Words Of Encouragement For Women’s Empowerment

A 2021 survey found that as many as one in two women report feeling more self-doubt than self-love, which the report classifies as a global self-love crisis. Many women and others of marginalized genders face a variety of unique pressures and systemic obstacles that often contribute to feelings of self-doubt, low self-esteem, and/or frustration at the way things are. 

More widespread social, cultural, and political changes are likely necessary to empower women, non-binary people, and others to feel confident and loving towards themselves and face fewer hindrances in achieving their goals. However, there are some actions individuals can take to this end as well. Read on for some quotes of encouragement for women, by women, along with other strategies you can try to build your self-esteem or motivation or to help yourself overcome obstacles and achieve your goals.

Encouraging quotes for women

The following quotes from well-known women can serve as a source of encouragement for those who are searching for some.

Inspiring quotes on self-love

• “One of the best guides to how to be self-loving is to give ourselves the love we are often dreaming about receiving from others.” –Bell Hooks
• “Love is the great miracle cure. Loving ourselves works miracles in our lives.” –Louise L. Hay
• “We are each gifted in a unique and important way. It is our privilege and our adventure to discover our own special light.” –Mary Dunbar
• “Be very very very gentle with yourself. The world is very very hard on you.” –Srividya Srinivasan
• “Love yourself so much that when someone treats you wrong, you recognize it.” –Rena Rose
• “To accept ourselves as we are meant to value our imperfections as much as our perfections.” –Sandra Bierig
• “Even when it seems that there is no one else, always remember there’s one person who never ceased to love you: yourself.” –Sanhita Baruah
• “Plant your own garden and decorate your own soul, instead of waiting for someone to bring you flowers.” –Veronica A. Shoffstall
• “Believing in our hearts that who we are is enough is the key to a more satisfying and balanced life.” –Ellen Sue Stern

Quotes on strength and empowerment

• “If there’s one thing I’m willing to bet on, it’s myself.” –Beyoncé
• “As hard as it is, owning who you are and knowing what you want is the only sure path to affirmation...I want women to know they can get out of any situation if they return to their core source of strength: themselves.” –Ashley Graham
• "It took me quite a long time to develop a voice, and now that I have it, I am not going to be silent.”' –Madeleine Albright. 
• “Just do what works for you, because there will always be somebody who thinks differently.” –Michelle Obama
• “Beauty begins the moment you decide to be yourself.” –Coco Chanel
• “We may encounter many defeats but we must not be defeated.” –Maya Angelou
• “I do not wish women to have power over men; but over themselves.” –Mary Wollstonecraft
• “I am no longer accepting the things I cannot change. I am changing the things I cannot accept.” –Angela Davis

Other strategies for self-empowerment and encouragement

Personal growth is often a life-long journey, taking different forms as we grow and change over time. That means the strategies you use for self-empowerment and encouragement may evolve over time as well. So if you’re facing challenges related to self-esteem, self-confidence, empowerment, motivation, or similar, giving some of the following tips a try could be helpful.

Care for yourself and be with friends who uplift and inspire you

Finding the self-care methods that work best for you in particular can be empowering and may help you build resilience even in the face of obstacles. Of course, eating nutritious foods, exercising regularly, and getting enough sleep are critical pillars of self-care in general. However, a robust self-care routine typically also includes practices that meet your unique needs and help you feel cared for and energized. Examples might include taking regular alone time, learning to set and enforce boundaries, engaging in some form of spiritual practice, doing activities purely because you enjoy them, spending regular time in nature, spending time with friends who uplift you, and making a point to learn new things regularly.

Engage in self-reflection to gain strength and believe in yourself more

Getting to know yourself on a deeper level may help you feel more confident in your abilities and give you direction or inspiration for goals you may want to work towards. Self-reflection is one way to do this. You might try journaling using prompts, which may help you get more in touch with your values and passions, what you’re grateful for, and what your goals might be. You could also try various techniques for practicing mindfulness, which may help you become more aware of thoughts and feelings that can arise in response to different situations. 

Use positive self-talk to empower yourself

Research suggests that engaging in positive self-talk may help improve confidence and even performance on tasks, in some cases. This can take many different forms. For instance, you might write a set of affirmations that you want to absorb into your mindset and then practice them each morning. You could use mindfulness to learn to become aware of times when you’re using negative language or self-deprecating talk. You could also engage in a verbal gratitude practice each day or week.

Connect with the community for support and to motivate you

Healing and change are often more effective and lasting when undertaken with supportive others. First, as research suggests, having strong social support seems to correlate with positive health. Even more than that, however, connecting with other women or people of marginalized genders can offer you the opportunity to talk about experiences, encourage each other, exchange helpful strategies, grow together, and affect change as a community. You might meet people like this by looking for social groups, hobby clubs, volunteer organizations, or support groups associated with your identity, experiences, or interests.

Meet with a therapist

Finally, women who are looking for support in the process of finding self-esteem, building confidence, reaching goals, or in similar areas may also find it beneficial to meet with a therapist. They can offer you a safe space to express your emotions and help you build skills like positive self-talk and self-care strategies. 

Words of encouragement for women and therapy

Partnering words of encouragement with online therapy helps you improve and reshape your outlook. If in-person therapy is inconvenient for you, you might consider online therapy instead. With a platform like BetterHelp, you can get matched with a licensed therapist according to your preferences and then meet with them via phone, video call, and/or in-app messaging from the comfort of home. Research suggests that online therapy is often as beneficial as in-person therapy for addressing a variety of mental health concerns, so you can generally feel confident in choosing whichever format feels right for you.