Life’s challenges can sometimes feel overwhelming, leaving us wondering if the storm will ever pass. In those dark moments, a few words of wisdom can be exactly what we need to hold onto hope!
Did you know that research shows positive affirmations can actually rewire your brain’s response to stress? According to a study published in the journal Social Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience, self-affirmation activates brain circuits associated with self-processing and reward, helping us maintain a positive self-view during challenging times.
That’s why I’ve gathered these powerful “things will get better” quotes – to give you that boost of encouragement when you need it most. Whether you’re facing personal struggles, professional setbacks, or just feeling down, these quotes will remind you that better days are indeed coming. They’ve helped countless people throughout history maintain perspective during difficult times, and they can help you too.
Historical Wisdom: Timeless “Things Will Get Better Quotes”
Throughout history, great thinkers and leaders have faced tremendous adversity yet maintained hope. Their words continue to inspire us centuries later, proving that certain truths about human resilience are timeless. These historical figures didn’t just survive their hardships—they often transformed them into stepping stones for greater achievements.
- “This too shall pass.” — Persian Sufi poets (Medieval period)
- “In the midst of winter, I found there was, within me, an invincible summer.” — Albert Camus, philosopher and author
- “We must accept finite disappointment, but never lose infinite hope.” — Martin Luther King Jr.
- “It is during our darkest moments that we must focus to see the light.” — Aristotle
- “What seems to us as bitter trials are often blessings in disguise.” — Oscar Wilde
- “The darkest hour is just before the dawn.” — Thomas Fuller, English theologian (1650)
- “If winter comes, can spring be far behind?” — Percy Bysshe Shelley, from “Ode to the West Wind”
- “Our greatest glory is not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall.” — Confucius
- “I have not failed. I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work.” — Thomas Edison
- “Fall seven times, stand up eight.” — Japanese Proverb
- “Out of difficulties grow miracles.” — Jean de La Bruyère
- “Patience is bitter, but its fruit is sweet.” — Aristotle
These ancient perspectives remind us that humans have always faced hardship and found ways to overcome it. The wisdom contained in these quotes has stood the test of time precisely because they speak to the universal human experience of suffering and recovery. When we read these words, we connect with a lineage of resilience that stretches back through generations.
Celebrity and Influential Figures’ Quotes on Overcoming Hardship
Modern celebrities and influential figures often share their journeys through difficulty, showing us that fame and success don’t shield anyone from life’s challenges. Their candid reflections on overcoming adversity can be particularly inspiring because we’ve witnessed aspects of their struggles through public media.
- “Rock bottom became the solid foundation on which I rebuilt my life.” — J.K. Rowling, who wrote the first Harry Potter book while a single mother on welfare
- “It’s your reaction to adversity, not adversity itself that determines how your life’s story will develop.” — Dieter F. Uchtdorf
- “You may encounter many defeats, but you must not be defeated. In fact, it may be necessary to encounter the defeats, so you can know who you are, what you can rise from, how you can still come out of it.” — Maya Angelou
- “The wound is the place where the light enters you.” — Rumi
- “I can be changed by what happens to me, but I refuse to be reduced by it.” — Maya Angelou
- “What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger.” — Friedrich Nietzsche (popularized by Kelly Clarkson)
- “Character cannot be developed in ease and quiet. Only through experience of trial and suffering can the soul be strengthened, vision cleared, ambition inspired, and success achieved.” — Helen Keller, who overcame being deaf and blind to become an author and activist
- “When we hit our lowest point, we are open to the greatest change.” — Avatar Aang (from “The Legend of Korra”)
- “There is no education like adversity.” — Benjamin Disraeli
- “Tough times never last, but tough people do.” — Robert H. Schuller
- “Sometimes you don’t realize your own strength until you come face to face with your greatest weakness.” — Susan Gale
- “The difference between stumbling blocks and stepping stones is how you use them.” — Unknown
Many of these influential figures faced tremendous obstacles—poverty, discrimination, physical limitations—yet they pushed through to achieve remarkable things. Their journeys remind us that our current difficulties don’t define our ultimate potential.
Literary and Poetic “Things Will Get Better” Quotes
Writers and poets have a special gift for articulating the journey through darkness to light. Through carefully crafted language, they help us see our struggles from new perspectives and find beauty even in difficult times.
- “Hope is the thing with feathers that perches in the soul and sings the tune without the words and never stops at all.” — Emily Dickinson
- “But I know, somehow, that only when it is dark enough can you see the stars.” — Martin Luther King Jr.
- “For there is always light, if only we’re brave enough to see it. If only we’re brave enough to be it.” — Amanda Gorman, “The Hill We Climb”
- “Difficult roads often lead to beautiful destinations.” — Zig Ziglar
- “Ring the bells that still can ring. Forget your perfect offering. There is a crack, a crack in everything. That’s how the light gets in.” — Leonard Cohen, “Anthem”
- “In the depth of winter, I finally learned that within me there lay an invincible summer.” — Albert Camus
- “Listen to the mustn’ts, child. Listen to the don’ts. Listen to the shouldn’ts, the impossibles, the won’ts. Listen to the never haves, then listen close to me… Anything can happen, child. Anything can be.” — Shel Silverstein
- “Stars can’t shine without darkness.” — D.H. Sidebottom
- “And once the storm is over, you won’t remember how you made it through, how you managed to survive. You won’t even be sure whether the storm is really over. But one thing is certain. When you come out of the storm, you won’t be the same person who walked in. That’s what this storm’s all about.” — Haruki Murakami
- “We must be willing to let go of the life we planned so as to have the life that is waiting for us.” — Joseph Campbell
- “Though nothing can bring back the hour of splendor in the grass, of glory in the flower; We will grieve not, rather find strength in what remains behind.” — William Wordsworth
- “What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us.” — Ralph Waldo Emerson
These literary quotes demonstrate how metaphor and imagery can help us reframe our perception of difficulty. They remind us that darkness makes the stars visible, cracks let in light, and storms transform us in necessary ways.
Motivational Quotes for Specific Life Challenges
Different hardships require different kinds of encouragement. These quotes address specific challenges many of us face, from grief and loss to professional setbacks and mental health struggles.
For Grief and Loss
- “Grief never ends… but it changes. It’s a passage, not a place to stay. Grief is not a sign of weakness, nor a lack of faith. It is the price of love.” — Queen Elizabeth II
- “Only people who are capable of loving strongly can also suffer great sorrow, but this same necessity of loving serves to counteract their grief and heals them.” — Leo Tolstoy
- “The reality is that you will grieve forever. You will not ‘get over’ the loss of a loved one; you will learn to live with it. You will heal and you will rebuild yourself around the loss you have suffered. You will be whole again but you will never be the same. Nor should you be the same nor would you want to.” — Elisabeth Kübler-Ross
- “What we once enjoyed and deeply loved we can never lose, for all that we love deeply becomes part of us.” — Helen Keller
- “Grief is like the ocean; it comes in waves, ebbing and flowing. Sometimes the water is calm, and sometimes it is overwhelming. All we can do is learn to swim.” — Vicki Harrison
- “The pain passes, but the beauty remains.” — Pierre Auguste Renoir
- “Although it’s difficult today to see beyond the sorrow, may looking back in memory help comfort you tomorrow.” — Unknown
- “There are some who bring a light so great to the world that even after they have gone, the light remains.” — Unknown
- “Tears shed for another person are not a sign of weakness. They are a sign of a pure heart.” — José N. Harris
- “Perhaps they are not stars in the sky, but rather openings where our loved ones shine down to let us know they are happy.” — Eskimo legend
For Professional Setbacks
- “Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts.” — Winston Churchill
- “It’s not whether you get knocked down, it’s whether you get up.” — Vince Lombardi
- “Failure is simply the opportunity to begin again, this time more intelligently.” — Henry Ford
- “Success seems to be connected with action. Successful people keep moving. They make mistakes, but they don’t quit.” — Conrad Hilton
- “Every adversity, every failure, every heartache carries with it the seed of an equal or greater benefit.” — Napoleon Hill
- “The only way to do great work is to love what you do. If you haven’t found it yet, keep looking. Don’t settle.” — Steve Jobs
- “You don’t have to see the whole staircase, just take the first step.” — Martin Luther King Jr.
- “The greatest glory in living lies not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall.” — Nelson Mandela
- “Your present circumstances don’t determine where you can go; they merely determine where you start.” — Nido Qubein
- “Do not judge me by my successes, judge me by how many times I fell down and got back up again.” — Nelson Mandela
For Mental Health Struggles
- “There is hope, even when your brain tells you there isn’t.” — John Green
- “You are not your illness. You have an individual story to tell. You have a name, a history, a personality. Staying yourself is part of the battle.” — Julian Seifter
- “Sometimes the people around you won’t understand your journey. They don’t need to, it’s not for them.” — Joubert Botha
- “Mental health problems don’t define who you are. They are something you experience. You walk in the rain and you feel the rain, but you are not the rain.” — Matt Haig
- “Recovery is not one and done. It is a lifelong journey that takes place one day, one step at a time.” — Unknown
- “Self-care is how you take your power back.” — Lalah Delia
- “Your mental health is a priority. Your happiness is essential. Your self-care is a necessity.” — Unknown
- “Promise me you’ll always remember: You’re braver than you believe, and stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think.” — A.A. Milne, Winnie the Pooh
- “Not until we are lost do we begin to understand ourselves.” — Henry David Thoreau
- “You don’t have to control your thoughts. You just have to stop letting them control you.” — Dan Millman
For Relationship Difficulties
- “The greatest relationships are the ones you never expected to be in. The ones that swept you off your feet and challenged every view you’ve ever had.” — Unknown
- “Every relationship has its problems but what makes it perfect is when you still want to be there when everything goes wrong.” — Unknown
- “Relationships are like glass. Sometimes it’s better to leave them broken than try to hurt yourself putting it back together.” — Unknown
- “Sometimes good things fall apart so better things can fall together.” — Marilyn Monroe
- “Pain is inevitable in relationships. Suffering is optional.” — Harville Hendrix
- “You don’t develop courage by being happy in your relationships everyday. You develop it by surviving difficult times and challenging adversity.” — Epicurus
- “We need to forgive ourselves for loving someone who didn’t know what to do with it.” — r.h. Sin
- “Never allow someone to be your priority while allowing yourself to be their option.” — Mark Twain
- “Sometimes walking away has nothing to do with weakness and everything to do with strength. We walk away not because we want others to realize our worth and value, but because we finally realize our own.” — Robert Tew
- “You can love them, forgive them, want good things for them… but still move on without them.” — Mandy Hale
These targeted quotes acknowledge the specific pain points of different challenges while offering tailored hope for each situation. The grief quotes acknowledge the permanence of loss while suggesting ways to move forward; the professional quotes emphasize persistence; the mental health quotes validate internal struggles; and the relationship quotes balance self-respect with healing.
Famous People Who Overcame Adversity
History is replete with inspiring figures who faced immense challenges and emerged triumphant. Their stories offer a beacon of hope and a reminder that even in the darkest of times, the human spirit can prevail:
| Person | Adversity Faced | How They Overcame It | Key Takeaway |
| Walt Disney | Fired from his first job for “lacking imagination,” faced bankruptcy. | Persevered, moved to California, and ultimately found success with his animation studio. | Never give up on your dreams, even when faced with setbacks. |
| Winston Churchill | Early academic struggles. | Overcame his challenges to become a leader and influential figure. | Determination can help you overcome early setbacks to achieve great things. |
| Helen Keller | Deafness and blindness. | Learned to communicate and became a renowned author and activist. | We can overcome seemingly insurmountable obstacles with resilience and a thirst for life. |
| Oprah Winfrey | Childhood poverty and abuse. | Became a media mogul and philanthropist. | Adversity can be a catalyst for growth and empowerment. |
| J.K. Rowling | Rejection from multiple publishers. | Persevered and created the Harry Potter phenomenon. | Believe in your work and never give up, even when faced with rejection. |
| Albert Einstein | Considered an underachiever in the rigid European education system. | Persevered and published groundbreaking scientific papers. | Don’t let others define your potential; believe in your abilities. |
| Colonel Harland Sanders | Faced numerous setbacks and near bankruptcy. | Franchised his fried chicken recipe at the age of 65 and achieved phenomenal success. | It’s never too late to pursue your dreams and overcome adversity. |
These stories, and countless others, remind us that adversity can be a catalyst for growth and that with determination and resilience, we can overcome even the most daunting challenges.
Inspirational Stories
Beyond the well-known figures, there are countless inspiring stories of ordinary people who have faced extraordinary circumstances and emerged triumphant. Here are a few examples:
- Temple Grandin: Diagnosed with autism at a young age, Grandin struggled with social interaction and communication. However, she found solace in working with animals and went on to earn a Ph.D. in animal science, becoming a leading expert in animal behavior and welfare.
- Jim Carrey: Growing up in a family that struggled financially, Carrey faced homelessness and had to work odd jobs to support his family. Despite these challenges, he pursued his passion for comedy and became one of the most successful entertainers of his generation.
- Nick Vujicic: Born without arms or legs, Vujicic defied all odds to become an internationally renowned motivational speaker and advocate for self-acceptance.
- Malala Yousafzai: A Pakistani activist who defied the Taliban regime in her pursuit of girls’ education, Malala survived an assassination attempt and became a global figure advocating for girls’ rights.
The Power of Positive Thinking
Scientific studies have shown a strong correlation between positive thinking and improved mental and physical health. Optimism can reduce stress, boost the immune system, and even increase lifespan. Cultivating a positive mindset can be a powerful tool in navigating difficult times and building resilience.
Positive thinking affects the brain and body in several ways:
- Releases serotonin and dopamine: These neurotransmitters are associated with feelings of happiness, well-being, and motivation.
- Reduces stress hormones: Positive thinking can lower levels of cortisol, a hormone that can have harmful effects on the body when produced in excess.
- Improves cognitive function: Positive emotions can activate the prefrontal cortex, which is involved in decision-making, problem-solving, and creativity.
- Strengthens the immune system: Studies have shown that positive emotions can boost the immune system and improve the body’s ability to fight off illness.
Tips for Maintaining Hope and Resilience
Here are some practical strategies to help you stay positive and resilient during challenging times:
Developing a Positive Mindset
- Practice gratitude: Take time each day to appreciate the good things in your life, no matter how small. Keep a gratitude journal or simply make a mental list of things you’re thankful for.
- Challenge negative thoughts: When negative thoughts arise, reframe them in a more positive or neutral light. Ask yourself if there’s another way to look at the situation or if your thoughts are based on facts or assumptions.
- Practice positive self-talk: Replace negative self-criticism with affirmations of what is good about you. Remind yourself of your strengths and past successes.
- Visualize your best self: Imagine yourself in the future, having achieved your goals and overcome your challenges. This can help you stay motivated and focused on a positive outcome.
Building Social Support
- Connect with loved ones: Seek support from friends, family, or a therapist. Talk about your feelings and challenges with people you trust.
- Join a support group: Connect with others who have faced similar challenges. Sharing your experiences and hearing from others can provide validation, encouragement, and new coping strategies.
- Build new connections: Engage in activities that allow you to meet new people and expand your social circle. This can help you feel less isolated and more supported.
Practicing Self-Care
- Take care of yourself: Prioritize your physical and mental health through exercise, sleep, and relaxation techniques. Engage in activities that bring you joy and help you de-stress.
- Set realistic goals: Break down large challenges into smaller, achievable steps. This can help you feel more in control and less overwhelmed.
- Focus on the present moment: Mindfulness techniques can help you stay grounded and reduce anxiety. Pay attention to your senses and focus on the here and now.
- Seek professional help: Don’t hesitate to reach out to a mental health professional if you’re struggling. They can provide guidance, support, and evidence-based strategies to help you cope with adversity and build resilience.
Conclusion
Life’s journey is inevitably marked by challenges and setbacks. But by cultivating resilience, perseverance, and hope, we can navigate these difficulties and emerge stronger. The quotes and stories shared in this article offer a powerful reminder that things will get better.
Remember to focus on the positive, seek support when needed, Level-up and never give up on your dreams. As the Japanese proverb states, “Fall seven times, stand up eight.” Embrace the lessons learned from adversity, adjust your sails when the wind changes direction, and keep moving forward with determination and hope.
Remember the words of Christopher Reeve: “Once you choose hope, anything’s possible.”
