Quote Of The Day By Meryl Streep: 'Put Blinders On Those Things That Conspire To Hold You Back...'

Actor Meryl Streep has been nominated for an Academy Award on 21 different occasions, making her the most nominated actor in the program's history. Those bragging rights are a testament to her long career and her incredible acting prowess. Whether she's starring in an outdoor adventure film like 1994's "The River Wild" or going toe-to-toe with Nic Cage in 2002's "Adaptation" or balancing levity with tenderness in 2009's "It's Complicated," Streep is an actor with undeniable depth and range.

Ultimately, she has enjoyed the kind of career longevity that few women in Hollywood can even dream of. "Streep is like a cable antihero who always has a new rival every season, but she always ends up on top. Clayburgh, Spacek, Keaton, Huston, Close, Lange and Sarandon have all been her primary rivals for roles," wrote one Reddit user. "All those actresses have come and gone (in respect to major roles in major films) and she's slayed them all." Side-by-side pics of Meryl Streep from her Hollywood beginnings to now are a reminder of just how long she's been in the business. And even though Hollywood has a reputation for being hard on aging women, she's managed to stay true to herself. In fact, Streep has an iconic response to those who wonder why she hasn't gotten plastic surgery. Her ability to tune out the critics and trust herself is part of why we turn to her for today's quote of the day.

"Put blinders on to those things that conspire to hold you back, especially the ones in your own head. Guard your good mood. Listen to music every day, joke and love and read more for fun, especially poetry."

This quote comes from a 2003 commencement address that Meryl Streep delivered at the University of New Hampshire, in which she offered life and career advice to the graduating class. Streep is highly qualified to advise on how to tune out the critics. Early in her career, a producer called her 'too ugly' for the movie she was auditioning for. It was the sort of criticism primed to inflame Streep's existing fears that she wasn't suited to acting, and she even admitted that she almost gave up acting to become a lawyer. Despite the doubts, Streep pressed on to establish one of the most highly acclaimed acting careers of all time.

This beautiful quote from Meryl Streep is all about protecting your peace. It's difficult to dream big —and even harder to accomplish those dreams — when all you can think about are the critics and the doubters. Streep's advice is to learn to ignore those who don't support you, and to learn to quiet your own self-doubt.

This quote underscores the importance of cultivating a sense of optimism and faith in yourself instead. Streep advises filling yourself up with the uplifting things that can increase your sense of possibility, including music and poetry that you like. Especially for those who are engaged in vulnerable, creative work, like acting, it's important to nourish your imagination; many artists find that by engaging with work that stimulates their minds, they're able to be more inventive and playful in their own work. In fact, Streep's advice about the value of picking up more poetry might just be the tip that helps you accomplish your reading goals this year.

• "I think that you find your own way ... In the end, it's what feels right to you. Not what your mother told you. Not what some actress told you. Not what anybody else told you but the still, small voice."
• "My daughters had helped me to stop worrying about my appearance over the years. I wasted so many years thinking I wasn't pretty enough and why didn't I have Jessica Lange's body or someone else's legs? What a waste of time."
• "The minute you start caring about what other people think, is the minute you stop being yourself."
• "There are some days when I, myself, think I'm overrated ... but not today."
• "I try to lead as ordinary a life as I can. You can't get spoiled if you do your own ironing."