'When life shuts a door, open it again': 20 motivational memes and quotes to prove you can do it

Ally Perry • Writer and Editor

Aug 21, 2026 1:15 PM EDT

The first step is often the hardest.

We live in a world where it is much easier to feel bad about ourselves than to give ourselves the tools to achieve a happy life, so it is understandable to feel the complete opposite of motivated from time to time. It has never been more tempting to compare ourselves to others who seem to be doing better than us, even if that is far from the truth. Not only are many of them exaggerating their successes, but the contentment that we believe them to have is more accessible than we think.

That is the good news. The more difficult pill to swallow is that getting to this level is our own responsibility. It isn't necessarily a bad thing to have an off day, a hard week, or even a full-blown flop era, but we have to focus on our mindset if we want to achieve whatever our dreams may be. That means consistent work with celebrating all the successful steps we take, while also consoling ourselves if things don't go to plan.

It takes a strong constitution to do everything alone, but luckily, we don't have to. There is plenty of motivational content in this world that tells us that there are countless others out there going through the exact same battle with a determination to win it. No matter what your goals may be, they are worthy of being attempted with a little help from some positive words and images. It starts with an idea, and it is up to you to make it reality.

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