Every now and then, we may feel the need for a sign, a kind gesture, or maybe just some words of wisdom. Quotes hold power. They’re a form of storytelling. They’re often spoken from the heart. And (arguably) most importantly, they offer a unique perspective from one person’s life that just may impact several others out there. If you happen to be stressed, it may be a good time for some tender loving self-care. Here are some encouraging words that may help you on your self-care journey.

One method that can help us to address and identify our needs is to conduct a personal needs assessment. A personal needs assessment involves a thorough evaluation of your current skills, resources, interests, and areas for improvement. By identifying these key elements, you can gain a clearer understanding of where you stand and what you need to focus on.

A wish list is a tool to keep track of what you want. These lists are often organized by theme–potential travel destinations, hair care products, and what you’re looking for in your next apartment. You can keep a wish list in many formats–in a notebook, on an app, or as a collage. The list can also keep wishes (or goals) at the forefront of your mind so you’re motivated to keep working toward them.

Work-life balance is the amount of time you spend doing your job versus the amount of time that you spend at home—home time is, for example, time spent with friends, family, and pursuing your personal interests. When your work-life balance is off-center, there can be a myriad of mental, physical, and emotional problems that arise. Check out this article for tips and benefits on balancing your work and home life.

Morning affirmations are phrases or statements that we say to ourselves to focus our minds on more positive outcomes. Repeating positive affirmations can help shift our mindset in ways that help us more easily manifest the life we want. Research on related topics like optimism, positive thinking, and growth mindset further support the idea that shifting our thinking in positive ways is good for us, especially since we tend to have a negativity bias.

Healthy eating, or good nutrition, is simply eating adequate, well-balanced meals to support your body’s needs. At the heart of healthy eating is doing what helps you feel well. A healthy diet does not have to look a particular way and can accommodate many types of palates, dietary restrictions, and lifestyles. What matters is figuring out what foods help you feel like your best self.

In American culture, relaxation is considered a luxury, something only those privileged enough to have sufficient resources get to enjoy. However, relaxation is actually an important contributor to our mental and physical health. When we don’t allow ourselves to take time to unwind, the harmful effects of daily stressors begin to accumulate and can contribute to psychological and physical maladies. Relaxing gives our bodies and minds a chance to recover from stress and allows us to live our best lives.

We all have challenges that we need to heal from. Some of us have emotional challenges, others of us have physical challenges, and some of us have both. Luckily, we actually have a lot of power to make positive changes to our well-being. We can shift the way we think and how we treat our bodies. As a result of these efforts, we can begin to heal and recover from the hardships we’ve experienced.

Our definitions of spirituality usually revolve around some element of seeking purpose and meaning, a sense of peace or positive connections with the world, and feeling connected to a larger life force or power greater than oneself. People often turn to spirituality for support with the things that most challenge them. There may be distinct benefits from actively engaging in spiritual practices, using one’s spirituality to cope with life’s difficulties, and being affiliated with a religious institution.

How can we define presence? On one level, we can think about presence as the awareness of the moment as it unfolds. What we’re feeling, noticing, and thinking, and what’s happening around us—it’s awareness of these things that constitutes presence. Presence to our own experience is sometimes simple and straightforward, but it’s often effortful, requiring intentionality and deliberate focus.

Serenity is a sense of inner peace that is not subject to the whims of the outside world. For people who describe themselves as having had or are currently experiencing a sense of serenity, this state of being usually follows from having had a spiritual awakening of some kind. Active prayer and meditation, use of other mindfulness skills, coping mechanisms, and in particular the ability to accept life as it comes, letting go of and detaching from one’s negative emotions, are all key components of reaching a state of serenity.

Mindfulness is a mental state characterized by focused attention, heightened awareness, and an open and non-judgmental disposition toward your thoughts and experiences in the present moment. The practice of mindfulness encourages you to observe your thoughts and feelings without attachment or judgment, fostering a greater sense of clarity, calmness, and overall well-being.

Equanimity is a state of mental and emotional stability, calmness, and composure, especially in challenging situations. It’s maintaining a balanced and nonreactive mindset, regardless of external circumstances or internal thoughts and feelings. People who possess equanimity can face adversity with clarity, focus, and resilience, without being overwhelmed by emotions like fear, anger, or anxiety.

Wisdom isn’t so easy to define. Researchers still debate its meaning and haven’t agreed on a universal definition. But most would agree that wisdom goes beyond knowledge or information. It involves a grasp of life's complexities, nuances, and interconnectedness. It's the ability to see the bigger picture, the underlying patterns, and the consequences of choices.

Self-acceptance is an act of embracing all of our attributes, whether mental or physical, and positive or negative, exactly as they are. From time to time, we may struggle to accept certain qualities that we have. It's not always easy to find ways to extend compassion to ourselves. Nevertheless, accepting who we are remains vital for our happiness and overall well-being.

Positive quotes and daily affirmations rely on the power of positive thinking. Although positive quotes and daily affirmations are different, the idea behind them is similar: they help shift your mind in ways that can hopefully improve your life. There are also known benefits to positive affirmations and positive thinking. Having positive quotes around you can shift your mindset and help you achieve your personal goals.

Whether it's misplacing your keys before an early meeting at work, being worried about an upcoming doctor’s appointment, or having to give a presentation in front of your classmates, stress is a universal experience. While we may not always be in control of our stressors, we are in charge of how we respond to them. Here are some ways to deal with stressful situations and learn how to reduce the impact stress has on your well-being.

Do you want to express gratitude and thankfulness for the people, things, and experiences in your life? Expressing and experiencing thankfulness is strongly linked with happiness and well-being. Gratitude not only helps us form closer, more satisfying bonds with others, but it feels good too. So in this article, we'll give you a list of things to be thankful for in different areas of your life.

Positivity can lead to better mental health and well-being and refers to our tendency to be optimistic in life. This is in contrast to negativity, which is all about thinking, feeling, and doing negative things. When we have positivity, we might think positive, have positive emotions, and do positive things.

Is it sometimes hard for you to believe in yourself? Do you struggle to think positively? Or does your mind always seem to be able to find the worst-case scenarios? Then daily positive affirmations may be a useful tool to help you shift your mindset in ways that improve your life. They don't make our thoughts come true. Rather, they help us think in ways that make our lives better.