I love quotes. A lot can be conveyed in a simple quote. At the same time, they can be uplifting and inspiring hope. Inspirational mental health quotes are a perfect follow up on my previous article about the Importance of Mental Health. Luckily, awareness is increasing, but it isn’t enough yet. Mental health awareness is still lacking in many friends and acquaintances of people who suffer from mental health issues, and consequently they find themselves alone.
Being alone while surrounded by many is a horrible feeling. When your burnout or other mental health issue is misunderstood and waved off with a “you’ll get over it”, feelings of frustration can abound.
It is not advisable to judge without knowing all the facts, and in cases of mental health issues, those judgments and well-meant tough love advice should especially be avoided. They end up doing more harm than good.
Just be present, if they need you. Sometimes, a listening ear is all that is needed to help. When someone is going through burnout or any other mental health issue, even if it is hard to relate to what they’re going through, accept that not everything may be understood, but let them know that you are there for them.
Inspirational Quotes
“You don’t have to suffer in silence.” – Demi Lovato
“You are more precious to this world than you’ll ever know.” – Lili Rhinehart
“Just because no one else can heal or do your inner work for you doesn’t mean you can, should, or need to do it alone.” – Lisa Olivera
“Start where you are. Use what you have. Do what you can.” – Arthur Ashe
“Your illness does not define you. Your strength and courage does.” – Unknown
“What mental health needs is more sunlight, more candor, more unashamed conversation.” – Glenn Close
“Not until we are lost do we begin to understand ourselves.” Henry David Thoreau
“I think you have to try and fail, because failure gets you closer to what you’re good at.” – Louis C.K.
“And if today, all you did was hold yourself together, I’m proud of you.” – Unknown
“Take your time healing, as long as you want. Nobody else knows what you’ve been through. How could they know how long it will take you to heal you.” – Anonymous
“When we deny our stories, they define us. When we own our stories, we get to write a brave ending.” – Brené Brown
And here is one from the Harry Potter book series, which I found to be rich in uplifting quotes:
“Happiness can be found even in the darkest of times, if one only remembers to turn on the light.” – Albus Dumbledore
“Most of us have more courage than we ever dreamed we possessed.” – Dale Carnegie
“Learn to … be what you are, and learn to resign with a good grace all that you are not.” – Henri Frédérick Amiel
“Do not feel lonely. The entire universe is within you.” – Rumi
The following quote is one of my favorites:
“The most beautiful people we have known are those who have known defeat, known suffering, known struggle, known loss, and have found their way out of the depths. These persons have an appreciation, a sensitivity, and an understanding of life that fills them with compassion, gentleness, and a deep loving concern. Beautiful people do not just happen.” – Elisabeth Kübler-Ross
Final Thoughts
Sometimes, all it takes is one quote, just one quote instead of a long essay or article. One or two lines of shared wisdom to show us understanding, give us a little push, or fill us with newfound hope; and more importantly, make us realize that we are not alone in this.
Which of these quotes do you find inspiring? Which is or are your favorite(s)?
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Christine,
These quotes are great. I think it is important that we don’t judge others going through a hard time. So many people are so quick to judge anymore, it’s sad really. Almost as if we’re supposed to paint a perfect picture of our lives for all to see. The downfall of society is just this – painting perfect pictures as though that really exists.
We all have dark things in our past. We all go through struggles. We all know heart ache, whether from a loved one, or simply a friend. But
But we’re lead to believe that peoples lives are always good, but that’s not the case. And woe to whomever posts reality, especially on social media. Always with the hateful comments by so many others, when it reality, they most likely have the same events going on, possibly worse.
Have you thought about turning something like these quotes into a book? Even an ebook? I bet a lot of people would be very interested in something like that. I know I would gift it to a few people that always seem to need uplifting more than others.
Thanks for sharing these! I just love them!
Katrina
Hi Katrina,
I couldn’t agree more. Everyone is always posting on social media how wonderful life is even when it isn’t, always keeping up appearances, but when you post something about real life, an obstacle or anything else, it is often either ignored, or gets the usual comments “we’ve all got our own problems, get over it”, but then there are a few individuals who reach out to you. They are the ones that matter.
I’m not sure I could make an ebook with these quotes, since they are not mine … It would be great, though to have a book like that and to always check back when you need an uplifting quote.
Thank you for your comment!
“Not until we are lost do we begin to understand ourselves.”
This goes hand in hand with failure in general… or at least the “idea” of failure. Something I sometimes struggle with is thinking I’m not doing enough or thinking that I’m making the wrong decision by procrastinating which, in some sense, I absolutely am not doing enough…
But at the same token… There is a LOT to learn through failure as it shows what NOT to do and by being lost… at least this is how I feel… that’s how one can truly find themselves. I just hope that the thought of “I’ll eventually understand myself” gets streamlined in some way while I’m on my path! 😂
Your site is honestly really cool, I am constantly going through burn out and I look forward to following along! 🙂
HI Colton,
There is a lot to learn through failure, I agree.
If you’re going through burnout, please feel free to check out my articles, especially my Road of Recovery blog posts. I hope they will provide some help 🙂 I went through burnout years ago, and after I healed I decided to set up this website to help others who are going through burnout.
Thank you for your comment!
Hi Christine,
I am a fan of quotes, and I even have a notebook in which I always write quotes, phrases that inspire me, or that motivate me to see certain things from another point of view. Even from the ones listed by you, there are some that I will write down in the notebook, so thank you for making them available to us through your article.
Among the quotes that caught my attention are those of Demi Lovato, Arthur Ashe, Glenn Close, Albus Dumbledore, Elisabeth Kübler Ross.
Keep up the great work!👍
Hi Diana,
It’s a good idea to write quotes in a notebook, so that you can always refer to them when needed. I often write quotes on post its and tape them to the kitchen cupboard or fridge 🙂
Thank you for your comment!
Hi Christine,
Mental health carries such a huge stigma even today. Thankfully more people in the public eye, certainly here in Australia are coming out and telling their story which is helping many people.
These quotes are great. Many people read quotes and do nothing. The idea of a quote for me is to take the lesson from it and implement it. Not many people do that which is a shame. keep spreading the word. You are impacting the world more than you know,
Cheers,
Kev
Thank you, Kev! 🙂
Christine, thank you for these quotes! I agree that mental health awareness is lacking, especially in light of the lockdowns we’ve experienced in the past year. I know personally that my mental health has waned, and I’m sure a lot of other people feel the same. Inspirational quotes are such a great way for a mental pick-me-up. You’ve chosen some great ones for this article. “Start where you are. Use what you have. Do what you can.” That is my favorite quote in the list! Such a great reminder that we don’t have to be perfect. Thanks for sharing!
Best,
Femi
Thank you, Femi. I think we can all use these little boosts nowadays 🙂
Thank you for your comment!