Nationwide — As we head into winter, days get short, grey, and gloomy. When our environment starts to get dismal, it can be hard to stay motivated and optimistic about the future. To help bring you out of the proverbial winter slump, we’ve compiled some words of advice from our favorite famous black women. Check out these inspiring quotes from famous black women who’ve made it through their struggles and came out the other side stronger and more empowered.* “If I didn’t define myself for myself, I would be crunched into other people’s fantasies for me and eaten alive.” — Audre Lorde
* “If you don’t like something, change it. If you can’t change it, change your attitude.” — Maya Angelou
* “Living in the moment means letting go of the past and not waiting for the future. It means living your life consciously, aware that each moment you breathe is a gift.” — Oprah Winfrey
* “Deal with yourself as an individual worthy of respect, and make everyone else deal with you the same way.” — Nikki Giovanni
* “Take responsibility for yourself because no one’s going to take responsibility for you. I’m not a victim. I grow from this and I learn.” — Tyra Banks
* “It is so liberating to really know what I want, what truly makes me happy, what I will not tolerate. I have learned that it is no one else’s job to take care of me but me.” — Beyoncé
* “Embrace what makes you unique, even if it makes others uncomfortable. I didn’t have to become perfect because I’ve learned throughout my journey that perfection is the enemy of greatness.” — Janelle Monae
* “You may not always have a comfortable life and you will not always be able to solve all of the world’s problems at once but don’t ever underestimate the importance you can have because history has shown us that courage can be contagious and hope can take on a life of its own.” — Michelle Obama
* “I don’t harp on the negative because if you do, then there’s no progression. There’s no forward movement. You got to always look on the bright side of things, and we are in control. Like, you have control over the choices you make.” — Taraji P. Henson
* “Sometimes you’ve got to let everything go – purge yourself. If you are unhappy with anything … whatever is bringing you down, get rid of it. Because you’ll find that when you’re free, your true creativity, your true self comes out.” — Tina Turner
* “I gave myself permission to feel and experience all of my emotions. In order to do that, I had to stop being afraid to feel. In order to do that, I taught myself to believe that no matter what I felt or what happened when I felt it, I would be okay.” — Iyanla Vanzant
If anyone knows how to handle life’s rough patches, it’s black women. We encourage you to share these inspirational quotes from famous black women with friends and family. In times of distress, these women were able to persevere thanks to their positivity and strength – and, thanks to their words, maybe you will too.