles, or discouragement.

Courage doesn’t always roar. Sometimes courage is the quiet voice at the end of the day saying ‘I will try again tomorrow. –Mary Anne Radmacher

Mindfulness

Noun: the state or quality of being mindful or aware of something or a technique in which one focuses one’s full attention only on the present.

“Within you, there is a stillness and a sanctuary to which you can retreat at any time and be yourself.” – Hermann Hesse

Patience

Noun: quiet, steady perseverance, even-tempered care, diligence, or being patient, bearing annoyance, misfortune, or pain without complaint, irritation, or the like.

“Knowing trees, I understand the meaning of patience. Knowing grass, I can appreciate persistence.” —Hal Borland

Growth

Noun: the act or process or manner of growing, developmental, gradual increase, or development from another but related form or stage.

Change is made of choices, and choices are made of character. – Amanda Gorman

Confidence

Noun: belief in oneself and one’s power or abilities, self-reliance or assurance, or full trust, belief in the powers, trustworthiness, or reliability of a person.