Meditation is extremely popular as an element of a healthy lifestyle. But it can sometimes be challenging to remain motivated to meditate, and that’s where inspirational quotes come in handy.
Meditation quotes help you stay motivated by reminding you of what you’re meditating for. Whether it’s more mental clarity or coping with large amounts of stress, these inspirational quotes can help you refocus your mind.
The following article is a detailed list of 35 meditation quotes to keep you motivated and inspired. Each quote includes a short explanation of what it means and how it can be helpful towards your meditation.
Table of Contents
What Are Some Meditation Quotes?
Meditation quotes are short phrases that you can write down or keep in your mind to help you stay inspired. You can also come up with your own short quotes, called mantras, to repeat to yourself as you meditate.
The mantras can be about anything currently on your mind right now. For example, if you are dealing with a large amount of stress, you can repeat something that calms your mind down. A few examples of general meditation mantras include:
- “Taking time to recharge now will fuel me long term”
- “My body deserves time to rest and recharge”
- “I have the power to settle my mind”
If the mantra quote helps you feel better as you’re meditating, then it’s a good quote to keep with you.
Who Is Most Famous for Their Meditation Quotes?
One of the most famous people behind meditation quotes is Mahatma Gandhi. But there are a few modern celebrities who also use meditation and provide important quotes about meditation.
Mahatma Gandhi is a prominent figure in the practice of meditation, and thus provided some of the most popular meditation quotes. One of his most famous quotes is “A man is but the product of his thoughts; what he thinks, he becomes”. Essentially, if your mind is constantly stressed or anxious, then it will start to affect the rest of your life. That’s why it’s important to gain mental clarity through meditation.
There are also a few contemporary celebrities that frequently practice meditation. A few notable people that meditate include:
- Hugh Jackman
- Katy Perry
- Oprah Winfrey
- Jim Carrey
The common theme in their meditation quotes is that meditation is something that lets you connect with your inner self, the you that is not visible to the rest of the world. The practice has helped them gain a stronger sense of self and has carried over into their artistic expression. These quotes can even be integrated into Buddhist meditation techniques for beginners.
35 Meditation Quotes to Keep You Inspired
The following list includes some quotes to help with mental struggles such as:
- Anxiety
- Lack of motivation
- Clarity
- Depression
- Stress
But they can be applicable to anyone in need of some extra meditation inspiration.
You can also use these quotes as part of a personal mantra in your meditation routine. It’s recommended to use them in whatever way is most beneficial to you during your meditation journey.
Quotes For Clarity
Having a clear mind is the first step towards meaningful meditation practices, so it’s important to practice mental clarity. These quotes can help with that process, whether they are used as mantras or something to keep in mind while you meditate.
Mental clarity is the first step towards meditation because nothing substantial can occur until the thoughts that are troubling you are cleared away. The clearer your mind is, the more effective your meditation routine will become.
The most effective quotes you can use towards gaining mental clarity include the following:
- “There is something about a crisis that gives us clarity.”- Grace Marshall
- “As you gain clarity about your various stories, you gain clarity about your choices and what truly matters to you.”- Phillip Moffitt
- “Seeking clarity is seeking a connection with the universe and connecting with the universe is to understand higher consciousness.” -Amrit Bansal
- “Clarity is essential to create success and achieve goals that are important to us.”- Deborah Olsen
- “Every new experience brings its own maturity and a greater clarity of vision.”- Indira Gandhi
- “Clear thinking requires courage rather than intelligence.”-Thomas Szasz.
- “Thoughts come and go. Feelings come and go. Find out what it is that remains.” -Ramana Maharshi.
Gaining mental clarity is a process, but meditation is a great place to start. These quotes can help you hit the ground running towards a clearer mental state and meditation practice.
Quotes for Anxiety
Anxiety can affect us negatively in many aspects of life, but meditation can be a great way to lessen its effects. The following quotes can help you get started, and you can use as many or as few as you need.
The best meditation quotes for dealing with anxiety focus on two main things. The first is giving as little power as possible to anxious thoughts. The second is to understand that the things giving you anxiety can usually be solved, and that you are more than capable of doing so.
The most popular meditation quotes for dealing with anxiety include the following:
- “There is hope, even when your brain tells you there isn’t”. -John Green
- “Those who have a ‘why’ to live, can bear with almost any ‘how’.”- Viktor E. Frankl
- “Even if you’re on the right track, you’ll get run over if you just sit there”- Will Rogers
- “Thoughts are only thoughts. They are not you.” -John Green
- “Our greatest glory is not in never failing, but in rising up every time we fall.”- Confucius
- “I think that little by little I’ll be able to solve my problems and survive” – Frida Kahlo
- “If you reflect within yourself and find nothing to be ashamed of, how could you have anxiety or fear.” – Confucius
The quotes are meant to remind you that anxious thoughts are just that, thoughts. The more you focus on letting them just be thoughts, the less power they will have over you. You can then start working towards solving whatever issue is making you anxious, thus leading to a more mentally healthy and productive life.
Quotes For Lack of Motivation
It can be hard to stay motivated to meditate sometimes, especially with a busy daily schedule. But these quotes can help you find the motivation to meditate, even if it’s for just a few minutes a day.
The main focus of these quotes is motivating you to meditate whenever you can, wherever you can. Even just a few deep breaths at your desk or in your car can make a big difference. You can also use these quotes during your meditation process to push you towards other goals in your work or personal life.
Some popular quotes for regaining motivation and inspiration include the following:
- “Start where you are. Use what you have. Do what you can.”- Arthur Ashe
- “You will never win if you never begin.”- Helen Rowland
- “The ultimate aim of the ego is not to see something, but to be something”- Muhammad Iqbal
- “It does not matter how slowly you go as long as you do not stop”- Confucius
- “The hardships that I encountered in the past will help me succeed in the future.”- Philip Emeagwali
- “We may encounter many defeats, but we must not be defeated”- Maya Angelou
- “You must be the change you wish to see in the world.”- Mahatma Gandhi
Meditation does not have to be done perfectly, but it should be done as consistently as possible. The quotes above all mean that nothing will get started until you decide to start, and they are encouraging you to do so.
Quotes For Depression
The best quotes for depression focus on taking care of yourself and your mind. They can also be used as personal mantras to repeat to yourself during your meditation practice.
Meditation quotes that focus on depression advocate for putting yourself first, mentally and physically. They are written to motivate you towards doing whatever is necessary to help you work through depressing thoughts and move forward in life. If you take care of yourself first, you’ll be able to take care of everything else in life.
The best quotes for using meditation to cope with depression include the following:
- “Never let your head hang down. Never give up and sit down and grieve. Find another way.” Leroy Satchel Paige
- “We must understand that sadness is an ocean, and sometimes we drown, while other days we are forced to swim.” R.M. Drake
- “Tears are words that need to be written.” Paulo Coelho
- “But I know, somehow, that only when it is dark enough can you see the stars.” Martin Luther King, Jr.
- “Maybe you have to know the darkness before you can appreciate the light.” Madeleine L’Engle
- “Each morning we are born again. What we do today is what matters most.” — Buddha
- “Life is really simple, but we insist on making it complicated.” ― Confucius
Meditation can be an effective and healthy coping mechanism for depression and putting these quotes to use can be a great first step. Meditation helps with depression, but that’s just one of the many reasons people meditate.
Quotes for Stress
Stress can affect our lives negatively in substantial ways. But meditation can help lessen the effects of it, both mentally and physically. Quotes on dealing with stress through meditation can set you on the right path.
The main focus of the meditation quotes is explaining how meditation can make your mind a sanctuary for you to retreat to. Meditation should be something that can help you step away from the common stressors of life, and these quotes outline how you can move towards that goal.
The most effective and popular quotes for using meditation to cope with stress include:
- “Inward calm cannot be maintained unless physical strength is constantly and intelligently replenished.” – Buddha
- “Chasing after the world brings chaos. Allowing it all to come to me, brings peace.” – Zen Gatha
- “Within you, there is a stillness and a sanctuary to which you can retreat any time and be yourself.” – Hermann Hesse
- “Meditation is not a way of making the mind go quiet. It’s a way of entering into the quiet that’s already there – buried under the 50,000 thoughts, the average person thinks every day.” – Deepak Chopra
- “A flower does not think of competing with the flower next to it. It just blooms.” – Zen Shin
- “If you have time to breathe, you have time to meditate.” – Ajahn Chah
- “Without peace, all other dreams vanish and are reduced to ashes.” – Jawaharlal Nehru
While all of these quotes are meant to be helpful, they won’t do much good unless you apply them to your meditation routine. Some might be more beneficial to your situation than others, but they can all enhance your meditation routine if you include them.
Final Thoughts
Some of these meditation quotes can be more applicable to your situation than others, and that’s ok. If the quote is beneficial to you and helps you stay motivated to meditate, then that’s the most important thing.
Now that you are motivated, you can start meditating at home!
