5 Quotes for a Great Week

Here at focused space, we love thoughtful quotes that bring a new perspective to the everyday.

This week, we're excited to share 5 of our favorite quotes about mindfulness!

For each quote, we invite you to think about what it means to you. Take what you need from it, and use it to fuel your day. We will also be offering journaling prompts to help you reflect on what these quotes mean to you.

"Life is too important to be taken seriously."

- Oscar Wilde

Importance and seriousness are not necessarily the same thing. 

Of course, life can be very serious — especially with the challenges that we are facing personally, in our communities, and globally. 

However, this quote invites us to step back from the noise of it all. When we are observing what’s ahead of us, we can ask ourselves:

• What are the things that CAN be approached with more levity, more playfulness?

• How can I find ways to take less seriously the things that CAN be taken less seriously? 

The more we come back to ourselves by resting, mindfulness, and overall self-care, the more we can tune into what really lights us up and how we can integrate that into our lives.

We can challenge ourselves to be lighter in our steps, to play more, allow ourselves to enjoy more, and be more present. 

Prompts for Reflection

🤪 What silly or playful things do I secretly enjoy but don’t often let myself do? Why not?

🙃 What would it look like to be 10% more playful in my daily routine — brushing teeth, doing dishes, answering emails, etc.?

🧐 What parts of me feel like they need to be “serious” all the time? What are they trying to protect? Can I thank them and let them loosen up a little?

“There is something wonderfully bold and liberating about saying yes to our entire imperfect and messy life.” 

- Tara Brach

When things are especially challenging, it can be difficult to accept the way things are. 

We might often think to ourselves: “This isn’t fair” or “Why me?”

And while these feelings are real, they may take away from the energy and headspace we need to actually navigate the challenge before us. 

Accepting the way things are does not mean you approve of them, or that you will throw your hands up and walk away. 

Rather, you can acknowledge that denying the facts of reality will not change the facts. This is called “radical acceptance,” and can help us effectively cope with the situation itself and take care of ourselves. 

As Tara Brach mentions here, this acceptance, this saying yes, can be liberating — allowing you to focus on a clearer path ahead of you.

Prompts for Reflection

🤨 What is something I am resisting today? Why?

🙇🏽‍♀️ What am I trying to control that’s actually out of my hands?

🍃 What’s one small way I can practice letting go today?

🧘🏾 How would it feel to stop fighting with reality, even for a moment?

"In our times, it is radical to choose to sit still and be silent, to resist an identity of busyness, ceaseless motion, and noise, and to reclaim our sanity and humanity by coming home to ourselves." 

- Sumi Loundon Kim

This quote speaks to the power of mindfulness and intentional stillness in a world obsessed with productivity and constant activity. Sumi Loundon Kim frames stillness and silence not as passive states, but as radical acts — a form of resistance against the societal norm that equates worth with busyness.

She challenges the "identity of busyness" — the idea that to be valuable or successful, one must always be in motion, always doing, always connected.

In contrast, sitting still becomes a way to reclaim our sanity and humanity — suggesting that rest, reflection, and inner presence are not only healing, but essential for true well-being.

The phrase “coming home to ourselves” is especially powerful — implying that in the chaos and noise of modern life, we become estranged from our inner selves.

Stillness, then, is both a rebellion and a return — a way of remembering who we are beyond the roles, demands, and distractions.

Prompts for Reflection

🫨 What fears or discomforts arise when I’m not "doing" something?

🧘🏾 In what ways can I resist the pressure to be constantly busy?

💪🏽 What small acts of rebellion against “busyness culture” feel empowering?

“Be where you are; otherwise you will miss your life.” 

- Siddhartha Gautama

At its core, this quote speaks to how often our minds can drift away from the present moment by dwelling in the past, anticipating the future, or being caught in distraction.

When we live this way, it can be said that we're not truly living — we're merely going through the motions while our awareness is elsewhere.

By urging us to “be where you are,” Buddha is encouraging a return to now — to fully inhabit the moment, however ordinary it may seem.

It's a call to wake up to life as it's happening, instead of letting it slip by unnoticed. In doing so, we not only experience more deeply, but also connect more authentically with ourselves and others.

In a world that often pulls us away from the present — with notifications, obligations, and endless mental chatter — this quote invites us to slow down, notice, and engage with life right where it’s unfolding.

Prompts for Reflection

🫥 What distractions most often pull me away from the present moment? Consider external (e.g., devices, noise) and internal (e.g., overthinking) distractions.

🚶🏽‍➡️ What small habits or rituals help me return to the present? Think about things like deep breathing, mindful walking, or savoring a meal.

👃🏽🌹 What might I discover if I slowed down and paid closer attention to this moment? Reflect on what beauty, clarity, or insight might be hidden in the ordinary.

"The most sophisticated people I know... inside, they are all children."

- Jim Henson

We come full circle to how we started this week’s inspirational quotes by underlining the importance of playfulness in our lives. 

This quote by Jim Henson offers insight into the nature of true sophistication. Rather than equating it with seriousness, complexity, or status, Henson reframes sophistication as something deeply rooted in childlike qualities: wonder, creativity, curiosity, and openness.

He suggests that the most remarkable people aren’t those who have hardened or distanced themselves from their inner child, but rather those who have held onto it despite growing up.

These individuals might operate in complex worlds or hold powerful roles, yet inside, they retain a playful spirit, emotional honesty, and the capacity to dream.

It’s a gentle reminder that maturity doesn’t require abandoning joy, imagination, or vulnerability. In fact, it may be those very traits that allow someone to navigate life with depth, authenticity, and even a sense of magic ✨

Prompts for Reflection

👦🏽 What parts of my inner child are still alive in me today? Think about how you express curiosity, play, imagination, or vulnerability.

🤵🏽 Do I ever feel pressure to hide my childlike side to appear more “grown up”? Explore where that pressure comes from and how it affects you.

🤗 How might honoring my inner child actually make me wiser or more sophisticated? Think about how authenticity and joy can coexist with maturity and depth.

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We hope you enjoyed this week's set of inspirational quotes!

P.S. If you could use help accomplishing your goals this season while still remembering to rest, please join us at one of our live guided work sessions, or morning planning sessions!

Take care,

— Rachell, focused space host