Let’s face it, confronting an abusive family member is no small feat. It takes guts, resilience, and a whole lot of heart. Sometimes, finding the right words to express our feelings and set boundaries can be the hardest part. That’s why we’ve compiled a list of empowering quotes to arm you with the courage and words you need. Whether you’re in the midst of the storm or helping someone navigate their way out, these quotes are here to remind you that you’re not alone, and yes, you got this.
Contents
Quotes on Setting Boundaries
- “The only people who get upset about you setting boundaries are the ones who were benefiting from you having none.” – Unknown
- “Daring to set boundaries is about having the courage to love ourselves, even when we risk disappointing others.” – Brené Brown
- “Boundaries are a part of self-care. They are healthy, normal, and necessary.” – Doreen Virtue
Quotes on Self-Worth and Respect
- “Never forget that walking away from something unhealthy is brave, even if you stumble a little on your way out the door.” – Mandy Hale
- “I am not what happened to me, I am what I choose to become.” – Carl Jung
- “You deserve to be in spaces and relationships that make you happy; that feed your soul and help you grow.” – Unknown
- “Your value doesn’t decrease based on someone’s inability to see your worth.” – Unknown
Quotes on Healing and Recovery
- “Healing doesn’t mean the damage never existed. It means the damage no longer controls our lives.” – Unknown
- “Sometimes healing involves sitting in coffee shops and writing the years of pain from your soul.” – Unknown
- “The most powerful healing comes from understanding.” – Unknown
Quotes on Finding Courage
- “Courage is not the absence of fear, but rather the judgement that something else is more important than fear.” – James Neil Hollingworth
- “You gain strength, courage, and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face.” – Eleanor Roosevelt
- “It takes courage to grow up and become who you really are.” – E.E. Cummings
- “Facing it, always facing it, that’s the way to get through. Face it.” – Joseph Conrad
- “Courage is the power to let go of the familiar.” – Raymond Lindquist
Quotes on Embracing Change
- “Change is painful, but nothing is as painful as staying stuck somewhere you don’t belong.” – Mandy Hale
- “The secret of change is to focus all of your energy, not on fighting the old, but on building the new.” – Socrates
- “To exist is to change, to change is to mature, to mature is to go on creating oneself endlessly.” – Henri Bergson
- “Change is hard at first, messy in the middle and gorgeous at the end.” – Robin Sharma
- “They always say time changes things, but you actually have to change them yourself.” – Andy Warhol
Quotes on Self-Love and Acceptance
- “Loving yourself isn’t vanity. It’s sanity.” – Katrina Mayer
- “You yourself, as much as anybody in the entire universe, deserve your love and affection.” – Buddha
- “To fall in love with yourself is the first secret to happiness.” – Robert Morley
- “Owning our story and loving ourselves through that process is the bravest thing that we’ll ever do.” – Brené Brown
- “Your self-worth is determined by you. You don’t have to depend on someone telling you who you are.” – Beyoncé
Quotes on Surviving and Thriving
- “Surviving is important. Thriving is elegant.” – Maya Angelou
- “Sometimes when you’re in a dark place you think you’ve been buried, but you’ve actually been planted.” – Christine Caine
- “My mission in life is not merely to survive, but to thrive.” – Maya Angelou
- “Do not just seek happiness for yourself. Seek happiness for all. Through kindness. Through mercy.” – David Levithan
- “Thriving. That’s fighting… Surviving is barely getting by.” – Jill Telford
Quotes on Overcoming Fear
- “Fear is only as deep as the mind allows.” – Japanese Proverb
- “I learned that courage was not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it.” – Nelson Mandela
- “Fear does not stop death. It stops life.” – Unknown
- “Everything you want is on the other side of fear.” – Jack Canfield
- “Do the thing you fear most and the death of fear is certain.” – Mark Twain
Quotes on Empowerment and Action
- “Empower yourself and realize the importance of contributing to the world by living your talent. Work on what you love. You are responsible for the talent that has been entrusted to you.” – Catharina Bruns
- “Act as if what you do makes a difference. It does.” – William James
- “Take responsibility of your own happiness, never put it in other people’s hands.” – Roy T. Bennett
- “Don’t wait for opportunity. Create it.” – Unknown
- “You have within you right now, everything you need to deal with whatever the world can throw at you.” – Brian Tracy
Quotes on Rediscovering Joy
- “Joy does not simply happen to us. We have to choose joy and keep choosing it every day.” – Henri Nouwen
- “Find joy in everything you choose to do. Every job, relationship, home… it’s your responsibility to love it, or change it.” – Chuck Palahniuk
- “The joy we feel has little to do with the circumstances of our lives and everything to do with the focus of our lives.” – Russell M. Nelson
- “Happiness lies in the joy of achievement and the thrill of creative effort.” – Franklin D. Roosevelt
- “Let your joy be in your journey—not in some distant goal.” – Tim Cook
As we wrap up this powerful collection of quotes, remember that the journey toward healing, empowerment, and self-love is a path paved with courage, change, and the willingness to confront what holds us back. Each quote serves as a beacon of light, guiding us through the darkness of abusive family dynamics toward a future where we can thrive, find joy, and embrace our true selves. Let these words inspire you to take the steps necessary to reclaim your life, knowing that strength lies within you to overcome any challenge. Carry these quotes in your heart as reminders that you are not alone, your feelings are valid, and a brighter, healthier future awaits.