Being subject to chronic pain or illness is never a path we choose, yet it’s one that many of us endure. When those difficult challenges present themselves, it’s how we handle the adversity that matters most. And while it may feel like there’s no escape, in the darkest moments it’s important to hold on to hope for better times ahead.
The key is not to let pain be a defining factor of who we are; things like courage, resilience, and perseverance are truer barometers of character. We are all much more than our ailments, no matter how heavy they weigh, as these 12 encouraging quotes attest.
Acceptance doesn’t mean resignation; it means understanding that something is what it is and that there’s got to be a way through it.Michael J. Fox
Tough times never last, but tough people do.Robert H. Schuller, motivational speaker
Strength does not come from winning. Your struggles develop your strengths. When you go through hardships and decide not to surrender, that is strength.Arnold Schwarzenegger
Pain is inevitable, suffering is optional.Buddhist proverb
You either take what has been dealt to you and allow it to make you a better person, or you allow it to tear you down. The choice does not belong to fate, it belongs to you.Josh Shipp, motivational speaker
We do not heal the past by dwelling there; we heal the past by living fully in the present.Marianne Williamson, author
A dove struggling in a storm grows stronger than an eagle soaring in sunshine.Matshona Dhliwayo, author
Courage doesn’t always roar. Sometimes courage is the little voice at the end of the day that says, I’ll try again tomorrow.Mary Anne Radmacher, author
You can’t calm the storm, so stop trying. What you can do is calm yourself. The storm will pass.Timber Hawkeye, author
Your present circumstances don’t determine where you can go, they merely determine where you can start.Nido Qubein, motivational speaker
If opening your eyes, or getting out of bed, or holding a spoon, or combing your hair is the daunting Mount Everest you climb today, that is OK.Carmen Ambrosio, author
Maybe life isn’t about avoiding the bruises. Maybe it’s about collecting the scars to prove that we showed up for it.Hannah Brencher, author
Photo credit: Anton Starikov/ Shutterstock
About the Author
Bennett Kleinman
Bennett is a staff writer at Optimism as well as a freelance comedy writer. He's based in New York City.
