Best Motivational Stories of Real People that Will Leave You Inspired

Even the most laidback ones among us can motivate themselves by understanding the heartache, passion, commitment and perseverance that scripted the real-life success stories of people such as Thomas Edison and well, for aspiring writers like me, Stephen King!

Here is a short collection of motivational stories from real life that touched me to keep going when faced with never-ending obstacles. After all, what’s better than knowing that you are not alone?

You may have heard some of these stories before or they may be new to you, but go ahead, read them and get inspired. Share these with someone you think is in urgent need of a push forward. You never know, you may just motivate someone to change their lives and reach for their true destiny.

Motivational Story 1 — Michael Jordan

“I can accept failure, everyone fails at something. But I can’t accept not trying.” ~ Michael Jordan.

How can I talk about motivation and not mention Michael Jordan? Jordan suffered his first set-back in his sophomore year when he was left out of the varsity basketball team. Reason? He was only 5’9” at that time. His taller classmate Leroy Smith had won the last spot on the team.

He made up his mind that he would never have to face a similar situation ever again and started practicing every day after that, making it a point to take out time for his practice daily without fail. He soon shot up to 6’3”, made the team the next year and never had to look back after that.

From being a part of two gold-medal winning teams at the Olympics to winning NBA’s Most Valuable Player Award five times in his career, Jordan dominated the sports field for more than a decade in the ‘90s.

Motivational Story 2 — Lance Armstrong

Diagnosed with advanced testicular cancer at the age of 25, doctors gave Lance Armstrong less than a 40 percent chance of recovery. Tumors were discovered in his lungs and stomach along with multiple lesions on the brain.

His biking career was over or so everyone thought; but no one counted on the indomitable belief Armstrong had in himself and the lessons which his mother, Linda Walling had taught him.

One of the first things that he did was to acknowledge the disease that had captured him in its talons and learn everything he could about it. He devoured books, resources and found help in support groups with people going through similar difficulties.

Lance sought strength in three things his mother had instilled in him

“Make every obstacle an opportunity”, “Always work hard and good things will happen” and “Don’t believe it when other people say you can’t”.

His first comeback after beating cancer was not a success and he finished fourteenth in the race. He even thought about retirement but constant support from his fiancée, mother and buddy Chris Carmichael soon had him training for his next race in the Appalachians.

He returned from his training a transformed man and never let the constant difficulties plough him down again.

True, the doping scandals have destroyed Lance’s reputation as a professional biker. But one cannot but admire his sheer will power and dedication through which he turned the odds in his favor at a time when everyone thought his life was over.

Motivational Story 3 — J.K. Rowling

From living as a single mother on state benefits to a multi-millionaire today, J.K. Rowling has come a long way from her early days of struggle and is a true epitome of the ‘rags to riches’ story.

Many a times, Rowling has attributed her considerable achievements to her ability to focus all her attention on the things that mattered to her the most.

The success of Harry Potter series is a tribute to her story-telling abilities and a reminder that everyone has a hidden talent within him or her. You just have to reach out for it and allow it to bloom.

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Motivational Stories from Every Day

These are but a few motivational stories about people who have had to face difficulties in one form or the other, and turned it around through sheer perseverance and enthusiasm.

But if you come to think about it, even your milkman or the security guard in your office building might have an inspiring story to tell you out of their own lives.

I know a lady who is well into her seventies now. A housewife who had never worked before, she lost her husband at the age of 40 to illness and was left with a 10-year old son and huge medical bills.

She took on her husband’s job without thinking twice, applied herself to learning new skills and brought up her son single-handedly. She is still active today, leads the neighborhood book club and has signed up for a computer class to keep up with the changing times.

If that is not motivational enough then I don’t know what is!

Do you have any motivational stories to share with us? Let us know in the comments below!

Image by aloshbennett.