Quotes to Inspire Self Care
Prioritize your well-being with these quotes to inspire self care and discover the importance of setting boundaries, making mindful choices, and embracing self-care.
In the midst of life’s chaos, it’s easy to put our needs last. As women, especially those of us who are wives and mothers, the demands of family, work, and daily responsibilities often take precedence. We tell ourselves that self-care can wait—that there are more pressing things to handle. However, I’ve learned firsthand that neglecting self-care isn’t sustainable. In fact, it’s vital to prioritize our well-being, not just for ourselves but for those we care for. Self-care is not selfish; it’s about ensuring we’re in the best mindset to manage everything on our plates.
Over the years, I’ve faced my share of struggles with depression and anxiety. These experiences have taught me that self-care goes beyond the pampering activities we often associate with the term. It’s about managing our overall health and wellness—mentally, emotionally, and physically. As someone who has navigated through dark times, I can attest that taking the time to care for myself has made a world of difference. Here are some quotes and reflections that have inspired me to make self-care a priority, even when life feels overwhelming.
Setting Boundaries: Protecting Your Peace
In the midst of life’s chaos, it’s easy to put our needs last. As women, especially those of us who are wives and mothers, the demands of family, work, and daily responsibilities often take precedence. We tell ourselves that self-care can wait—that there are more pressing things to handle. However, I’ve learned firsthand that neglecting self-care isn’t sustainable. In fact, it’s vital to prioritize our well-being, not just for ourselves but for those we care for. Self-care is not selfish; it’s about ensuring we’re in the best mindset to manage everything on our plates. Here are some quotes to inspire self care that have helped me navigate these challenges.
Over the years, I’ve faced my share of struggles with depression and anxiety. These experiences have taught me that self-care goes beyond the pampering activities we often associate with the term. It’s about managing our overall health and wellness—mentally, emotionally, and physically. As someone who has navigated through dark times, I can attest that taking the time to care for myself has made a world of difference. Below, I’ve included quotes to inspire self care, reflections that have inspired me to make self-care a priority, even when life feels overwhelming.
20 Quotes on Setting Boundaries
- “Daring to set boundaries is about having the courage to love ourselves even when we risk disappointing others.” – Brené Brown
- “You get what you tolerate.” – Henry Cloud
- “Boundaries are a part of self-care. They are healthy, normal, and necessary.” – Doreen Virtue
- “The only people who get upset about you setting boundaries are the ones who were benefiting from you having none.” – Unknown
- “Good fences make good neighbors.” – Robert Frost
- “You have to decide what your highest priorities are and have the courage—pleasantly, smilingly, non-apologetically—to say no to other things.” – Stephen Covey
- “Boundaries protect the things that are of value to you.” – Unknown
- “Love yourself enough to set boundaries. Your time and energy are precious. You get to choose how you use it.” – Anna Taylor
- “Boundary setting is really a huge part of time management.” – Jim Loehr
- “Healthy boundaries are not walls. They are the gates and fences that allow you to enjoy the beauty of your own garden.” – Lydia Hall
- “Setting boundaries is a way of caring for myself. It doesn’t make me mean, selfish, or uncaring because I don’t do things your way. I care about me too.” – Christine Morgan
- “Boundaries aren’t just a practice of knowing what you want; they are a practice of knowing what you need.” – Unknown
- “Whatever you are not changing, you are choosing.” – Laurie Buchanan
- “Know your limits, then defy them.” – Unknown
- “The most compassionate people are also the most boundaried.” – Brené Brown
- “No is a complete sentence.” – Anne Lamott
- “Boundaries aren’t meant to shove people out. They’re meant to let the right ones in.” – Brandy Austin
- “Say no out of strength rather than yes out of fear.” – Unknown
- “Boundaries are the distance at which I can love you and me simultaneously.” – Prentis Hemphill
- “I define boundaries for myself, not to build a wall, but to grow.” – Jennifer Williamson
Mindful Choices: Recognizing and Managing Vices
Another aspect of self-care that often goes overlooked is the need to recognize and manage our vices. When life gets stressful, it’s easy to fall into unhealthy coping mechanisms. For me, that often meant turning to wine and sweets. While they provided temporary relief, I realized they weren’t the healthiest ways to cope with stress. Acknowledging this was a crucial step in my self-care journey.
Finding healthier alternatives made a significant difference in how I managed stress. Instead of reaching for a glass of wine, I started practicing deep breathing exercises or going for a walk. These small changes helped me feel more in control and supported my overall well-being. A quote that has inspired me in this area is by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe: “Knowing is not enough; we must apply. Willing is not enough; we must do.” This quote encourages us to take action, to make mindful choices that contribute to our health and happiness. Such quotes to inspire self care remind us of the importance of mindfulness in our daily lives.
20 Quotes on Mindful Choices
- “The greatest weapon against stress is our ability to choose one thought over another.” – William James
- “Mindfulness isn’t difficult; we just need to remember to do it.” – Sharon Salzberg
- “Life is a matter of choices, and every choice you make makes you.” – John C. Maxwell
- “You are free to make whatever choice you want, but you are not free from the consequences of the choice.” – Unknown
- “Every day brings a choice: to practice stress or to practice peace.” – Joan Borysenko
- “Our life is the creation of our mind.” – Buddha
- “Between stimulus and response, there is a space. In that space lies our freedom and power to choose our response.” – Viktor Frankl
- “Mindfulness means being awake. It means knowing what you are doing.” – Jon Kabat-Zinn
- “The choices we make determine our destiny.” – Brandon Mull
- “Your choices determine your future.” – Zig Ziglar
- “You are your choices.” – Seneca
- “It is not our abilities that show what we truly are… it is our choices.” – J.K. Rowling
- “Mindfulness is a way of befriending ourselves and our experience.” – Jon Kabat-Zinn
- “The quality of your life is determined by the quality of your decisions.” – Michael Hyatt
- “You cannot control the results, only your actions.” – Allan Lokos
- “Your life changes the moment you make a new, congruent, and committed decision.” – Tony Robbins
- “Self-care is how you take your power back.” – Lalah Delia
- “In the choices we make, we shape our destiny.” – Alice Walker
- “It’s not what happens to you, but how you react to it that matters.” – Epictetus
- “Mindfulness gives you time. Time gives you choices. Choices, skillfully made, lead to freedom.” – Bhante Henepola Gunaratana
Embracing Self-Care: A Lifelong Journey
Self-care is not a one-time event but a lifelong journey. It’s about consistently making choices that prioritize our health and well-being, even in the face of life’s challenges. It’s about recognizing that we cannot pour from an empty cup and that by taking care of ourselves, we are better equipped to care for others. This journey isn’t always easy, and it requires intention and effort. But it’s one of the most important investments we can make. As you embrace self-care, these quotes to inspire self care can serve as a reminder of why this journey is so essential.
In my journey with depression and anxiety, self-care has been my anchor. It has helped me navigate some of the darkest times in my life and emerge stronger on the other side. The quotes and reflections I’ve shared are just a few of the reminders that have guided me along the way. I hope they inspire you to prioritize your self-care, to set boundaries, to make mindful choices, and to embrace this journey with grace and courage. After all, you are worth it.
20 Quotes to Inspire Self Care
- “Self-care is not a luxury. It’s a necessity.” – Unknown
- “Taking care of yourself doesn’t mean me first, it means me too.” – L.R. Knost
- “Self-care is how you take your power back.” – Lalah Delia
- “Caring for myself is not self-indulgence, it is self-preservation, and that is an act of political warfare.” – Audre Lorde
- “Self-care is giving the world the best of you, instead of what’s left of you.” – Katie Reed
- “You can’t pour from an empty cup. Take care of yourself first.” – Unknown
- “Self-care is never a selfish act—it is simply good stewardship of the only gift I have, the gift I was put on earth to offer others.” – Parker Palmer
- “Your self-care is a gift to the world.” – Suzanne Falter
- “You owe yourself the love that you so freely give to others.” – Unknown
- “Self-care is how we fuel our engines so that we can keep going and keep giving.” – Unknown
- “Sometimes self-care is exercising and eating right. Sometimes it’s spending time with loved ones or taking a nap. And sometimes it’s watching an entire season of TV in one weekend while you lounge in your pajamas. Whatever soothes your soul.” – Nanea Hoffman
- “Self-care means giving yourself permission to pause.” – Cecilia Tran
- “If you’re too busy to take care of yourself, you’re too busy.” – Unknown
- “The most powerful relationship you will ever have is the relationship with yourself.” – Steve Maraboli
- “Self-compassion is simply giving the same kindness to ourselves that we would give to others.” – Christopher Germer
- “You can’t take care of others if you don’t take care of yourself first.” – Unknown
- “Self-care is choosing not to argue with people who are committed to misunderstanding you.” – Unknown
- “Your work is to discover your world and then with all your heart give yourself to it.” – Buddha
- “Taking care of yourself makes you stronger for everyone in your life.” – Kelly Rudolph
- “Self-care is the art of putting yourself first in a world that often teaches us to put others first.” – Unknown
Take Action Today
Self-care is a powerful tool in managing life’s challenges, and it’s one that we must actively choose to incorporate into our lives. Whether it’s setting boundaries, recognizing unhealthy habits, or simply taking a moment to pause and breathe, every small act of self-care adds up. I encourage you to reflect on your own self-care practices and consider how you can make them a priority in your life. Remember, you are deserving of the time and effort it takes to care for yourself. As you continue on your journey, keep these quotes and reflections in mind—they are here to support and inspire you every step of the way.
Michelle D. Garrett is the founder of Divas With A Purpose.
She focuses on sharing resources for being purposely productive; setting personal and professional goals and achieving them through daily action; and successfully running a business while focusing on your mental health. Michelle is a full-time entrepreneur who specializes in teaching female entrepreneurs how to show up consistently in their business – online and off.