Ever feel that crushing weight, that whisper telling you to just stop trying? You're not alone in that feeling; it’s a profoundly human experience.
Life has a funny way of testing our limits. It throws curveballs, sets up roadblocks, and sometimes just makes things incredibly tough. I know this firsthand. Stephen Montagne, the founder of GoodExistence.com, often shares his own battles. He talks about overcoming the grip of gaming, binge eating, drinking, and general laziness. It wasn't a walk in the park. Losing over 110 pounds (that’s more than 50 kilograms!) and shifting to a balanced, healthy lifestyle took grit. Building productive routines, even with short bursts of deep work, required him to push past the urge to procrastinate. It’s a journey, not a destination, and that journey is paved with moments where giving up seems like the easiest option.
But here’s the thing: the most rewarding things in life often lie just beyond that point of wanting to quit. Whether it’s transforming your health, building better habits, strengthening your faith, or pursuing a dream, perseverance is key. Stephen found immense strength and purpose in his Christian Orthodox faith, a closer relationship with God guiding him through these challenges. It’s about finding that inner reason to keep going.
So, if you're feeling stuck or on the verge of giving up, this is for you. We’ve gathered some powerful words to reignite that spark.
The Power of Pushing Through
It’s easy to be enthusiastic at the start. The real test comes when things get hard, when progress stalls, or when you face setbacks. This is where character is built. This is where true strength emerges. Remember, every challenge you overcome makes you stronger.
Think about learning a new skill or breaking a bad habit. It's rarely a straight line to success. Stephen often talks about his journey with binge eating. There were good days and bad days. The key was not letting a bad day derail everything. It was about getting back up, learning from it, and trying again. That’s resilience.
30 Quotes to Keep You Going
Sometimes, a few well-chosen words can be the lifeline we need. They can remind us of our own strength and the importance of staying the course. Let these sink in.
- "Our greatest glory is not in never failing, but in rising up every time we fail." – Ralph Waldo Emerson
- Falling is part of the process. It's the getting up that counts.
- "It does not matter how slowly you go as long as you do not stop." – Confucius
- Progress is progress, no matter the pace. Keep moving.
- "Perseverance is not a long race; it is many short races one after the other." – Walter Elliot
- Focus on the next small step, then the next. Stephen found this crucial for his weight loss and building productive work habits – short bursts, small wins.
- "The difference between a successful person and others is not a lack of strength, not a lack of knowledge, but rather a lack in will." – Vince Lombardi
- Your determination is your superpower.
- "You just can't beat the person who never gives up." – Babe Ruth
- Become that person.
- "Success is not final, failure is not fatal: It is the courage to continue that counts." – Winston S. Churchill
- Don’t let success make you complacent or failure make you quit.
- "Many of life's failures are people who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up." – Thomas A. Edison
- You might be closer than you think.
- "It always seems impossible until it's done." – Nelson Mandela
- Break down big goals into smaller, manageable steps.
- "Fall seven times, stand up eight." – Japanese Proverb
- Resilience is your best friend.
- "A winner is just a loser who tried one more time." – George M. Moore Jr.
- That "one more time" can make all the difference.
- "Don't watch the clock; do what it does. Keep going." – Sam Levenson
- Focus on action, not just the passage of time.
- "The harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph." – Thomas Paine
- The satisfaction of overcoming a big challenge is immense.
- "I am not discouraged, because every wrong attempt discarded is another step forward." – Thomas A. Edison
- See mistakes as learning opportunities.
- "Perseverance is failing 19 times and succeeding the 20th." – Julie Andrews
- Keep trying. Your breakthrough could be next.
- "Grit is that 'extra something' that separates the most successful people from the rest. It's the passion, perseverance, and stamina that we must channel in order to stick with our dreams until they become a reality." – Travis Bradberry
- Develop your grit. It's a skill.
- "Never give up on a dream just because of the time it will take to accomplish it. The time will pass anyway." – Earl Nightingale
- Use that time productively.
- "Successful men and women keep moving. They make mistakes, but they don't quit." – Conrad Hilton
- Movement, even imperfect, is better than stagnation.
- "Energy and persistence conquer all things." – Benjamin Franklin
- Bring both to your endeavors.
- "The path to success is to take massive, determined action." – Tony Robbins
- Don't just dip your toe in. Commit.
- "If you are going through hell, keep going." – Winston S. Churchill
- The only way out is through.
- "You do what you can for as long as you can, and when you finally can't, you do the next best thing. You back up but you don't give up." – Chuck Yeager
- Adaptability is key. Sometimes you need to adjust your approach.
- "Persistence guarantees that results are inevitable." – Paramahansa Yogananda
- Trust the process of consistent effort.
- "Courage doesn't always roar. Sometimes courage is the quiet voice at the end of the day saying, 'I will try again tomorrow.'" – Mary Anne Radmacher
- This quiet determination is incredibly powerful. Stephen’s journey of building a daily gratitude practice, even on tough days, reflects this. It’s a gentle commitment.
- "When you get into a tight place and everything goes against you until it seems that you cannot hold on for a minute longer, never give up then, for that is just the place and time that the tide will turn." – Harriet Beecher Stowe
- Breakthroughs often happen when you feel most stretched.
- "It’s not that I’m so smart, it’s just that I stay with problems longer." – Albert Einstein
- Tenacity can often outperform raw talent.
- "Let me tell you the secret that has led to my goal. My strength lies solely in my tenacity." – Louis Pasteur
- Embrace stubbornness when it comes to your goals.
- "To conquer frustration, one must remain intensely focused on the outcome, not the obstacles." – T.F. Hodge
- Keep your eyes on the prize.
- "Character consists of what you do on the third and fourth tries." – James A. Michener
- Anyone can start. It’s the follow-through that defines you.
- "Don't be afraid to give up the good to go for the great." – John D. Rockefeller
- Sometimes, not giving up on a bigger vision means letting go of something comfortable but less fulfilling.
- "With ordinary talent and extraordinary perseverance, all things are attainable." – Thomas Fowell Buxton
- You don't need to be a genius. You just need to keep going.
Finding Your Strength Within
These quotes are more than just words. They are reminders from people who faced their own struggles and pushed through. Stephen’s journey, from unhealthy habits to a life of balance, productivity, and faith, wasn’t about a magical fix. It was about small, consistent steps, celebrating tiny victories, and never losing sight of the bigger picture. He found that focusing on short, 2-4 hour bursts of deep work was more effective than trying to grind for 8 hours straight, which often led to burnout and giving up. This strategy of breaking things down applies to almost any challenge.
When you feel like giving up, remember why you started. Connect with that initial spark, that deeper purpose. For Stephen, strengthening his Christian Orthodox faith provided a profound "why" and a source of unwavering support. Your "why" might be different, but it’s just as crucial.
What's one small step you can take today, right now, to move forward, even if it feels tiny? Don't underestimate the power of that single step. It could be the one that keeps you on the path.
