25 Recovery Quotes to Inspire You On Your Journey

Taking steps to change your relationship with alcohol is something to be incredibly proud of. And while the benefits of sobriety are plentiful, it’s normal to experience challenges and setbacks along the way. Wherever you are on your journey, motivational quotes and affirmations can give you a boost of encouragement to keep going. Creating visual reminders of quotes, like writing them on a sticky note or saving them as your phone background, is a great way to integrate inspiration into your daily life.

Here are 25 recovery quotes for you to take with you on your journey, handpicked by the team here at Monument:

Remember that you don’t have to know where you’re headed to make progress:


1. You don’t have to see the whole staircase, just take the first step” -Martin Luther King Jr.

"You don't have to see the whole staircase to take the first step" printed on a cartoon staircase

Focus on what you can control each day:


2. “Don’t judge each day by the harvest you reap but by the seeds that you plant.” -Robert Louis Stevenson

"“Don’t judge each day by the harvest you reap but by the seeds that you plant.” -Robert Louis Stevenson"

Remember that drinking less is just the beginning:


3. “When we strive to become better than we are, everything around us becomes better too.” -Paulo Coelho

"“When we strive to become better than we are, everything around us becomes better too.” -Paulo Coelho" with two roses

Know that your past does not define your future:


4. “I am not my worst days. I am not what happened to me” -Rupi Kaur

"“I am not my worst days. I am not what happened to me” -Rupi Kaur" with an illustration of a hiking going up a hill

Don’t be afraid to set boundaries:


5. “You’ve got to learn to leave the table when love’s no longer being served.” – Nina Simone

"“You’ve got to learn to leave the table when love’s no longer being served.” – Nina Simone" with a blue border

Remember that growth happens in discomfort:


6. “When in doubt, choose change” -Lily Leung

"“When in doubt, choose change” -Lily Leung" with a light green background

Remind yourself of your ‘why”:


7. “Sometimes we motivate ourselves by thinking of what we want to become. Sometimes we motivate ourselves by thinking about who we don’t ever want to be again.” – Shane Niemeyer

“Sometimes we motivate ourselves by thinking of what we want to become. Sometimes we motivate ourselves by thinking about who we don’t ever want to be again.” – Shane Niemeyer" with cream background

When in doubt, keep going:


8. “Sometimes carrying on, just carrying on, is the superhuman achievement.” –Albert Camus

"“Sometimes carrying on, just carrying on, is the superhuman achievement.” –Albert Camus"

Remember that it’s always a good time to build healthier habits:


9. “It’s never too late to change your direction” -Dr. Wayne Dyer

"“It’s never too late to change your direction” -Dr. Wayne Dyer" with illustration of lines lopping repetitively

Move at your own pace:


10. “Your direction is more important than your speed.” -Richard L. Evans

"Move at your own pace: “Your direction is more important than your speed.” -Richard L. Evans " with two geometric shapes seen at different angles

Embrace self-care in recovery:


11. “Keep taking time for yourself until you’re you again” -Lalah Delia

"“Keep taking time for yourself until you’re you again” -Lalah Delia"


Know that you can make it through whatever challenges arise:


12. “When we trust that we’re the ocean, we’re not afraid of the waves” -Tara Brach

"“When we trust that we’re the ocean, we’re not afraid of the waves” -Tara Brach" with image of waves breaking on sand


Remember that rest is productive:


13. “If you get tired, learn to rest, not to quit.” -Banksy

"“If you get tired, learn to rest, not to quit.” -Banksy"

Take action to achieve your goals and dreams:


14. “Dreams and reality are opposites. Action synthesizes them.” -Assata Shakur

"Dreams and reality are opposites. Action synthesizes them.” -Assata Shakur" with abstract dark green design

Appreciate that small steps amount to incredible progress:


15. “Success is the sum of small efforts, repeated day in and day out.” -Robert Collier

"“Success is the sum of small efforts, repeated day in and day out.” -Robert Collier" with faded blue and green gradient

Know that getting started is half the battle:


16. “There are only two mistakes one can make along the road to truth; not going all the way, and not starting.” -Buddha

"There are only two mistakes one can make along the road to truth; not going all the way, and not starting.”

Embrace that our growth is never complete:


17. “We are all rough drafts of the people we’re becoming” -Bob Goff

"“We are all rough drafts of the people we’re becoming” -Bob Goff" written repetitively at an angle with an orange beam

Know that tomorrow is a new day:


18. Courage doesn’t always roar. Sometimes courage is the little voice at the end of the day that says I’ll try again tomorrow.” -Mary Anne Radmacher

"Courage doesn’t always roar. Sometimes courage is the little voice at the end of the day that says I’ll try again tomorrow.” -Mary Anne Radmacher" with large quotation marks

Practice self-forgiveness and move forward:


19. “Your future needs you. Your past doesn’t” -Unknown

"“Your future needs you. Your past doesn’t” with bright yellow background

When you lack inspiration, lean on healthy habits:


20. “First forget inspiration. Habit is more dependable. Habit will sustain you whether you’re inspired or not… Habit is persistence in practice.” ―Octavia Butler

""First forget inspiration. Habit is more dependable. Habit will sustain you whether you're inspired or not… Habit is persistence in practice.” ―Octavia Butler" with light green background

Treat setbacks and triggers as teachers:


21. “Forgive yourself for not knowing what you didn’t know before you learned it.” -Maya Angelou

"“Forgive yourself for not knowing what you didn’t know before you learned it.” -Maya Angelou" dark green background

Remember that you are in the driver’s seat of your own journey:


22. “If you keep walking in the same direction, you’ll end up where you’re headed” -Lao Tzu

"“If you keep walking in the same direction, you’ll end up where you’re headed” cloud illustration

Make choices that honor your truest self:


23. “Healing may not be so much about getting better, as about letting go of everything that isn’t you- all of the expectations, all of the beliefs – and becoming who are you” -Rachel Naomi Remen

"Healing may not be so much about getting better, as about letting go of everything that isn’t you- all of the expectations, all of the beliefs - and becoming who are you” -Rachel Naomi Remen" light blue background

Celebrate how far you’ve come:


24. “Every time you thought you couldn’t keep moving forward, you did. Take a moment to appreciate your strength.” – Karen Salmansohn

"Every time you thought you couldn’t keep moving forward, you did. Take a moment to appreciate your strength.” - Karen Salmansohn" purple and pink gradient background

Be brave:


25. “Owning our story and loving ourselves through that process is the bravest thing that we will ever do.” – Brené Brown

"Owning our story and loving ourselves through that process is the bravest thing that we will ever do.” - Brené Brown" light blue background with ripples

Disclaimer: Our articles and resources do not constitute clinical or licensed therapy or other health care services. If you need counseling or therapy services please contact a licensed provider. If this is a medical emergency, call 911.

About the Author

Avatar photoMonument is an online platform for those looking to change their relationship with alcohol. We connect members to a free anonymous community, therapist-moderated groups, and a collection of resources to provide the support and information they deserve. Members seeking medical treatment are introduced to a licensed physician and a specialized therapist to develop a personalized treatment plan specific to their goals. Monument is affordable, accessible, and research-based, so a healthy relationship with alcohol is attainable and celebrated by all.