Always do Your Best Quotes

Some of the most inspirational quotes are from those that have been through the worse. Learn from others with these 10 quotes to help you always do your best.

Why Should you Always do Your Best?

As I dropped my kids off at school not too long ago in the 30-degree weather I saw the same two teachers I always do in the car drop-off lane. I saw both of them doing what they always do.

One of them stands like a statue bundled up against the wind, not moving. I guess she is there just in case there is an accident. I hope she can move her head fast enough to see one.

And then a couple of cars ahead is the other teacher. He is directing traffic forward, and he opens the door for every car that comes up to him. He tells the children and parents “good morning” and then closes the door. I always try to get my car to end up so mine is the one that is dropped off in front of him.

Regardless of the weather or the day of the week, this is the actions of the two teachers.

It is also so representative of every workplace I have personally experienced, worked for and talked about with my friends.

Related: 40 of the Best Single Mom Quotes When You Need Motivation

How often have you called customer service somewhere and not agreed with the answer so you hung up and called back to get a different agent and different answer? Perhaps the first time you simply got an agent that didn’t care. Happens all the time.

In today’s society, it is okay to give less than your best – your employer for a multitude of reasons may not address it. I should know, I received my largest raise the year I did the least amount of work. So, really why do it?

Why Should You Always Do Your Best?

Why live a life of intention?

Why turn off the TV and ask your kids about their day?

Why open the door for the 1st grader when he’s old enough to open his own door?

Why read to your children when an iPad is so much easier?

Why thank the customer for coming in when she didn’t say anything positive anyway?

Living a Life Less than Your Best Only Hurts You

For a long time, I lived a life of not living up to my full potential. It seemed to make everyone at work happier if I wasn’t exceeding their expectations. It’s easier sometimes for other people if you live a lesser version of yourself.

But guess what? It didn’t make me happier, it made me depressed. That depression, the bad mood, the grouchiness, it poured over into other parts of my life: into my children. And nothing is worth that.

This is not God’s intention for our lives. God intended us all for great work, His work. His work cannot be anything less than GREAT. We can’t do his work when we aren’t living to our full potential, our absolute BEST.

Always do Your Best Quotes from Those Who Have Seen the Worse

While it often sounds easier said than done to simply be more positive or give your best, what is interesting is that some of the most inspirational quotes are from those that know what they are talking about.

Just ask Mother Teresa if it is easier to give your best in the conditions she willingly lived in.

Or Og Mandino who as an alcoholic almost killed himself.

Or Maya Angelou who at the age of 8 was raped by her mother’s boyfriend and when she told her uncles, he was kicked to death. She didn’t speak for 5 years.

Even Abraham Lincoln had a difficult childhood losing his mother at a young age then losing his own child.

And if you’ve never heard the backstory of the famous church hymn “It is Well with My Soul”, you’ll never sing it the same again after reading it.

If anyone can give us some perspective about continuing to give our best, it’s those who have seen the worse.

10 of the Most Inspiring Quotes to Always do Your Best

I do the very best I know how – the very best I can; and I mean to keep on doing so until the end. – Abraham Lincoln.

Abraham Lincoln very best quote

Why worry? If you’ve done the very best you can, worrying won’t make it any better. ~Walt Disney

Walt Disney quote

Colossians 3:23: “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters”

Colossians323

You give your best for today, you create a greater tomorrow. ~Lailah Gifty Akita

Lailah Gifty Akita quote

The best preparation for tomorrow is doing your best today. ~H. Jackson Brown Jr.

H Jackson Brown Jr quote

Always do your best. What you plant now you will harvest later. ~Og Mandino

Related: 30 Motivational Quotes When You Feel Like Quitting

Og Mandino do your best quote

Never stop doing your best just because someone didn’t give you credit. ~Unknown

Never Stop Doing Best Quote

Do the best you can until you know better. Then when you know better do better. ~Maya Angelou

Maya Angelou know better do better quote

1 Corinthians 15:58: So, my dear brothers and sisters, be strong and immovable. Always work enthusiastically for the Lord, for you know that nothing you do for the Lord is ever useless.

1 Corinthians 15:58

Do Good Anyway Poem. (Author is disputed, although widely attributed to Mother Teresa.)

Mother Teresa Love anyway quote

You can get all of these quotes inside The Single Mom Toolbox. All the resources and printables from my own 10-year journey of single mom life consolidated for you.

Always do Your Best Quotes