Change can be scary. It doesn't matter if you're going through a small change or a big one — doing something totally different than you're used to is terrifying.
To put your mind at ease, it's helpful to look at quotes about change and strength, which can give you the inspiration you need to get over even your hardest obstacles.
Embracing change might be exactly what you need, but taking those first few steps can seem almost impossible.
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Of course, it will be scary — most changes are — but that doesn't mean it won't lead to something amazing. Rather, finding the courage to be exactly who and where you want to be in life is admirable.
Accepting and dealing with change differs for everyone. Learning how to do what's right for you and only you will make change seem less scary. There's always time to change your life for the better.
These quotes will help you realize that life happens, no matter what. But when you learn to embrace and welcome it, change can inspire you and motivate you to succeed in every single way.
75 Best Quotes About Change
1. "Any change, even a change for the better, is always accompanied by drawbacks and discomforts." —Arnold Bennett
2. “The present changes the past. Looking back you do not find what you left behind.” —Kiran Desai
3. "We are taught you must blame your father, your sisters, your brothers, the school, the teachers - but never blame yourself. It's never your fault. But it's always your fault, because if you wanted to change you're the one who has got to change.” —Katharine Hepburn
4. “Change the way you look at things and the things you look at change.” —Wayne W. Dyer
5. “Taking a new step, uttering a new word, is what people fear most.” —Fyodor Dostoevsky
6. “Maturity is when you stop complaining and making excuses, and start making changes.” —Roy T. Bennett
7. “Destiny is not a matter of chance; it is a matter of choice. It is not a thing to be waited for, it is a thing to be achieved.” —William Jennings Bryan
8. "The secret of change is to focus all of your energy, not on fighting the old, but on building the new." —Socrates
9. "All great changes are preceded by chaos." —Deepak Chopra
10. "Your desire to change must be greater than your desire to stay the same."
11. "Don't make a change too complicated, just begin."
12. "You send out an energetic field that affects the world around you, with that heart energy, you have the power to change your world."
13. "Your life does not get better by chance, it gets better by change." —Jim Rohn
14. "Small changes eventually add up to huge results."
15. "Action is the key to all success." —Pablo Picasso
16. “I have accepted fear as part of life – specifically the fear of change... I have gone ahead despite the pounding in the heart that says: turn back....” —Erica Jong
17. “This is a new year. A new beginning. And things will change.” ―Taylor Swift
18. "The people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world are the ones who do." —Walter Isaacson
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19. "Life is about change. Sometimes it's painful. Sometimes it's beautiful. But most of the time, it's both." —Lana Lang
20. "Don't expect to see a change if you don't make one."
21. "Worrying about something you can't change will forever be the biggest waste of your time."
22. "Be the change that you wish to see in the world." ―Mahatma Gandhi
23. "Embrace uncertainty. Some of the most beautiful chapters in our lives won't have a title until much later." —Bob Goff
24. "Everyone thinks of changing the world, but no one thinks of changing himself." —Leo Tolstoy
25. "The world as we have created it is a process of our thinking. It cannot be changed without changing our thinking." —Albert Einstein
26. "Love can change a person the way a parent can change a baby: awkwardly, and often with a great deal of mess." ―Lemony Snicket
27. "We cannot become what we want by remaining what we are." —Max Depree
28. "Life is a series of natural and spontaneous changes. Don't resist them; that only creates sorrow. Let reality be reality. Let things flow naturally forward in whatever way they like." ―Lao Tzu
29. "The snake which cannot cast its skin has to die. As well the minds which are prevented from changing their opinions; they cease to be mind." ―Friedrich Nietzsche
30. "We are not trapped or locked up in these bones. No, no. We are free to change. And love changes us. And if we can love one another, we can break open the sky." ―Walter Mosley
31. "You can't change what's going on around you until you start changing what's going on within you." —Zig Ziglar
32. "Incredible change happens in your life when you decide to take control of what you do have power over, instead of craving control over what you don't." ―Steve Maraboli
33. "Stepping onto a brand-new path is difficult, but not more difficult than remaining in a situation, which is not nurturing to the whole woman." ―Maya Angelou
34. "Yesterday I was clever, so I wanted to change the world. Today I am wise, so I am changing myself." ―Rumi
35. "If it doesn't challenge you, it won't change you." —Fred DeVito
36. "I alone cannot change the world, but I can cast a stone across the waters to create many ripples." ―Mother Teresa
37. "And that is how change happens. One gesture. One person. One moment at a time." ―Libba Bray
38. "You're always you, and that don't change, and you're always changing, and there's nothing you can do about it." ―Neil Gaiman
39. “You can't stop the future. You can't rewind the past. The only way to learn the secret... is to press play.” ―Jay Asher
40. "Growth is painful. Change is painful. But nothing is as painful as staying stuck somewhere you don't belong." —Mandy Hale
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41. "Some changes look negative on the surface but you will soon realize that space is being created in your life for something new to emerge." ―Eckhart Tolle
42. "How would your life be different if... You stopped making negative judgmental assumptions about people you encounter? Let today be the day... You look for the good in everyone you meet and respect their journey." ―Steve Maraboli
43. "Certain things, they should stay the way they are. You ought to be able to stick them in one of those big glass cases and just leave them alone." ―J.D. Salinger
44. "The only way to make sense out of change is to plunge into it, move with it, and join the dance." —Alan W. Watts
45. "One day spent with someone you love can change everything." ―Mitch Albom
46. “Do I contradict myself? Very well then I contradict myself, (I am large, I contain multitudes.)” —Walt Whitman
47. “Things change. And friends leave. Life doesn't stop for anybody.” —Stephen Chbosky
48. “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed, citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.” —Margaret Mead
49. "Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.” —Nelson Mandela
50. "Nothing is so painful to the human mind as a great and sudden change." ―Mary Shelley
51. "Change, like healing, takes time." ―Veronica Roth
52. "Progress is impossible without change, and those who cannot change their minds cannot change anything." —George Bernard Shaw
53. "Forget yesterday — it has already forgotten you. Don't sweat tomorrow — you haven't even met. Instead, open your eyes and your heart to a truly precious gift — today." ―Steve Maraboli
54. "When people are ready to, they change. They never do it before then, and sometimes they die before they get around to it. You can't make them change if they don't want to, just like when they do want to, you can't stop them." ―Andy Warhol
55. "You never change things by fighting the existing reality." —R. Buckminister Fuller
56. "I find the best way to love someone is not to change them, but instead, help them reveal the greatest version of themselves." ―Steve Maraboli
57. "You've changed me forever. And I'll never forget you." ―Kiera Cass
58. "I realized how truly hard it was, really, to see someone you love change right before your eyes. Not only is it scary, it throws your balance off as well." ―Sarah Dessen
59. "You can't go back and change the beginning, but you can start where you are and change the ending." —C.S. Lewis
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60. "I used to pray that God would feed the hungry, or do this or that, but now I pray that he will guide me to do whatever I'm supposed to do, what I can do. I used to pray for answers, but now I'm praying for strength. I used to believe that prayer changes things, but now I know that prayer changes us and we change things." —Mother Teresa
61. "Life will only change when you become more committed to your dreams than you are to your comfort zone." —Billy Cox
62. "She remembered who she was and the game changed." —Lelah Deliah
63. "Open-minded people don't care to be right, they care to understand. There's never a right or wrong answer. Everything is about understanding."
64. "One day or day one. You decide." —Paulo Coelho
65. "It's okay to be scared. Being scared means you're about to do something really, really brave." —Mandy Hale
66. "You're always one decision away from a totally different life." —Mark Batterson
67. "Change will not come if we wait for some other person or some other time. We are the ones we've been waiting for. We are the change that we seek." —Barack Obama
68. "When it feels scary to jump, that's exactly when you jump. Otherwise you end up staying in the same place your whole life. And that I can't do." —Abel Morales
69. "It’s only after you’ve stepped outside your comfort zone that you begin to change, grow, and transform." —Roy T. Bennett
70. "You are far too smart to be the only thing standing in your way." —Jennifer J. Freeman
71. "Old ways won't open new doors."
72. "The best time for new beginnings is now."
73. "Change is the law of life. And those who look only to the past or present are certain to miss the future." —John F. Kennedy
74. "Don't let the noise of others' opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition." —Steve Jobs
75. "A person who never made a mistake never tried anything new." —Albert Einstein
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Kaylie Buchheit is a contributor for YourTango.
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FAQs
What is the best quote about change? ›
"If you can't change it, change your attitude." "Change the way you look at things and the things you look at change." “Change is painful, but nothing is as painful as staying stuck somewhere you don't belong.” "Those who cannot change their minds cannot change anything."
What are 10 motivational quotes? ›- "When you have a dream, you've got to grab it and never let go." ...
- "Nothing is impossible. ...
- "There is nothing impossible to they who will try." ...
- "The bad news is time flies. ...
- "Life has got all those twists and turns. ...
- "Keep your face always toward the sunshine, and shadows will fall behind you."
- The greatest glory in living lies not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall. - ...
- The way to get started is to quit talking and begin doing. - ...
- Your time is limited, so don't waste it living someone else's life. ...
- If life were predictable it would cease to be life, and be without flavor. -
“It ain't what they call you, it's what you answer to.” “The better you feel about yourself, the less you feel the need to show off.” “Good things happen to those who hustle.” “Things may come to those who wait, but only the things left by those who hustle.”
Whats one quote that changed your life? ›“Do not let anything that happens in life be important enough that you're willing to close your heart over it.”
Why is change important in life? ›Change Ensures That Bad Situations End
So long as you embrace change, you will find that your situation does not have to last forever and you will progress on to something bigger and better. If you reject change, experiences and opportunities in your career are likely to pass you by.
- It's not the size of the dog in the fight, but the size of the fight in the dog. ...
- Nothing lasts forever. ...
- There are only two ways to live your life. ...
- Take chances, make mistakes. ...
- Being strong means rejoicing in who you are, complete with imperfections.
A person who never made a mistake never tried anything new. If you're not positive energy, you're negative energy. We do not fall in love with the package of the person; we fall in love with the inside of a person. We can't help everyone, but everyone can help someone.
What is a short inspiring quote? ›"Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts." "Life is like riding a bicycle. To keep your balance, you must keep moving." "Just don't give up trying to do what you really want to do."
What are life inspiring quotes? ›- " The purpose of our lives is to be happy." — Dalai Lama.
- " Life is what happens when you're busy making other plans." — John Lennon.
- " Get busy living or get busy dying." — Stephen King.
- " You only live once, but if you do it right, once is enough." — Mae West.
- " ...
- " ...
- " ...
- "
What is todays inspiring quote? ›
Never give up. Today is hard, tomorrow will be worse, but the day after tomorrow will be sunshine. Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow. If you fell down yesterday, stand up today.
What is a inspiring quote? ›Inspirational quotes can help motivate us and create a positive outlook on life and work when we need it most. They do so by harnessing the power of positive thinking. Reframing our brains to think positively is a key step in leading a happy and successful life.
What are some strong quotes? ›- “That which does not kill us makes us stronger.” – ...
- “Surprise yourself everyday with your own courage.” – ...
- “Courage is only an accumulation of small steps.” – ...
- “I like to use the hard times in the past to motivate me today.” – ...
- “Be thankful for what you have; you'll end up having more.
“Be yourself; everyone else is already taken.” “This above all: to thine own self be true.” “Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind.” “Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—I took the one less traveled by, And that has made all the difference.”
What is a strong woman quote? ›“A strong woman knows she has strength enough for the journey, but a woman of strength knows it is in the journey where she will become strong.” “I'd rather regret the risks that didn't work out than the chances I didn't take at all.” "You must love and care for yourself because that's when the best comes out.”
What are the 12 powerful words? ›What are the twelve powerful words? Trace, Analyze, Infer, Evaluate, Formulate, Describe, Support, Explain, Summarize, Compare, Contrast, Predict. Why use the twelve powerful words? These are the words that always give students more trouble than others on standardized tests.
What is your inspiration best answer? ›My inspiration is my father. He faced so many problems in his life but he never give up And do hard work for us. Sir, there are more than one people who inspires me. My father, he inspires me to become a financialy independent person.
What are the 10 power words? ›- Immediately.
- Fervent. This power word means to display something passionately, so it implies action and immediacy. ...
- Sharp. Use the word sharp when you want to focus someone's attention; it has an unusual power. ...
- Renewed. ...
- Shining. ...
- Instantly. ...
- Invigorated. ...
- Responsive.
You've got to be okay on your own before you can be okay with somebody else." “Be yourself, but always your better self.” “Don't sacrifice yourself too much, because if you sacrifice too much there's nothing else you can give, and nobody will care for you.” “Keep taking time for yourself until you're you again.”
How can I change my mindset quotes? ›“so far as you continue to entertain what makes you unhappy, you shall always dance to the tune of what will make you unhappy. A mindset change can cause a great change.” “The only person who can transform your life is the one you see every day in the mirror. Be you the one who shapes your own destiny.”
Why is change impact important? ›
Impact analysis is a key aspect of responsible requirements management. It provides an accurate understanding of the implications of a proposed change, which helps the teams make informed business decisions about which proposals to approve.
What is a good change in life? ›Some common examples of positive changes that many people encounter throughout their lives are: going to college, getting a job, and having a significant other.
How does change make us stronger? ›You Become Inspired
Watch what happens when life changes, you choose to embrace it, and change makes you stronger. At this point, you are seeing it with new eyes, feeling more adaptable and your resilience builds. With this comes inspiration. You are more open to new ideas and insights.
- "Happiness depends upon ourselves." — ...
- "Happiness is when what you think, what you say, and what you do are in harmony." — ...
- "The moments of happiness we enjoy take us by surprise. ...
- "Even if happiness forgets you a little bit, never completely forget about it." —
“Do good, live in the most positive and joyful way possible every day.” “Kindness is universal. Sometimes being kind allows others to see the goodness in humanity through you. Always be kinder than necessary.”
What is the best motto in life? ›- When life gives you lemons, make lemonade.
- Life every day like it's your last.
- Be yourself. ...
- Be the change you wish to see in the world.
- Let go of who you think you're supposed to be and embrace who you are.
- If you are not obsessed with your life, change it.
- Set some goals, then demolish them.
- " The purpose of our lives is to be happy." — Dalai Lama.
- " Life is what happens when you're busy making other plans." — John Lennon.
- " Get busy living or get busy dying." — Stephen King.
- " You only live once, but if you do it right, once is enough." — Mae West.
- " ...
- " ...
- " ...
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But the most powerful motivator of all is fear. Fear is a primal instinct that served us as cave dwellers and still serves us today. It keeps us alive, because if we survive a bad experience, we never forget how to avoid it in the future. Our most vivid memories are born in fear.
What is the most famous line of all time? ›- “ May the Force be with you.” - Star Wars, 1977.
- “ There's no place like home.” - The Wizard of Oz, 1939.
- “ I'm the king of the world!” - ...
- “ Carpe diem. ...
- “ Elementary, my dear Watson.” - ...
- “ It's alive! ...
- “ My mama always said life was like a box of chocolates. ...
- “ I'll be back.” -
The Best Quotes About Life
“If you look at what you have in life, you'll always have more. If you look at what you don't have in life, you'll never have enough.” “You only live once, but if you do it right, once is enough.” “In three words I can sum up everything I've learned about life: It goes on.”
What are some deepest quotes? ›
- “The world as we have created it is a process of our thinking. ...
- “If I were a tree, I would have no reason to love a human.” ...
- “Once someone's hurt you, it's harder to relax around them, harder to think of them as safe to love. ...
- “I want to be like water. ...
- “The splendid thing.
"Lead from the heart, not the head." "Always find opportunities to make someone smile, and to offer random acts of kindness in everyday life." "You cannot protect yourself from sadness without protecting yourself from happiness." "The happiness of your life depends on the quality of your thoughts."
What are the 3 big motivators for human beings? ›McClelland's Human Motivation Theory states that every person has one of three main driving motivators: the needs for achievement, affiliation, or power. These motivators are not inherent; we develop them through our culture and life experiences.
What drives motivation? ›Goals, like mindset, beliefs, expectations, and self-concept, are sources of internal motives. These cognitive sources of motivation unite and spring us into action.
What are the big three motives? ›McClelland's human motives model distinguishes three major motives: the need for achievement, affiliation, and power. The power motive stems from a person's desire to influence, teach or encourage others.
What is a beautiful life quote? ›“Life is abundant, and life is beautiful. And it's a good place that we're all in, you know, on this earth, if we take care of it.”
What are some 3 word quotes? ›- “I'll be there.”
- “I love you.”
- “Maybe you're right.”
- “I trust you.”
- “Go for it.”
- “Got your back.”
- “How are you?”
- “I want you.”
You've got to be okay on your own before you can be okay with somebody else." “Be yourself, but always your better self.” “Don't sacrifice yourself too much, because if you sacrifice too much there's nothing else you can give, and nobody will care for you.” “Keep taking time for yourself until you're you again.”