6 Pieces Of Advice That'll Inspire You To Be Your Best Self Every Day

No matter what your situation is, every woman has certain days where getting motivated just seems … well, impossible. You know what I’m talking about: One day, you’re crushing it at work, waking up for that early yoga class (without snoozing your alarm!), and catching up with your BFF during your lunch hour — and the next, you’re feeling drained, overwhelmed, and apathetic about your goals.

First of all, take a deep breath and know that you’re not alone. We’ve all been there. Sure, it’s easy to talk about putting your best foot forward every day, but it’s an entirely different beast to find the drive to actually push yourself to do it. That’s why it’s vital to have strong women in our lives to advise, mentor, and motivate us to be the badass individuals we know we can be, day after day.

To help every woman find her strength, Bustle partnered with o.b. Organic™​ Tampons to ask six women to share the advice they’ve received from the original badasses in their lives — friends, colleagues, mentors, bosses, and family members — that inspires them be their best self every day.

1. Follow Your Own Definition Of Success

“Back in college when I was interning at my dream job, I asked an entry-level employee for her post-college wisdom. Her response was so good and I'll never forget it: She told me that no matter what, I should never compare my definition of success to anyone else's. That conversation was almost six years ago, and I've reminded myself of this advice not only at work, but in my personal life as well. Success and happiness look different to everyone, and I'm so happy a woman I admired taught me that at such a pivotal point in my life.” —Allison, branded editor, 28

2. Don't Wait Around For "The Right Time"

"The best piece of advice I received that inspires me to live my best life every day was from my friend who told me, 'Do everything before you're ready.' I think about this often when niggling thoughts of self-doubt or the inevitable impostor syndrome wears me down and it enables me to act before I think.” —Noa, Co-Founder of The Nook Online, 35

3. Ask Yourself: What’s The Worst That Can Happen?

“The best piece of advice I got was from my best friend's mom, who is a VP at one of America's biggest banks. I wanted to ask for a raise at work, and asked her if she thought I was being too forward. Her response was, ‘Literally the worst thing that happens is they say no. Asking for something is a normal thing to do!’ That sounds obvious, but it can be hard to internalize. Asking a question is normal!” —Jess, communications manager, 31

4. You Will Fail — And That's OK!

"My first boss taught me that the mantle of leadership can be worn lightly. She told me, 'Failures are a requirement of any job. Learn from them and then let them go.' Most importantly, she taught me that a woman can lead, and she can be liked, but she can’t always do both at the same time... and that’s OK." —Missy, CEO & Founder of Title Nine, 57

5. Don’t Be Afraid To Make Others Feel Uncomfortable

“The best advice I’ve received is, ‘Don't be afraid to make other people feel uncomfortable.’ Often, women are inclined to make everyone around them feel comfortable, which can stop us from having those tough but oh-so-necessary conversations about promotions, raises, or anything else. Learn to be comfortable with discomfort, and you'll become more powerful in your career and your life!" —Sarah, content strategist, 30

6. Make Yourself Happy First

"The best piece of advice I have gotten is from the simple perspective of a 10-year-old girl. When looking at big decisions, her simple response was, 'Do what is going to make you feel good about yourself; if you're happy with the choice, so will those people around you.' Sometimes the simplest perspectives are the the most cherished and valuable." —Julia, brand partnerships at The Outbound Pursuit Series, 40

This post is sponsored by o.b. Organic™​ Tampons.