1. “Oh, screw beautiful. I’m brilliant. If you want to appease me, compliment my brain.”- Christina Yang, Grey's Anatomy

In this day and age, surface-level friendships have become quite common. As disheartening as it is, there are people out there who will only interactwith you because you have something that they want or they only appreciate some superficial quality of yours. It can make navigating friendships and the social scene quite difficult, as you often find yourself surrounded by insincere, untrustworthy people. Surround yourself with people who prove their loyalty to you, people who take interest in your life and what makes you happy, people who want you to succeed, and people who see the great factors of your personality, not just your image. Those are the kind of people you want in your life. Hold on to them.

2. “I love you… but I love me more. I’ve been in a relationship with myself for 49 years and that’s the one I need to work on.”
- Samantha Jones, Sex and the City

Never put someone else’s happiness before your own. At the end of the day, you can only be certain that one person has your back/has your best interests at heart: you. Never allow someone or something else to allow you to lose sight of who you are as a person, and always strive to be the best that you can be.

3. “I’m not a stop along the way, I’m a destination.” - Blair Waldorf, Gossip Girl

Don’t settle. If someone wants to be a significant part of your life, then they have to earn that position. Simple.

4. “Some people have bark. Some people have bite. I have both.” - Olivia Pope, Scandal

What we say and do defines us as people. That being said, it’s important to always stand up for what we believe in. No good can come from staying quiet, turning a blind eye, or failing to act when you see or experience injustice in the world. But remember, it’s equally as important to act and speak in a thoughtful manner in order to to elevate and enhance your goals.

5. “Swift as a deer. Quiet as a shadow. Fear cuts deeper than swords. Quick as a snake. Calm as still water. Fear cuts deeper than swords. Strong as a bear. Fierce as a wolverine. Fear cuts deeper than swords. The man who fears losing has already lost. Fear cuts deeper than swords.
Fear cuts deeper than swords. Fear cuts deeper than swords.” - Arya Stark, Game of Thrones

Failing beats the hell out of never even trying. As Babe Ruth once said, “Never let the fear of striking out keep you from playing the game.”

6. "Life kicks you around, sometimes. It scares you and it beats you up, but there's a day when you realize that you're not just a survivor -- you're a warrior. You're tougher than anything it throws your way.” - Brooke Davis, One Tree Hill

Never give up. Always remember that it’s just a bad day, not a bad life! When things don’t go your way, pick yourself up and try again. Sometimes the only way to learn is through trial and error, and that’s okay. Eventually, you’ll walk over the things that you used to trip over, and you’ll be stronger for it.

7. “Letting go is the easy part. It’s the moving on that’s painful. So sometimes we fight it, trying to keep things the same. Things can’t stay the same though. At some point you just have to let go, move on. Because no matter how painful it is, it’s the only way we grow.” - Meredith Grey, Grey’s Anatomy

It can be tough to move on from the things that aren’t meant for us, but we have to. If we’re too busy worrying about what’s behind us, we may miss out on good people and opportunities right in front of us. Sure, things don’t always go the way we want them to, but we have to trust that everything happens for a reason and keep moving forward. It’s all we can do.