10 Powerful Pop Culture Quotes for Personal Development

The power of a quote can go along way in my opinion. If they did not hold onto us so strongly, we wouldn’t remember them throughout ages. Although we can find strong, moving, and attention grabbing quotes from the past, I choose to look in the present for motivation.

I am in my go get ’em era in all aspects of my life. Have you been looking for the push to have more or be more than what you are right now? Well it took me a lot of hard work to push myself to want to conquer the world and I found immense motivation in the quotes below.

If you have embraced popular culture, you have likely come across these quotes before. If they are brand new to you, I hope they make you want to put the effort into yourself that you have been putting off.

#1. “Every new stage of your life deserves the best version of you”

This quote comes from Mike “The Situation” Sorrentino from Jersey Shore. If you have followed along with the Jersey Shore and Jersey Shore Family Vacation cast, you will know that Mike has had the most motivational turn around in his life. He went from a problematic cast member causing many fights amongst the roommates and in society, to prison, to sober advocate. He is the king of motivational quotes. If you want the show, he is likely using his positivity to help those around him and dropping every positive quote he knows. The quote above was only said in a short confessional during the 4th season of Family Vacation. It was so powerful to me that I had to rewatch it over and over again.

This quote is for you if you are taking the steps to make changes in your life. Personal changes require hard work and dedication. Know that you are stepping into this new stage of your life with purpose and you will come out the best version of yourself. Forget about who you were before, that person lives in the past.

#2. “Yes I can, yes I must – watch me!

Say it out loud! Hear those words and don’t forget them! This quote comes from Tunde Oyeneyin. You will have seen her on Peloton commercials. She radiates confidence and determination!

We love a mantra that not only is simple but also makes you feel a champion.

This quote may seem out of place when you think of ‘pop culture’ but Peloton is everywhere. You see it in commercials, TV shows (hello And Just Like That…), movies, etc. I had to include this quote not only because of how it motivated me but how it relates to the next quote.

#3. “We can, we will, we must”

If you watch Netflix, you know where this is from. This is the mantra/chant of the Navrro cheerleading team on the hit show Cheer.

I have never been a cheerleader and truthfully have was never interested in in participating. BUT I am a millennial and you better believe Bring It On was one of my favs. I remember going to Blockbuster on consecutive Fridays just to rent this DVD.

I found myself binge watching the show and feeling so inspired by these athletes. The hard work and dedication each one had was awe inspiring. How incredible is it that these individuals put everything they have to be apart of a team that strives for perfection because they want to do their best for each other.

It feels nearly impossible to think of the physical exertion they go through and say yes I can do that. Let’s be honest, not everyone is going to possess that kind of strength. But one powerful thought this show left me with is… I can do my absolute best and I can be more than I am. The only way to be better is to try then try harder!

#4. “Transformation is not five minutes from now; it’s a present activity. In this moment you can make a different choice, and it’s these small choices and successes that build up over time to help cultivate a healthy self-image and self-esteem”

This powerhouse quote comes from Jillian Michaels. We know her as the health and fitness guru that has written more books than I can mention here. Her books focus on healthy diets, metabolism, workout routines, cookbooks… the list goes on.

Jillian created an empire on her ability to motivate and push people to get into their best shape. We watched her on The Biggest Loser help contestants lose thousands of pounds by teaching healthy diets and active living.

This quote speaks to me in so many ways. A transformative mindset is essential to personal growth not just physically but mentally. Our mental blocks often stop us from progressing in all areas of our lives. We often allow one small misstep, bad day, wrong choice from reaching our potential. If you want to set achievable goals, we have to work in the now constantly and consistently.

#5. “Be present. I would encourage you with all my heart just to be present. Be present and open to the moment that is unfolding before you. Because, ultimately, your life is made up of moments. So don’t miss them by being lose in the past or anticipating the future”

Only the legendary Jessica Lange could come up with this elegant quote. We know Jessica Lange from American Horror Story but this OG is a star of the 70’s with countless hits and awards (Oscars, Emmys, Tony, and Golden Globes) under her belt.

This post is not the appropriate place to write about all of the incredible things Jessica Lange has done in her life. Perhaps that is best suited in a future post, stay tuned. I highly recommend picking up any of her photography books or simply listen to any interview she has given. You will come away with a greater sense of what accomplishment looks like when it’s done with style and grace.

This specific quote is so powerful because we live in a world where the distractions are ever increasing and it comes with negative impacts on our overall lives. The key take away here is living in the moment. It’s often difficult to do so when we are hung up on the past and stressed about the future. Slowing down in the present is essential for personal growth. Look for the things around you that bring you joy and comfort but also which do the opposite. Life is truly what you make of it and it is full of dichotomy. You will have good and bad, happiness and sadness, success and failure. That is inevitable and learning to take these moments for what they are can be transformative.

#6. “Believe in yourselves. Dream. Try. Do good”

This gem may have a sense of nostalgia for millennials as it comes from the one and only Mr. Feeny from Boy Meets World. This show was an absolute staple for me growing up… who didn’t love Cory and Topenga? Like most 90’s sitcoms, this show was full of life lessons. Looking back now I see what was trying to be taught but as a kid I was in love with the characters.

The grumpy neighbour/teacher Mr. Feeny seemed just that, gumpy. However, this character was the housing of a majority of the life lessons ever character was learning. This is the final quote in the series and he is providing Cory, Topanga, Shawn, and Eric with a final lesson and he says these words. This was quite powerful for myself growing up when I was needing these words on encouragement but it resonates with me more now than ever.

As we get older, we forget to believe in ourselves and often give up because our ‘time’ has passed. We can be our biggest enemies with negative self talk and inconsistent effort. If I could hope for one thing for anyone reading this, is to believe in yourself like Mr. Feeny does.

#7. “I figure life’s a gift and I don’t intend on wasting it. You don’t know what hand you’re gonna get dealt next. You learn to take life as it comes at you… to make each day count”

Can you remember where you’ve heard this? That’s right it is from Leonardo DiCaprio’s character Jack Dawson on Titanic.

The motivation that comes from this is intense especially because I can hear his voice saying it. He says this line to a table of very wealthy individuals while he himself is a poor artist who won his ticket on the ship in a game of poker. He uses this experience to win over the minds of those at his table who ultimately were dealt an excellent hand in life, minus perhaps the trip on the Titanic.

Bringing this into the real world and how we as individuals look at our lives can help transform the way we think about our experiences. Our lives are made up of experiences that we may know are happening or are occurring without around us. We often blame our outcomes on situations outside of us such as someone having a better position in life, being raised in a better household, better looks, more talent, etc. etc. etc. We might not always be on the same field but that doesn’t mean we can’t play the game.

#8. “Endure and survive”

This one may be a bit obscure but it is necessary. This comes from The Last of Us both the video game and the epic HBO series. It is not said by any one character in the video game but rather it is a comic book called Savage Starlight. It becomes the title of an episode of the TV series as it brings together Ellie and Sam, two children who are both fighting to survive in a post-apocalyptic world.

This became an instant hit with fans of the series which is definitely discussed elsewhere online. However, I want to point out why this quote is heavily motivational even if you have no idea what TLOU is.

Often times we find ourselves struggling with the forces within and around us. Sometimes we find ourselves mealy surviving our battles and other times we are champions with our hands raised high. I believe that we as humans can endure so much that the world has put upon us. This is especially so if we use the times we were survivors and wear it like a badge of honour and let it give us strength.

If you think about the characters of the video game/TV series, they were faced with some of the toughest days that we as humans couldn’t even imagine. This led to a hardening of their skin and spirits. What we see happen throughout both is that they deep and meaningful connections with others that they came to cherish and fight for. That is how we endure and survive.

#9. “Because no matter how small an act of kindness or generosity or simple positivity you put into the world, it will make a difference”

This comes from the Wonder Woman comics. Wonder Woman represents power and grace with will and determination. The comic goes back decades with newer blockbuster movies that starred women that became role models and inspirations for women across the world.

I cannot count how many times I have heard the complete opposite of this quote. Why try because nothing will change? Or no matter what you do it won’t work. These words are sharp and stick to our psyche like glue. It is difficult to shake the feeling of never being good enough especially when we are told so.

This quote should be treated as a self-affirmation for everyone, no matter how old or young, gender, beliefs, etc. We are capable of shifting the world with our thoughts and actions. I believe that positivity is a powerful force and can move mountains if we treat ourselves and others with a bit of grace.

#10. “Everyone around me did get me on my knees and then on to my feet… People we up”

I left this quote to last because I want to give the most detail. If you have never heard these words, I would like you to watch the documentary Long Time Running about Canada’s favourite band The Tragically Hip and lead singer Gord Downie’s fight with cancer.

I have chills and tears at the same time just thinking about his story. The Tragically Hip had countless albums, shows, moving lyrics and fans. When Gord Downie was diagnosed with brain cancer we held our breaths. A one in a million poet, musician and entertainer would be taken from the world when it needed his gifts.

The documentary follows him through his treatment and last Canadian tour. How can someone travel the country and perform for hours while knowing it would be his last time in that Province and on that stage. How can he sing when just months before he couldn’t talk? So many more questions come to mind but I want to stick to the motivation in this.

When you are facing adversity and you know you may not win, you keep trying. You have to want it and you have to let others around you help. We are not solo creatures, we need communities and healthy connections.

Imagine spending most of your life with a band that created countless pieces of art for the world to consume and one day it’s your last show. It almost seems impossible. For Gord Downie it was his a gift. A gift for him and the country that holds him so dear. But he did it and I want everyone else to get back up one more time.