Life is a canvas, and each choice, action, and mindset adds a brushstroke to your unique masterpiece. The phrase “life is what you make it” reminds us that we have the power to shape our lives through our decisions, attitudes, and effort. These quotes capture the essence of this philosophy, offering inspiration to live with intention and purpose.
Best “Life Is What You Make It” Quotes
On Taking Control of Life:
“Life isn’t about finding yourself. It’s about creating yourself.” — George Bernard Shaw
“The meaning of life is whatever you ascribe it to be. Being alive is the meaning.” — Joseph Campbell
“Life is what you make it. Always has been, always will be.” — Eleanor Roosevelt
“Your life does not get better by chance, it gets better by change.” — Jim Rohn
“Life is what you make it, so make it beautiful.”
“You are the artist of your own life. Don’t hand the paintbrush to anyone else.”
“In the middle of difficulty lies opportunity.” — Albert Einstein
“You can’t go back and change the beginning, but you can start where you are and change the ending.” — C.S. Lewis
“Success is how high you bounce when you hit rock bottom.” — George S. Patton
“Happiness is not something ready-made. It comes from your own actions.” — Dalai Lama
On Choices and Mindset:
“It is our choices that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities.” — J.K. Rowling
“Life is 10% what happens to us and 90% how we react to it.” — Charles R. Swindoll
“You can either throw in the towel or use it to wipe the sweat off your face.”
“The only limits in life are the ones you make.”
“Your attitude, not your aptitude, will determine your altitude.” — Zig Ziglar
“Each day is a new life to a wise person.” — Dale Carnegie
“If you don’t like the road you’re walking, start paving another one.” — Dolly Parton
“What you think, you become. What you feel, you attract. What you imagine, you create.” — Buddha
“Life is like a mirror: Smile at it, and it smiles back at you.”
“Every morning we are born again. What we do today is what matters most.” — Buddha
On Living with Purpose:
“The purpose of life is not to be happy. It is to be useful, to be honorable, to be compassionate, to have it make some difference that you have lived and lived well.” — Ralph Waldo Emerson
“Don’t wait for the perfect moment. Take the moment and make it perfect.”
“Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever.” — Mahatma Gandhi
“The best way to predict the future is to create it.” — Peter Drucker
“Life is too short to be lived counting the years. Just enjoy the ride and make amazing memories.”
“To live is the rarest thing in the world. Most people exist, that is all.” — Oscar Wilde
“Do not dwell in the past, do not dream of the future, concentrate the mind on the present moment.” — Buddha
“Dream as if you’ll live forever. Live as if you’ll die today.” — James Dean
“Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. Live the life you have imagined.” — Henry David Thoreau
“Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.”
On Overcoming Challenges:
“The only way to make sense out of change is to plunge into it, move with it, and join the dance.” — Alan Watts
“Life isn’t about waiting for the storm to pass. It’s about learning to dance in the rain.” — Vivian Greene
“You can’t change the direction of the wind, but you can adjust your sails to always reach your destination.” — Jimmy Dean
“Challenges are what make life interesting. Overcoming them is what makes life meaningful.” — Joshua J. Marine
“The struggle you’re in today is developing the strength you need for tomorrow.”
“When life gives you lemons, make lemonade.”
“Don’t let yesterday take up too much of today.” — Will Rogers
“Fall seven times, stand up eight.” — Japanese Proverb
“Every adversity, every failure, every heartache carries with it the seed of an equal or greater benefit.” — Napoleon Hill
“Out of difficulties grow miracles.” — Jean de La Bruyère
On Gratitude and Positivity:
“Enjoy the little things, for one day you may look back and realize they were the big things.” — Robert Brault
“Gratitude turns what we have into enough.”
“The more you praise and celebrate your life, the more there is in life to celebrate.” — Oprah Winfrey
“Life is what you make of it. So why not make it a masterpiece?”
“Happiness is letting go of what you think your life is supposed to look like and celebrating it for everything that it is.”
“Look for something positive in each day, even if some days you have to look a little harder.”
“A grateful heart is a magnet for miracles.”
“Smile, breathe, and go slowly.” — Thich Nhat Hanh
“Life doesn’t have to be perfect to be wonderful.”
“Be so happy that when others see you, they become happy too.”
On Personal Growth:
“Life begins at the end of your comfort zone.” — Neale Donald Walsch
“You were born with the ability to change someone’s life. Don’t ever waste it.”
“In the middle of every difficulty lies opportunity.” — Albert Einstein
“Do what you can, with what you have, where you are.” — Theodore Roosevelt
“Your life becomes better when you become better.”
“The secret to getting ahead is getting started.” — Mark Twain
“Take risks: If you win, you will be happy; if you lose, you will be wise.”
“Life is not about expecting, hoping, and wishing. It’s about doing, being, and becoming.”
“Success is not the key to happiness. Happiness is the key to success. If you love what you are doing, you will be successful.” — Albert Schweitzer
“Be the change that you wish to see in the world.” — Mahatma Gandhi
How These Quotes Inspire Action
Why These Quotes Matter:
These quotes remind us that life is not just about what happens to us—it’s about how we respond, grow, and make the most of it. They inspire us to take charge, embrace challenges, and find joy in the journey.
Incorporating These Quotes Into Your Life:
- Daily Reflection: Choose one quote as your mantra for the day and use it as a guide for your actions.
- Affirmations: Write down your favorite quotes and repeat them as positive affirmations to stay motivated.
- Sharing Inspiration: Share these quotes with friends, family, or on social media to inspire others.
- Goal Setting: Use the wisdom in these quotes to set intentions and create actionable steps toward your dreams.
Final Thoughts:
Life is indeed what you make it. These quotes remind us that we have the power to create a life full of purpose, joy, and resilience. Embrace the journey, take control of your story, and let these words inspire you to make each day extraordinary.