Sometimes, especially when life gets hard, an encouraging word or thought can make all the difference. Whether it's from a friend, a favorite author or a religious or world leader, these words can change our outlook. Quotes from other successful people or those who have gone through hard times and emerged gloriously can buoy us up when we need it the most. We can also share quotes with friends or family members who are going through a difficult time or that need some encouragement.

Positive thinking is powerful and can shape our attitudes and minds. Here are 15 quotes that may you give you that extra push and inspire you to do anything you want to do:

1. "Successful people have fear, successful people have doubts, and successful people have worries. They just don't let these feelings stop them." - T. Harv Eker

2. "Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, 'Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous?' Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others." - Marianne Williamson

3. "If you desire to make a difference in the world, you must be different from the world." - Elaine S. Dalton

{keep going}

4. "Don't you quit. You keep walking. You keep trying. There is help and happiness ahead...You keep your chin up. It will be all right in the end. Trust God and believe in good things to come." - Jeffrey R. Holland

5. "Nothing is impossible, the word itself says 'I'm possible!'" - Audrey Hepburn

6. "Believe you can and you're halfway there." - Theodore Roosevelt

7. "Great people do things before they're ready. They do things before they know they can do it. Doing what you're afraid of, getting out of your comfort zone, taking risks like that - that's what life is. You might be really good. You might find out something about yourself that's really special and if you're not good, who cares? You tried something. Now you know something about yourself." - Amy Poehler

8. "If we did all the things we are capable of, we would literally astound ourselves." - Thomas A. Edison

9. "You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream." - C. S. Lewis

10. "If you can dream it, you can do it." - Walt Disney

11. "Decide that you want it more than you are afraid of it." - Bill Cosby

12. "Hardships often prepare ordinary people for an extraordinary destiny." - C. S. Lewis

13. "When a train goes through a tunnel and it gets dark, you don't throw away the ticket and jump off. You sit still and trust the engineer." - Corrie Ten Boom

14. "No one likes to fail. But we mortals do not become champions without effort and discipline or without making mistakes." - Dieter F. Uchtdorf

15. "Promise me you'll always remember: You're braver than you believe, and stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think." - A.A. Milne

Try one of these quotes or find your own favorite and place it on your bathroom mirror or somewhere else you will see it often. Make sure it will give you confidence and inspire you to do something great - to do what you've been putting off because of fear. Read it. Think about it. Let it change your perspective. Let your doubts fall away while your confidence and determination increase. You can place many quotes around your home or work place to help motivate you and build your confidence so you can accomplish anything. Positive attitudes and thinking change lives - and the world.