65 Words Of Encouragement Quotes For Women (2024)

Juggling roles as professionals, students, partners, moms, and everything in between is no small feat for women like you.

It's a lot, with work, family, and all those expectations weighing you down.

The tightrope walk of managing work-life balance, caregiving responsibilities, navigating relationship dynamics, confronting gender expectations, and handling everyday duties can be overwhelming.

We're here to offer some encouraging words for women to help you navigate these challenges with grace and calm.

What Can I Say to a Woman To Encourage Her?

Everyone needs encouragement. Soothing, uplifting, inspiring words can help someone crawl out of an emotional ditch or clear a professional hurdle.

But it’s important to get it right and think before speaking, which begs the question: What should you consider when encouraging a woman?

• Her State of Mind: Is the woman you’re comforting in a state of shock? Has she just received awful news? Be thoughtful about her state of mind and speak accordingly.
• The Situation: Where are you? Are there other people around? Assess the situation and consider whether you need to curb certain sentiments in favor of contextual propriety.
• Her Mental Health History: Does the female you’re soothing have a history of mental health conditions? If so, and you know what they are, try not to trigger them.
• The Reality: We all want things to go perfectly for ourselves, friends, and loved ones. Unfortunately, life is obstinately uncooperative. So when speaking words of encouragement, try not to be unrealistic. That doesn’t mean you should trample on someone’s dreams. (Even if you don’t think a friend is a good painter/writer/dancer/lawyer/et cetera, tell them they’re wonderful and talented — because that’s what friends do.) But if someone dies, there’s no way to bring them back.
• Your Role and Relationship: How do you fit into the picture? Are you a compassionate, third-party shoulder, a supervisor, or somehow involved in the situation at hand? Your role should dictate the words you choose to encourage a woman.

125 Words of Encouragement for Women

It's crucial to remember that empowerment can be reclaimed through inspiration and introspection. We invite you to engage with the encouraging words below, reflecting on their relevance to your life.

Quotes of Encouragement for Her

1. “No one can make you feel inferior without your consent.” — Eleanor Roosevelt

2. “Love yourself first and everything else falls into place.” — Lucille Ball

3. “Don’t let anyone rob you of your imagination, your creativity, or your curiosity. It’s your place in the world; it’s your life.” — Dr. Mae Jemison

4. “People respond well to those that are sure of what they want.” — Anna Wintour

6. “Everyone is a complicated human being, and everyone is strong and weak and funny and scared.” — Laverne Cox

7. “Sometimes your joy is the source of your smile, but sometimes your smile can be the source of your joy.” ― Thich Nhat Hanh

8. “By being yourself you put something wonderful in the world that was not there before.” — Edwin Elliot

9. “Whenever you see a successful woman, look out for three men who are going out of their way to try to block her.” — Yulia Tymoshenko

10. “Developing resilience isn't something you do overnight – it's the work of a lifetime.” — Connie Matthiessen

12. “If you don’t like the road you’re walking, start paving another one.” — Dolly Parton

13. “You learn something out of everything, and you come to realize more than ever that we’re all here for a certain space of time, and, and then it’s going to be over, and you better make this count.” — Nancy Reagan

14. “We realize the importance of our voices only when we are silenced.” — Malala Yousafzai

16. “Don’t compromise yourself. You are all you’ve got. There is no yesterday, no tomorrow, it’s all the same day.” — Janis Joplin

17. “Every accomplishment starts with the decision to try.” — Brian Littrell

18. “Don’t be afraid to speak up for yourself. Keep fighting for your dreams!” — Gabby Douglas

19. “Nobody cares if you can’t dance well. Just get up and dance. Great dancers are not great because of their technique, they are great because of their passion.” — Martha Graham

20. “Joy does not simply happen to us. We have to choose joy and keep choosing it every day.” — Henri J.M. Nouwen

21. “It's a helluva start, being able to recognize what makes you happy.” ― Lucille Ball

22. “The power you have is to be the best version of yourself you can be, so you can create a better world.” — Ashley Rickards

23. “The best protection any woman can have … is courage.” — Elizabeth Cady Stanton

24. “I do not try to dance better than anyone else. I only try to dance better than myself.” — Arianna Huffington

25. “Dreams are lovely. But they are just dreams. Fleeting, ephemeral, pretty. But dreams do not come true just because you dream them. It's hard work that makes things happen. It's hard work that creates change.” ― Shonda Rhimes

26. “A woman with a voice is, by definition, a strong woman.”— Melinda Gates

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27. “And to all the little girls who are watching this, never doubt that you are valuable and powerful and deserving of every chance and opportunity in the world to pursue and achieve your own dreams.” — Hillary Clinton

28. “If I stop to kick every barking dog I am not going to get where I’m going.” — Jackie Joyner-Kersee

29. “I believe that as women, it is time to show love towards our fellow sisters, and to encourage and build up one another and not tear each other down.” — Stephanie Williams

30. “Be there for others, but never leave yourself behind.” — Dodinsky

31. “I have stood on a mountain of no’s for one yes.” — B. Smith

32. “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

33. “A strong woman is a woman determined to do something others are determined not be done.” — Marge Piercy

34. “Make the most of yourself by fanning the tiny, inner sparks of possibility into flames of achievement.” — Golda Meir

35. “Life shrinks or expands in proportion to one’s courage.” — Anais Nin

36. “I can’t think of any better representation of beauty than someone who is unafraid to be herself.” — Emma Stone

37. “You must be the change you wish to see in the world.” — Mahatma Gandhi

39. “You must get your thoughts in line because they determine what comes out of your mouth. Our words are powerful and have the ability to change not only our mood but the direction of our lives.” — Yvonne Haughton

40. “You don't always need a plan. Sometimes you just need to breathe, trust, let go, and see what happens.” — Mandy Hale

41. “If you think taking care of yourself is selfish, change your mind. If you don’t, you’re simply ducking your responsibilities.” — Ann Richards

42. “I want to be like a sunflower; so that even on the darkest days I will stand tall and find the sunlight.” — M.K.

43. “Be so good they can’t ignore you.” — Steve Martin

44. “I attribute my success to this: I never gave or took an excuse.” — Florence Nightingale

45. “I learned compassion from being discriminated against. Everything bad that’s ever happened to me has taught me compassion.” — Ellen DeGeneres

46. “I have learned over the years that when one’s mind is made up, this diminishes fear; knowing what must be done does away with fear.” — Rosa Parks

47. “If you don’t get out of the box you’ve been raised in, you won’t understand how much bigger the world is.” — Angelina Jolie

48. “No matter what happens, or how bad it seems today, life does go on, and it will be better tomorrow.” — Maya Angelou

49. “Normal is not something to aspire to, it’s something to get away from.” — Jodie Foster

50. “You can never leave footprints that last if you are always walking on tiptoe.” — Leymah Gbowee

51. “She was powerful not because she wasn’t scared but because she went on so strongly, despite the fear.” — Atticus

52. “Each of us has unsuspected power to accomplish what we demand of ourselves, if we care to search for it. You are no exception.” — Claire Weekes

53. “Encourage yourself, believe in yourself, and love yourself. Never doubt who you are.” — Stephanie Lahart

54. “In order to be irreplaceable one must always be different.” — Coco Chanel

56. “When you notice that you’re having negative thoughts about how all of this is going to pan out, you need to remind yourself that you are not a very good fortune teller.” — Donna W. Hill

57. “A man’s got to do what a man’s got to do. A woman must do what he can’t.” — Rhonda Hansome

58. “Tell your own story, and you will be interesting.” ― Louise Bourgeois⁠

59. “We can do no great things, only small things with great love.” — Mother Teresa

60. “Kindness is always fashionable, and always welcome.” — Amelia Barr

61. “You have to speak words of continuous encouragement in order to achieve whatever goals you've set for yourself.” — Anquanette Gaspard

62. “The most difficult thing is the decision to act, the rest is merely tenacity.” — Amelia Earhart

63. “Define success on your own terms, achieve it by your own rules, and build a life you’re proud to live.” — Anne Sweeney

64. “If you just set out to be liked, you would be prepared to compromise on anything at any time, and you would achieve nothing.” — Margaret Thatcher

65. “Instead of letting your hardships and failures discourage or exhaust you, let them inspire you.” — Michelle Obama

Words of Inspiration for Her

66. Don't allow other people to dictate your worth and interests. They're usually wrong because their opinions are built on the backs of faulty assumptions.

67. Talent and intelligence are subjective, but hard work is undeniable. So don't worry if you're not the best; just make sure you work as hard as possible (without crossing the burnout line).

68. You're driven and bright. There's very little you can't accomplish if you put your mind to it.

69. No, you may never be the “GOAT,” but being the best you can be is within your reach — and that's more than enough.

70. Life is too long to spend it fretting. Let the past rest and focus on the present.

71. My mother always said: “When life hands you lemons, make lemonade.”

72. Acquaintances' opinions regarding your life are about as useful as a toothless comb.

73. Showing up is 99% of the battle.

74. The only thing standing between you and success is confidence. Otherwise, you have what it takes!

75. You're an incredible force of nature, and I'm proud to be your friend.

76. Everything you touch turns to diamonds and pearls.

77. You help so many people. Your work is valued and vital.

78. Are you kidding? I WISH I were more like you!

79. You were incredibly helpful today. Thank you for all that you've done. You're a rockstar, and we couldn't have done it without you.

80. You look sensational. I've never seen you glow like you are right now.

81. You look like you're getting healthier by the day.

82. I'm so impressed with what you have done. It's worthy of every commendation.

83. You're Superwoman, and I have no idea how you do it.

84. You are one of the most intelligent people I know — and also one of the most compassionate.

85. Good luck today! Those chuckleheads have nothing on you.

86. I'm with you in spirit every single step of the way.

87. You are brave, brilliant, and bold — the best of the best in my book.

88. Mighty is your middle name. You can do anything to which you set your mind.

89. I'm so lucky to have you in my life.

90. Our team would be utterly lost without you.

91. We are who we are, and it's always enough.

92. You have so many strengths, talents, and ideas. Don't let anyone try to convince you otherwise.

93. Treat yourself like you do others. You deserve it.

94. Don't dim your light for naysayers and negative Nancies.

95. Take lessons and grow from constructive, fair criticism offered in good faith; ignore the nitpicking born of other people's baggage.

96. You're a great person and a wonderful friend, and I'm better for knowing you.

97. Everything you are is enough. You're destined to do incredible things. All you need to do is believe in yourself and work toward your goal.

98. Failure is an essential part of life. Embrace it; learn from it, and be thankful for the lessons.

99. Focus on what you want and out life, not what you regret. Because at the beginning, middle, and end of the day, we are what we think.

100. Forget about the noise and focus on cultivating self-love. It's the best gift you can give yourself.

101. Women are the most incredible creatures on Earth, and you're one of them!

102. Please don't waste time worrying about what other people say, think, and do unless you genuinely like them.

103. I'm in awe of your beauty — on the inside and out.

104. When I grow up, I want to be just as responsible, fabulous, and fearless as you.

105. Nothing is impossible with you at the helm.

Encouraging Word for Women from the Bible

106. “She is clothed with strength and dignity, and she laughs without fear of the future.” – Proverbs 31:25

107. “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.” – 2 Timothy 1:7

108. “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” – Philippians 4:13

109. “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” – Joshua 1:9

110. “But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.” – Isaiah 40:31

111. “God is within her, she will not fall; God will help her at break of day.” – Psalms 46:5

112. “Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.” – Proverbs 31:30

113. “The Lord is my light and my salvation—whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life—of whom shall I be afraid?” – Psalms 27:1

114. “And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” – Philippians 4:7

115. “You are altogether beautiful, my darling; there is no flaw in you.” – Song of Solomon 4:7

116. “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” – Galatians 6:9

117. “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” – Jeremiah 29:11

118. “She opens her mouth with wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue.” – Proverbs 31:26

119. “Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.” – 1 Peter 5:7

120. “The Lord your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing.” – Zephaniah 3:17

121. “Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me.” – John 14:1

122. “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” – Psalms 34:18

123. “Strength and honor are her clothing; she shall rejoice in time to come.” – Proverbs 31:25

124. “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; you are mine.” – Isaiah 43:1

125. “And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith.” – Hebrews 12:1

How to Use These Quotes and Uplifting Words for Women

How can you use these quotes and sayings to cheer up or encourage a woman in your life?

It largely depends on the situation, but here are a few ideas.

• Say It: If you’re comforting a friend, lover, colleague, or family member, soothe your charge verbally. Try to match your tone to the situation.
• Write a Letter: People love getting encouraging notes, so why not send one to someone in your life who needs it? Instead of typing it, write it longhand. Doing so is more intimate, plus it’s better exercise for your brain.
• Post It: If you’re not comforting or encouraging a particular person, make a quote card and share it on social media.

Final Thoughts

Words alone may not remove the stressors from your life, but they can go a long way in fostering a mental turnaround.

These motivational quotes are from some of the most admired women in history — women who have faced many of the same difficulties and insecurities as you.

Use their words to help you reframe your thinking and energize you to define your life just as YOU want it to be.

And may your strength, creativity, and self-compassion infuse everything you do today and every day.