We’ve all heard them. We’ve all seen them: slogans and sayings printed on serene backgrounds to foster achievement.

Motivational quotes from famous athletes, celebrities and other successful figures can encourage us during times of stress. Some of these sayings don’t even have a known speaker, but the words hold the same inspirational power.

In movies and television shows, the characters living their lives according to these sayings are depicted as highly motivated yet underachieving. They always decide in the end that they don’t need to get motivation from posters or sayings, but find the strength to succeed from within.

No offense to these depictions, but I like my motivational sayings. It’s not about my “inner strength” driving or not driving me toward achievement. It’s about having something that reminds me of the bigger picture.

We all know the picture of the kitten hanging from a branch with the words “Hang in there” written across the top. These three words give people the courage to persevere in spite of adversity. It’s a touch of encouragement from a simple kitten with simple words.

The home and lock screens on my phone are both motivational in nature.

My home screen reminds me of the kind of person I want to be. It reads “Be kind. Work hard. Stay humble. Smile often. Keep honest. Stay loyal. Travel when possible. Never stop learning. Be thankful always. And Love.” These words remind me who I want to be and what I want to be.

My lock screen is a smiling cartoon mint leaf with the words “You can do it! You’ve got this! Encourage Mint” This little green guy gives me a nice confidence boost every time my phone lights up. Plus it always makes me smile.

Staying motivated for tomorrow or next week isn’t the point. For me, motivational quotes help me keep my end goal in the forefront of my mind. These quotes don’t have to be anything long or complex, just a few words that make you happy can make a world of difference.