To live life is to experience anxiety — whether we’re agonizing over that big promotion or worrying that we accidentally said something awkward at a dinner party. In those moments, your mind can be your worst enemy, descending into a series of “what ifs” and worst-case scenarios that only make a situation more stressful. It’s in those moments that practicing awareness and taking a deep breath can course correct your brain and put an end to that needless doom spiral.
These 10 quotes offer encouragement for quieting the anxious mind. So take a deep breath and soak in the calming wisdom of famous writers, philosophers, and leaders.
Feelings come and go like clouds in a windy sky. Conscious breathing is my anchor.
— Thích Nhất Hạnh
Your mind will answer most questions if you learn to relax and wait for the answers.
— William S. Burroughs
Everything we do is infused with the energy with which we do it. If we’re frantic, life will be frantic. If we’re peaceful, life will be peaceful.
— Marianne Williamson
You may not control all the events that happen to you, but you can decide not to be reduced by them.
— Maya Angelou
Life is really simple, but we insist on making it complicated.
— Confucius
Breathe. Let go. And remind yourself that this very moment is the only one you know you have for sure.
— Oprah Winfrey
You cannot perceive beauty, but with a serene mind.
— Henry David Thoreau
The ideal of calm exists in a sitting cat.
— Jules Renard
The nearer a man comes to a calm mind the closer he is to strength.
— Marcus Aurelius
Keep Calm and Carry On
— Government of the United Kingdom
Photo credit: nutt/ Shutterstock
About the Author
Darren Orf
Darren lives in Portland, Oregon, has two cats, and writes about science, technology, nature, and history.
