Have you ever felt uplifted by a positive remark made by a friend or co-worker? Did you feel that their comment improved your mood and encouraged you to adopt a more positive attitude? Conversely, has a negative comment ever made you feel de-motivated or depressed? Sadly, the latter seems to be more common than the former in our competitive society. What can you do to help yourself and others to develop a more positive mental attitude?

Begin by collecting inspirational quotations. Read at least a few of these words of wisdom in the morning before your working day begins. See how you feel instantly uplifted and more able to embark upon your day with confidence.

Write your favorite words of wisdom on index cards and carry them with you wherever you go. Read them several times during the day for an instant burst of positive energy.

Once you have begun to build yourself up in this way, you can begin to inspire other people too. Share your quotes of wisdom with members of your family, friends, co-workers, business associates, acquaintances and other people who you come into contact with.

Do not forget to share words of wisdom with your online friends. You could help a large number of people to feel better if you share inspirational quotations with your Facebook friends, your Twitter followers and your blog readers and followers.

If you know that a particular person is facing a specific challenge, try to find a particularly appropriate quotation that may help him or her. For example, if a friend is going through a difficult period of change, a quotation such as the following from André Gide may help: “Man cannot discover new oceans unless he has the courage to lose sight of the shore.”

A funny quote of wisdom may help someone to look on the bright side of life. An example would be the following quote from David Brinkley: “Lay a firm foundation with the bricks that others throw at you.” However, be cautious about sharing funny words of wisdom with a person who is feeling particularly depressed as they may be unable to see the humor and may even feel that you are laughing at him or her.

Once you begin to share words of wisdom with other people on a regular basis, you will see how just how much your words can help others to develop a more positive attitude to life. You will begin to feel that you are part of a network of people who can encourage and motivate one another rather than compete and criticize.

Your sharing of motivational words will create a ripple effect. Some of the people with whom you share words of wisdom will want to pass these quotations onto their friends, family and acquaintances, so your act of sharing these words will have a much wider impact than you will ever be aware of.

Begin today and search for some words of wisdom that inspire you. Share those words with at least one other person. Be encouraged by this quotation from Gautama Siddharta, the founder of Buddhism: “Thousands of candles can be lit from a single candle, and the life of the candle will not be shortened. Happiness never decreases by being shared.”