Short Inspirational Stories

 Inspiring True Stories from Everyday People

I hope you enjoy these short inspirational stories. These are actual experiences by real-life people who can serve as a wonderful source of inspiration. When you read these, remember these stories serve as proof that everyone deals with adversities and challenges life. Better yet, these inspiring stories remind you that no matter what happens in life, you can overcome.

Short Inspirational Stories

Short Inspirational Stories

Self Confidence to Boost Your Self Confidence

Short Inspirational Stories - Anonymous Submission

I had a profound experience when working on a Bachelor's degree from my University. I was a average student, but I was good in extra-curriculum activities. I was so good at dancing that I became the lead dancer in my college.

One day, a dance competition was held. I was the leading dancer from my faculty. Although there were many good dancers, I was not afraid. However, I spotted a dancer representing another commerce faculty. This person was extremely good. I mean - he was amazing. After observing him, I lost my confidence, because this guy seemed better than me.

After his performance, my name was announced. Suddenly, I did not feel prepared. I moved to stage to perform my dance. However, my mentor saw my nervousness. He took hold of both my hands and said, "You can do this. Just believe in yourself, because the only person standing in your way is YOU."

I moved forward with newfound determination -giving a great performance. Best of all, I won that competition.

I learned a very valuable lesson that day. I learned that no one can beat us unless we let them. We have believe in ourselves and get our best anyways. When we do that - most things turn out alright in the end.

Short Inspirational Stories

Short Inspirational Stories

Be Alert. You Never Know Where the Best Inspiration Will Appear When You Need it Most

Short Inspirational Stories - Anonymously Submitted

Once I was feeling so down in my life that I felt like there was no hope. Until...... one day during my office break I was sitting alone in the garden area near my office building. I was knee deep in my misery - thinking about all the wrong things going wrong in my life. I sat there for quite some time until, I saw a dog with one of his one leg missing. I noticed that dog get tired after covering few step; but, he kept at it. That dog was doing his best to reach his destination in spite of his challenge.

Even more amazing was the look on that dog's face and his animated stride. He didn't feel sorry for himself! He was living his life.

Suddenly, a smile came on my face, as a thought occurred to me. "Life is not about whining or pitying over what is missing in your life. It's about carrying on with what is available to you. If you get tired along the journey, simply take rest, but don`t give up. I'm grateful for just an amazing source of inspiration.

Short Inspirational Stories

How Naga Naresh Karutura got from Godavari to Google

Short Inspirational Stories - Submitted By Smithy from India

This is an inspirational story, where a student faced unimaginable hardships and faced them all in spite of his physical handicap to end up as an engineer in Google. Read on.. Its bound to inspire you for sure.

Naga Naresh Karutura is special. His parents are illiterate. He has no legs and moves around in his powered wheel chair. But this doesn't stop him; instead he enjoys and appreciates his life to the fullest.

Naresh was not always handicap. No, that happened when he was seven years old. He fell from a lorry and survived the surgery only to have gangrene set in and had to have his legs amputated.

Naresh reflects, "I don’t think my life changed dramatically after I lost both my legs. Because all at home were doting on me, I was enjoying all the attention rather than pitying myself. I was happy that I got a lot of fruits and biscuits."

In spite of losing his legs, Naresh maintained his positive attitude, saying, "I believe in God. I believe in destiny. I feel he plans everything for you."

Even when his home was flooded and he moved from the only village he'd known his entire life. It opened the door for continued education. He even volunteered at the nearby Missionary to help others learn. Until finally, his studies landed him at IIT in Madras where he studied Computer Science.

Naresh remembers, "I evolved as a person at IIT, both academically and personally. It has been a great experience studying here. The people I was interacting with were so brilliant that I felt privileged to sit along with them in the class. Just by speaking to my lab mates, I gained a lot.

More importantly, Naresh feels blessed. He says, "I get help from total strangers without me asking for it. My IIT education was paid in full. My school became handicap friendly allowing me independence and freedom."

He goes on, "Do you know what my life has taught me? If you are motivated and show some initiative, there will be people around you always willing to help."

While there are bad people in this world, Naresh knows the good outweighs the bad. Just as importantly, he wants to you find inspiration from his life, because no matter what obstacles or adversities you face - you can still make things better. You can achieve anything you set your mind to.

Short Inspirational Stories

Short Inspirational Stories

Adversity in Loss

Short Inspirational Stories - Submitted By L.P. from Bucks County

My dad died from a massive heart attack two years ago. It was completely unexpected. He was healthy. He loved to take walks with my sister. He wasn’t taking any statins and his only chronic medical condition was mildly high blood pressure that was getting controlled with eating better and exercise.

We all still are unsure what his other risk factors caused his heart attack. At that time, I was studying for my final exams and I remember getting a call that my parents were both in the hospital. I thought my sister was sick. My neighbors then called again and asked me to come to the hospital too.

I was at school at the time and I failed an exam that was in progress. However, my teachers let me retake it.

This is not a story about my exam at that time. I removed myself from class for a couple of months and took time to be with my mom and sister. It was during those times that I realized family was so important. I had been studying hard to get into graduate school and really forgot to say "I love you" to my family.

I learned that I needed to balance studying hard while spending time with friends and family. You see, these are the people who are always there for me.

Taking a break from school for a couple of months helped me gain perspective. I learned was it important. I really wish my dad had not died for me to realize this.

However, I now note the interesting way things worked themselves out. My Dad always said that family was important. He'd often asked that I visit home on the weekends. Also, he was the one who helped me through college problems when I needed help. Because of his death, I've learned how valuable his advice. As it stands, I like to think that my Dad is still around - smiling down on us as he witnesses the close family we've become.

Short Inspirational Stories

Short Inspirational Stories

Why Him?

Short Inspirational Stories - Submitted by Sheena Pecson from the Philippines

March 2009, during the Kaamulan festival in our place, I met this guy. My friends asks his number just for fun. They used my mobile phone so he had my number. We became text mates and eventually became friends. By May, I had felt something for him. He became special to me. In my 19 years, I have never been in love. I've had boyfriends; but simply for the sake of having someone I could call my boyfriend.

When I met him in person. I knew I was in love. However, both of us were scared of what we felt. However something happened that changed everything for the worse. We found out we are cousins.!

I felt wrecked up and hopeless about the whole situation. Every night I was thinking about it. But each day, I gained strength, realizing that it was God's plan. My destiny is in God's hands and I was learning to move on.

Till this day, I still love this special guy. I think I will always be in love with him. But I learned an important lesson.

Not everything that happens in your lives will have a happen ending. I believe this is for a reason. It part of what life means. While there is joy and happiness there is also the hurt, pain, and obstacles along the way.

I've come to realize that love without pain or hurt is a low level love. Love is not always easy and includes go and bad at the same time.

Short Inspirational Stories

Short Inspirational Stories

When Adversity Brought Out the Best

Short Inspirational Stories - Anonymous Submission

I know a person who is employed in a center for physio-therapy. She was married at a very early age and had 4 children - 3 daughters and a son.

Quite early in her life, her husband met with a severe accident. He lost his eyes and was quite incapable of any work. This resulted in the entire family's responsibility falling on this lady, who was at that time a homemaker.

The challenge was that four children had to be brought up, the lady was not educated and the only source of income in the family had been decapitated.

The saving grace was that the lady came from a village which is known for its therapeutic massages. She was recruited by one physiotherapy center and worked there regularly for a small salary. Additionally, she would have to come home and take care of all household chores, as her children were still very young.

Gradually, word spread about her magic touch and she began to be employed on a session basis by pregnant women, new mothers, old people, persons recovering from paralysis, etc...

After 20 long years of toiling, day in and day out, she is today proud to have gotten 2 daughters married and well settled. Her son is educated and has a decent job. She still works and is looking forward to settling her youngest daughter comfortably.

It is amazing what adversity can bring out from people. This lady has taught me that the resilience human beings possess can overcome all challenges that life might throw their way. Nobody can claim that their life has been without any challenge. But to be a young woman with four children, a husband, a household and herself to take care of, equipped with no advantage like a sound educations or special skills, is a scary proposition. She overcame it all. Today she can proudly say that whatever she is, it is all due to hard work, saving each penny and clinging on to hope.

Short Inspirational Stories

Short Inspirational Stories

Challenges In My Life

Short Inspirational Stories - Submitted by Sreeja Nair from India

When studying in a higher level secondary school, I was an average student. At the time, I opted for a science major, because I was attracted to biology. After final exams I learned I failed science. I was shocked by it.

All my family members blamed me for not studying properly. I felt alone. My friends who always used to be with me left me alone during this phase. My parents had got depressed and used to curse me. Everyone was blaming me. I felt all alone in this world. Dreadful dreams always came to haunt me. I was frustrated. I used to blame God - asking, “Why me. What I did wrong?” He never provides the answers though.

I became so depressed I thought about suicide. I prepared to die. However, when I started to go through with it, I thought, "am I a coward? From whom I am running? What would I solve by killing myself?"

Then and there, I decided to fight and make my life better. That's when God started to provide answers. After that decision, I continued with school while working part time jobs.

Today, I have completed my Diploma in Software Programming; I have gained experience working in different fields; and I am successful in my profession.

I thank to God for giving me this phase in my life. If I had not experienced such challenges at the time, I do not believe I'd be successful in my professional life. I learned to take challenges and fight them head on instead of feeling sorry for myself and thinking, ” Why me?”"

Short Inspirational Stories

Well, it has been a pleasure to bring you these short inspirational stories from real people and real experiences. I hope these inspiring stories help your realize that adversity, challenges, problems, and obstacles shouldn't always be viewed from a negative perspective. There are golden life lessons and experiences to be learned to not only help strengthen you, but provide valuable insight and wisdom that can serve you well into your future.

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