This past year kind of felt like a buffet of hurtful and hateful language—but it had its fair share of inspiring words, too. If you’re dwelling over the dumpster fire that was 2017, keep these inspirational quotes in mind. They're just a few of the many gems from the year. Jot them down in the margins of your new planner, write them on fresh sticky notes—they're worth carrying into 2018.


1. "Continue to embrace the things that make you unique, even if it makes others uncomfortable. You are enough. Whenever you feel in doubt, whenever you want to give up, you must always remember to choose freedom over fear." - Janelle Monáe Tweet


2. "I've become a woman that I am very proud to be. I’ve decided to own my moment and my training bras. I’m going to make an experience of the good and yucky parts." - Tracee Ellis Ross


3. "Self-esteem is figuring out what really matters to you, which often has nothing to do with the way the world sees you. It's hard because everyone feels pressure to fit in. I derive my validation from spirituality, friends, meditation, working hard, and being creative—not from looking a certain way for other people." - Brittany Snow


4. "You really have to lean into the people that are trying to support you ... You really have to surrender, because that is when the change is going to happen." - Demi Lovato Tweet


5. “Reclaiming my time.” - Maxine Waters


6. "If you’re one of those people who has that little voice in the back of her mind saying, 'Maybe I could do [fill in the blank],’ don’t tell it to be quiet. Give it a little room to grow, and try to find an environment it can grow in.” - Reese Witherspoon


7. "On one side, [#MeToo is] a bold declarative statement that 'I'm not ashamed' and 'I'm not alone.' On the other side, it's a statement from survivor to survivor that says 'I see you, I hear you, I understand you, and I'm here for you or I get it.'" - Tarana Burke


8. “Trying to spend all of your time pleasing everyone else is not only exhausting—it’s impossible. And you know what? If you take a little time for yourself, you will actually be much better company for those around you.” - Kesha Tweet


9. "Once I stopped looking at other people and external events for validation, I started to appreciate what and who I was. The thing is friends, guys, jobs all come and go. You are stuck with yourself—better to learn to love who and what you are." - Gabrielle Union


10. "The most important thing I learned is that we are not born with a certain amount of resilience. It is a muscle, and that means we can build it. We build resilience into ourselves. We build resilience into the people we love. And we build it together, as a community." - Sheryl Sandberg Tweet


11. “People’s loneliness isn’t alleviated by tit-for-tat joy. That’s too easy. It’s other people being alive and present which spawns true joy, and makes the dead air particles shimmer and vibrate and warm the world.” - Patton Oswalt


12. "I wanted to tell a story about a hero who believes in love, who is filled with love, who believes in change and the betterment of mankind. I believe in it." - Patty Jenkins


13. “He or she who is willing to be the most uncomfortable can rise strong." - Brené Brown


14. “As my friend the dearly departed Princess Leia said to me once, ‘Take your broken heart, make it into art.’” - Meryl Streep


15. "You’re not going to find love unless you create the space for it. You’re not going to find happiness unless you create the space for it. You’re not going to find anything that you’re really desiring unless you create the space for it." - Kelly Clarkson Tweet


16. “Focus on what you can control.” - Michelle Obama

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