I don’t know about you, but some days feel heavier than others. Maybe it’s a bad day at work, maybe life has just thrown too many curveballs at once, or maybe it’s just one of those “nothing is going right” kind of mornings.
When that happens, I like to reach for little bits of encouragement — words that remind me that tough moments don’t last forever, and that my attitude can change how I see the world.
These are 40 powerful stay positive quotes I’ve kept close during hard times. Some are short and sweet, others feel like a warm hug in sentence form. My hope is that you find one (or a few) that stick with you.
1–10: Quick Boosts for When You’re Feeling Low
Sometimes you just need a quick reminder that you can handle this.
- “Keep your face always toward the sunshine—and shadows will fall behind you.” – Walt Whitman
- “This too shall pass.” – Persian Proverb
- “You are braver than you believe, stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think.” – A.A. Milne
- “Tough times never last, but tough people do.” – Robert H. Schuller
- “Happiness is not something ready-made. It comes from your own actions.” – Dalai Lama
- “Believe you can and you’re halfway there.” – Theodore Roosevelt
- “Difficult roads often lead to beautiful destinations.” – Unknown
- “Stars can’t shine without darkness.” – Unknown
- “One small positive thought in the morning can change your whole day.” – Unknown
- “You survived 100% of your bad days so far.” – Unknown
11–20: Reminders to Stay Steady During Storms
Life isn’t about avoiding the rain — it’s about learning how to dance in it.
- “Life isn’t about waiting for the storm to pass, it’s about learning to dance in the rain.” – Vivian Greene
- “Every day may not be good, but there is something good in every day.” – Alice Morse Earle
- “Rise above the storm and you will find the sunshine.” – Mario Fernández
- “You can’t calm the storm, so stop trying. What you can do is calm yourself. The storm will pass.” – Timber Hawkeye
- “Hard times may have held you down, but they will not last forever.” – Unknown
- “The comeback is always stronger than the setback.” – Unknown
- “Your present circumstances don’t determine where you can go; they merely determine where you start.” – Nido Qubein
- “No rain, no flowers.” – Unknown
- “Even the darkest night will end and the sun will rise.” – Victor Hugo
- “It is during our darkest moments that we must focus to see the light.” – Aristotle
21–30: Fuel for Your Positive Mindset
Positivity isn’t pretending everything is fine — it’s choosing hope even when it’s hard.
- “Positive thinking will let you do everything better than negative thinking will.” – Zig Ziglar
- “Happiness is an inside job.” – William Arthur Ward
- “What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson
- “If you want light to come into your life, you need to stand where it is shining.” – Guy Finley
- “Pessimism leads to weakness, optimism to power.” – William James
- “When you can’t find the sunshine, be the sunshine.” – Unknown
- “Your vibe attracts your tribe.” – Unknown
- “A positive attitude gives you power over your circumstances instead of your circumstances having power over you.” – Joyce Meyer
- “Don’t count the days, make the days count.” – Muhammad Ali
- “You’re allowed to be a masterpiece and a work in progress at the same time.” – Sophia Bush
31–40: Gentle Encouragements for Hard Days
These are the kind of words you might write on a sticky note and keep on your mirror.
- “You can’t go back and change the beginning, but you can start where you are and change the ending.” – C.S. Lewis
- “Be gentle with yourself, you’re doing the best you can.” – Unknown
- “Progress, not perfection.” – Unknown
- “The best way to predict the future is to create it.” – Abraham Lincoln
- “Some days you just have to create your own sunshine.” – Unknown
- “Let your hopes, not your hurts, shape your future.” – Robert H. Schuller
- “You are enough just as you are.” – Meghan Markle
- “Keep going. Everything you need will come to you at the perfect time.” – Unknown
- “Be the reason someone smiles today.” – Unknown
- “Your story isn’t over yet.” – Unknown
