Sometimes, life hits you hard and you wonder how you’ll keep going.
I know that feeling too well. A few years ago, I was stuck—addicted to gaming, binge eating, drinking too much, and making excuses every day. I felt lost and lazy, weighed down by my habits and a lack of direction. But something shifted when I started feeding my mind with empowering words instead of lies I told myself. That shift helped me lose over 110 pounds, find purpose in faith, and build a life I’m proud of today.
Here’s what I’ve found: words matter. The right quote at the right moment can give you strength to keep moving forward. These aren’t just nice sayings. They’re reminders that you are stronger than you think—even if you don’t feel it right now.
Let me share with you 25 empowering quotes about being strong, along with the lessons I learned along the way and a few steps you can take too.
Why Strength Isn’t About Never Struggling
First, let’s get one thing straight. Being strong doesn’t mean being perfect. It doesn’t mean you don’t get tired or frustrated. Real strength shows up in how you respond when life gets messy. It’s getting up after you fall. It’s choosing the hard path because you know it’s the right one.
Strength is built in small moments—when you say no to a craving, show up for that workout, or get out of bed even though everything in you says to stay down.
That’s how my journey started. I didn’t wake up one day magically disciplined. I started by winning mornings. One healthy breakfast. One short walk. One less hour of gaming. Small wins, stacked daily.
25 Empowering Quotes About Being Strong
Below are some quotes that helped me reframe how I thought about strength. I didn’t just read them—I lived them. Maybe one (or more) will stick with you.
1. “You never know how strong you are until being strong is your only choice.” – Bob Marley
Life doesn’t always give you a heads-up. But in those unexpected moments, you learn what you’re made of.
2. “Fall seven times, stand up eight.” – Japanese Proverb
You will fall. Just commit to rising every time, even if it takes you a minute.
3. “Hard times don’t create heroes. It is during the hard times when the ‘hero’ within us is revealed.” – Bob Riley
4. “Strength doesn’t come from what you can do. It comes from overcoming the things you once thought you couldn’t.” – Rikki Rogers
5. “It always seems impossible until it’s done.” – Nelson Mandela
Don’t trust the voice that says “you can’t.” It often shows up right before the breakthrough.
6. “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” – Philippians 4:13
This one became personal for me. When I leaned into my faith, my strength had a new source—one that didn’t run dry.
7. “Courage isn’t having the strength to go on. It is going on when you don’t have strength.” – Napoleon Bonaparte
8. “You don’t have to control your thoughts. You just have to stop letting them control you.” – Dan Millman
9. “One day or day one. You decide.”
10. “Do not pray for an easy life. Pray for the strength to endure a difficult one.” – Bruce Lee
11. “When you’re going through hell, keep going.” – Winston Churchill
I hit my lowest points sitting on the floor with junk food after a failed attempt to stop binge eating. Progress was messy. But I kept going.
12. “Your struggle today is your strength tomorrow.”
13. “Be strong enough to let go, and wise enough to wait for what you deserve.”
14. “Some people don’t like you because your strength reminds them of what they lack.”
15. “Tough times never last, but tough people do.” – Robert H. Schuller
16. “Discipline is choosing between what you want now and what you want most.” – Abraham Lincoln (or at least widely attributed)
17. “You gain strength, courage, and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face.” – Eleanor Roosevelt
18. “Big journeys begin with small steps.”
19. “Cry. Get mad. Break down. But never give up.”
20. “Sometimes, being strong means asking for help.”
Don’t buy into the lie that strength is silence. Real strength is humble.
21. “Be patient. Sometimes you have to go through the worst to get to the best.”
22. “You’re not tired because you’ve done too much. You’re tired because you’ve done too little of what sparks your soul.”
23. “Healing isn’t always visible. But it’s always working if you don’t give up.”
24. “Consistency beats intensity. Win the day.”
25. “God gives His biggest battles to His strongest soldiers.”
How to Build Strength in Your Daily Life
Quotes are powerful, but action is what makes them real. If you're trying to break a habit, lose weight, rebuild your faith, or just feel more grounded—start here.
Here’s what worked for me:
- Keep a "small wins" journal. I wrote down things like “Didn't binge today” or “Walked for 20 minutes.” Those tiny wins became fuel.
- Use short bursts of deep work. I focused for 2–4 hours a day instead of trying to work 8 hours straight. Less burnout, more results.
- Start your day with gratitude. I write down 3 things I’m thankful for every morning. It helped shift my mindset from lack to strength.
- Anchor yourself in faith. My Christian Orthodox faith brought peace when nothing else could. Prayer and fasting taught me discipline, not punishment.
- Let yourself struggle. Strength is not about looking tough—it’s about being real and rising anyway.
Final Thoughts
The road to strength isn’t straight. It’s messy. It’s frustrating. And it’s also beautiful.
If you're reading this and feel like you're not strong enough—don’t believe that lie. You are. Not because you’ve mastered everything, but because you’re still showing up. That’s what matters.
So here’s your step for today: Pick one quote from this list. Write it down. Stick it somewhere you’ll see it. Read it when you want to quit.
And remember, strength isn’t loud. It’s in your daily choices, in grace for yourself, and in the quiet moments when you choose not to give up.
You’ve got this.
