The journey of growth is rarely smooth. Yet, in every crack, every stumble, there is a spark waiting to be fanned into flame. Below is a curated collection of quotes to fuel your transformation, remind you of your power, and light your path forward.
Self-Improvement & Awakening
“Your life does not get better by chance; it gets better by change.”
— Jim Rohn
“It is never too late to be what you might have been.”
— George Eliot
“The only person you are destined to become is the person you decide to be.”
— Ralph Waldo Emerson
“We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act but a habit.”
— Will Durant
“One can choose to go back toward safety or forward toward growth. Growth must be chosen again and again; fear must be overcome again and again.”
— Abraham Maslow
“Permit yourself to change your mind when something is no longer working for you.”
— Nedra Glover Tawwab
“The only way that we can live, is if we grow. The only way that we can grow is if we change.”
— C. JoyBell C.
“What the caterpillar calls the end of the world, the master calls a butterfly.”
— Richard Bach
“Change brings opportunity.”
— Nido Qubein Southern New Hampshire University
These words remind us: transformation starts in the smallest choices. Each time you decide—“I will learn, I will try, I will change”—you tilt your life toward becoming.
Overcoming Obstacles & Adversity
“Life doesn’t get easier or more forgiving, we get stronger and more resilient.”
— Steve Maraboli
“We may encounter many defeats, but we must not be defeated.”
— Maya Angelou
“Adversity does not build character, it reveals it.”
— James Lane Allen
“It is your reaction to adversity, not the adversity itself, that determines how your life’s story will develop.”
— Dieter F. Uchtdorf
“Rock bottom became the solid foundation in which I rebuilt my life.”
— J.K. Rowling
“Challenges are what make life interesting, and overcoming them is what makes life meaningful.”
— Joshua J. Marine
“Success is not final, failure is not fatal: It is the courage to continue that counts.”
— Winston Churchill
“The only limit to our realization of tomorrow is our doubts of today.”
— Franklin D. Roosevelt
“It always seems impossible until it’s done.”
— Nelson Mandela
“The only real mistake is the one from which we learn nothing.”
— Henry Ford
When life knocks you off balance, remember: those challenges are the very teachers that mold your resilience, grit, and soul.
Transformation, Change & Evolution
“Transformation is not a future event; it’s a present activity.”
— Jillian Michaels
“Change is inevitable, but transformation is by conscious choice.”
— Heather Ash Amara
“What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us.”
— Ralph Waldo Emerson
“Yes, your transformation will be hard. Yes, you will feel frightened, messed up, and knocked down. Yes, you’ll want to stop. Yes, it’s the best work you’ll ever do.”
— Robin Sharma
“The only way to make sense out of change is to plunge into it, move with it, and join the dance.”
— Alan Watts
“Sometimes good things fall apart so better things could fall together.”
— Marilyn Monroe
“Incredible change happens in your life when you decide to take control of what you have power over instead of craving control over what you don’t.”
— Steve Maraboli
“Recognizing that you are not where you want to be is a starting point to begin changing your life.”
— Deborah Day
“Change is made of choices, and choices are made of character.”
— Amanda Gorman
“Change is the law of life and those who look only to the past or present are certain to miss the future.”
— John F. Kennedy
“The only way that we can grow is if we change. The only way that we can change is if we learn.”
— (Anonymous / collective wisdom) Wisdom Quotes
Embrace change not as an enemy, but as your greatest collaborator. In each shift, in every letting go, there’s a new you waiting to emerge.
Empower Yourself & Rise
“People change when they hurt enough that they have to change, learn enough that they want to change, receive enough that they are able to change.”
— John C. Maxwell
“Good management of bad experiences leads to great personal growth.”
— John C. Maxwell
“It does not matter how slowly you go, as long as you do not stop.”
— Confucius
“The greatest glory in living lies not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall.”
— Nelson Mandela
“Rock bottom is the solid ground on which new life is built.”
— Unknown
“Be the change you want to see in this world.”
— Mahatma Gandhi
“You must be the change you wish to see in the world.”
— Gandhi (alternate phrasing)
“The only journey is the one within.”
— Rainer Maria Rilke
“You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream.”
— C.S. Lewis
“Knowing yourself is the beginning of all wisdom.”
— Aristotle
“Challenges are what make life interesting, and overcoming them is what makes life meaningful.”
— Joshua J. Marine (repeated here for emphasis) SUCCESS
When you reclaim your power, you don’t just survive—you shine, inspire, and transform.
How to Use These Quotes in Your Growth Practice
- Select & Sit With One — Each morning, pick one quote and let it simmer in your mind.
- Journal with It — Write: “What does this demand of me today?” or “How can I live this quote now?”
- Carry It — Use it as a screensaver, sticky note, bookmark, or mantra throughout your day.
- Speak It Aloud — Reading a quote with conviction accelerates its impact.
- Teach It Forward — Share with someone else. Sometimes the act of passing it on cements it in you.
Final Word
Your growth is not accidental. It’s a call, a craft, a commitment.
The quotes above are sparks. The work is yours to do. As you fall, rise. As you question, clarify. As you stumble, steady. As you grow, shine.
And if you ever want help, guidance, or direction in turning these seeds of wisdom into concrete change—for yourself or in your work with others—consider exploring a coaching or certification path (for example, through School of Positive Transformation) to support your next-level journey.
Dr. Itai Ivtzan is a Positive Psychologist, and founder of the School of Positive Transformation. He has been a Professor at Naropa University and UCL. With over 20 years of experience combining Eastern wisdom with Western psychology, Dr. Ivtzan has published six books and more than 50 journal papers in mindfulness, positive psychology, and personal growth, with his Psychology Today articles garnering over 500,000 total reads. As a sought-after keynote speaker, he’s passionate about helping individuals become “super-heroes” with enhanced awareness, courage, resilience, and compassion. He invites his students and readers to explore the intersection of psychology and spirituality through his accredited programs, which have transformed the lives of over 15,000 students worldwide.
