Natalie Goldberg Quotes

I like myself better when I'm writing regularly.

I've had to learn and discipline myself that I'm much happier and much less depressed if I give myself a project. It's just that simple.

I think it's quite great to set yourself a big challenge, and then you've got another reason for keeping fit.

I'm very ambitious, but I also love myself - which means I try to take care of myself.

I only really set short-term goals because I don't want to put too much pressure on myself.

I've been a guy who's never really been satisfied. Work hard, try to figure out ways to improve, try to figure out ways to sustain a certain level of play.

I just really work hard on myself every day.

I'm constantly trying to become the best. That's kind of how I'm driven. Sometimes I'm not. I kind of focus on when I'm not than when I am. That's probably something I need to switch.

I don't let a day go where I'm not doing something that enhances me or allows me to sit up here and keep my spirits going.

So it's always helped me to have a foundation, an ideal to strive for and goals. It's hard for me to be disciplined and plan things.

Figure out what you want, how you want to feel, whatever your motivation is, you have to figure it out. That's step one: where do you want to be? The next thing is just trying to get there and cutting yourself some slack along the way. You're going to have days when you veer off your path, then just get right back on. We all have cheat days, holidays, or celebrations, whatever or period when we can't work out as much as we like, and just do the best you can and when you can get back on track, get back on track.

Don’t get depressed about not being where you want to be. This nagging feeling of anxiety is actually called ambition. Ambition is your friend.

I had to get up everyday with my mind set on improving something.

My enthusiasm seems to cause my world to endlessly offer me cooperative, co-creating experiences. I'm willing and I'm eager, and not just about my writing - I feel the same way about staying in shape, enjoying my family, giving a lecture, or whatever it may be.

No matter what the competition is, I try to find a goal that day and better that goal.

I was a pitcher, and my dad played in college. The hardest day of my life was telling him I was going to quit to focus more on golf. But with golf, I felt like the game can't be perfected, and that motivated me.

Never be entirely idle; but either be reading, or writing, or praying or meditating or endeavoring something for the public good.

I get angry if I do things wrong, but that's what keeps me going. I want to do my best.

I don't know anyone who couldn't use a little boost in their energy and self-control.

People often say that motivation doesn't last. Well, neither does bathing - that's why we recommend it daily.

I've got a lot of little compulsive problems, and I've thought about it a lot. And one of the things I ask myself is, 'What are the things I can do that won't hurt me and will help me?' The first answer is work.

The day you take complete responsibility for yourself, the day you stop making any excuses, that's the day you start to the top.

Every day I am trying to improve my life.

The quality of a person's life is in direct proportion to their commitment to excellence, regardless of their chosen field of endeavor.