Stress is something everyone deals with, and it’s essential to have strategies you can call upon to soothe it. Meditation, exercise and writing in a journal are three common things people do to feel less stressed.
But besides doing activities, it’s also useful to keep wise words in mind. The stress-relief quotes below should get you started, and may become your new favorites!
We can often get stressed by trying to live up to the expectations others have of us. Judy Garland, known for her starring role in “The Wizard of Oz” once said: “Always be a first-rate version of yourself, instead of a second-rate version of somebody else.”
If you’ve ever researched stress-relief quotes before, you may have realized a lot of them are related to success. However, as Michael Jordan reminds us, a person often can’t achieve success alone, and there’s no reason to get stressed by trying. He said: “Talent wins games, but teamwork and intelligence wins championships.”
When feeling stressed about the future or regretful about the past in preparation for a major life change, keep what former president John F. Kennedy said in mind:
“Change is the law of life. And those who look only to the past or present are certain to miss the future.”
You may especially find yourself in need of useful quotes about stress if you’re trying to stay positive and move beyond a crisis. These words from Robert Frost may help: “In three words, I can sum up everything I’ve learned about life: It goes on.”
If you’re feeling very stressed, it can be hard to enjoy the things you once did. However, Paulo Coelho explains why we need to summon up enthusiasm: “When you are enthusiastic about what you do, you feel this positive energy. It’s very simple.”
Perceived failure can cause us to give up on our goals and dreams, because we think it’s too late to succeed. But, as C.S. Lewis urges us, “You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream.”
Maybe you’re in need of quotes about stress because you’re envious of what others have. As poet Sanober Khan smartly said: “When admiring other people’s gardens, don’t forget to tend to your own flowers.”
Changes can be stressful, but they aren’t always as bad as they might seem. As Gail Sheehy said, “If we don’t change, we don’t grow. If we don’t grow, we aren’t really living.”
Stress can become overpowering if it’s caused by feelings of inadequacy. As Margaret Mead believed, simply caring can be very effective. She said, “Never believe that a few caring people can’t change the world. For, indeed, that’s all who ever have.”
Stress can be brought on by what others say about us. Oprah Winfrey offered some first-hand experience when she said, “I was once afraid of people saying, ‘Who does she think she is?’ Now, I have the courage to stand and say, ‘This is who I am.’”
It’s essential to be as comfortable as possible in your own skin. Once you’re able to do that, your stress levels could go down drastically. Clothing designer Diane Von Furstenberg said: “You’re always with yourself, so you might as well enjoy the company.”
When interpersonal relationships hit rough patches, keeping a healthy perspective is useful. Remember what Mother Teresa uttered: “If we have no peace, it is because we have forgotten that we belong to each other.”
Have you ever been so stressed you’ve gotten stuck in a negative thought pattern? If that happens, recall this Albert Einstein quote: “The world as we have created it is a process of our thinking. It cannot be changed without changing our thinking.”
While it’s important not to let stress compromise productivity, it’s also necessary to put energy towards worthwhile things. Penn Gillette said, “The most important part of life is work, it’s the flow, it’s getting stuff done, feeling like you’re doing something.”
The next time you feel stressed, try shifting your attention to the statements above. These stress-relief quotes could help you feel capable and more relaxed.
