10 Inspiring Chronic Pain Quotes for Healing & Living

In the depths of our pain, everything can seem like an insurmountable challenge. We can feel incredibly isolated, like no one else understands what we’re going through. I hope these inspiring chronic pain quotes help you realize that you are not alone in these struggles.

Pain serves a purpose. Without it you are in danger. What you cannot feel you cannot take care of. ―Rebecca Solnit

It can be hard to see our pain as crucial information when it can cause us so much suffering. But the truth is that our bodies are in pain for some real, tangible reason. The experience of physical pain is actually your body sending you a signal. It’s trying to help you help yourself: “Help, there’s a problem you can’t ignore! Help me heal!”

3 Routes to Healing: 1. You must let the pain visit. 2. You must allow it teach you. 3. You must not allow it overstay. ―Ijeoma Umebinyuo

The first step to healing your chronic pain is really sitting with your pain with the awareness that this is what you are experiencing at this point in time. Yes, pain hurts, but your mind has the power to accept and transcend the experience you’re going through. From that place of acceptance you can learn what your pain is trying to tell you and take the steps needed to promote your healing processes.

Once you start approaching your body with curiosity rather than with fear, everything shifts. ―Bessel A. van der Kolk

Pain and fear are so interwoven, and it can be scary to move your body when you don’t know if you may cause yourself more pain. But we have to start somewhere. We can intentionally change our paralysis caused by fear and shift to a mindset of curiosity.

The key is to focus on the things we CAN do, no matter how small they may seem. Instead of focusing on what we can’t do, it’s about asking yourself, “What CAN I do today?”

Healing is more about accepting the pain and finding a way to peacefully co-exist with it. In the sea of life, pain is a tide that will ebb and weave, continually. We need to learn how to let it wash over us, without drowning in it. Our life doesn’t have to end where the pain begins, but rather, it is where we start to mend. ―Jaeda DeWalt

You can choose to have compassion for your mind and for your body. If that sounds impossible, you can try imagining that you’re not the one experiencing the pain, but instead, it’s someone you love. How would you love and support them if they were experiencing this suffering? Oftentimes we’ll respond kinder to other people than to ourselves. But with some intention and practice, we can learn to be kinder to ourselves, too.

If you can sit with your pain, listen to your pain and respect your pain — in time you will move through your pain. ―Bryant McGill

When we get in tune with our pain, it will tell us when our bodies are capable of a little more, and it will tell us when we need to be the most gentle with ourselves.

You may have days where you’re in so much pain you are barely able to move or get out of bed. On those days especially, you can practice having patience with yourself. Maybe you are able to get up and walk around the house for a little bit, and that is enough.

Other days, your pain may not be as bad. You may be able to do the dishes or the laundry. Those are real wins, and you’re allowed to smile and be positive that more of these days will keep happening.

I believe that there is a direct parallel between the condition of your body and the condition of your brain. When you release the stiffness in your body, you are also creating flexibility in your brain. You become the instinctive, spontaneous healer of your own body and mind. ―Ilchi Lee

The body and mind influence each other in innumerable ways. When we are in severe pain, our minds may tumble down a spiral of depression.

When we have feelings of uncontrollable sadness, we are allowed to lean into those feelings and just be sad for a while. We are allowed to cry the tears we want to cry. We are also allowed to write through our struggles. Writing our feelings in a journal can help us fully experience and release these emotions. After we cry, write, and process these emotions, we may feel lighter and a little less sad.

Our thoughts create our reality to an extent. Instead of thinking “I’m always in pain,” you can try thinking “I’m in pain at this moment, but I am healing.”

Deep down within the heart there is a stillness which is healing, a trust in the universal laws which is unwavering, and a strength which is rock-like. But because it is so deep we need both patience and perseverance when digging for it. ―Paul Brunton

You do have the ability to heal yourself. It definitely takes patience, but you entirely have the ability to dig deep to find strength and peace through this process.

The natural healing force within each of us is the greatest force in getting well. ―Hippocrates

You can choose to have faith that your body CAN heal itself. Have faith in the natural healing force within all of us. Have faith in yourself that you will choose to do things that help support your body’s healing processes.

Even the smallest shift in perspective can bring about the greatest healing.  ―Joshua Kai

Even in the depths of our pain, we can choose to look for the light in the darkness. If we make a positive shift in our perspective, we can help facilitate our healing. Even in the midst of suffering, we can be grateful that we’re alive and having this human experience. Pain hurts us, but it can also teach us valuable lessons in patience, resilience, grace, and so much more if we allow it to.

The only way out is through. ―Robert Frost

The path of healing from chronic pain may be a long one, and at times it seems like it may never end. Our pain demands acknowledgement, and there is no one quick fix. But by examining the root causes of our pain, we can make the best decisions for our healing and continue to move forwards.

Thanks for reading these chronic pain quotes! I wish you the very best on your path of healing. In my next post, I’ll be sharing the details of my experiences with many different healing modalities.