25 Recovery Quotes for the Christmas Season

The holiday season can bring warmth, connection, and joy—but it can also stir up stress, grief, and old habits. For people in recovery, and for loved ones supporting them, Christmas may come with added emotional weight. Traditions, expectations, and memories can make this time of year especially complex.

Recovery-focused reminders can help steady the moment. Words of wisdom—simple, honest, and encouraging—can offer perspective when things feel overwhelming. These 25 recovery quotes are here to inspire self-compassion, perseverance, and hope throughout the Christmas season and beyond.

Recovery Quotes

Quote #1

“Forgiving yourself, believing in yourself, and choosing to love yourself are the best gifts one could receive.” ― Brittany Burgunder

Quote #2

“I am not defined by my relapses, but in my decision to remain in recovery despite them.” ― Anonymous

Quote #3

“Believe you can, and you’re halfway there.” ― Theodore Roosevelt

Quote #4

“Be stronger than your strongest excuse. Be greater than your most negative voice.”

― Alan Maiccon

Quote #5

“The best way to predict your future is to create it.” ― Abraham Lincoln

Quote #6

“It’s the days you have every right to break down and fall apart, yet choosing to show up anyway is what matters most. Don’t diminish the small steps that others can’t see.” ― Brittany Burgunder

Quote #7

“I am a great believer in luck, and I find that the harder I work the more luck I have.” ― Thomas Jefferson

Quote #8

“Courage isn’t having the strength to go on―it is going on when you don’t have strength.” ― Napoléon Bonaparte

Quote #9

“It does not matter how slowly you go as long as you do not stop.” ― Confucius

Quote #10

“Rock bottom became the solid foundation on which I rebuilt my life.” ― J.K. Rowling

Quote #11

“The only person you are destined to become is the person you decide to be.” ― Ralph Waldo Emerson

Quote #12

“One of the hardest things was learning that I was worth recovery.” ― Demi Lovato

Quote #13

“Change your thoughts, change your life.” ― Lao Tzu

Quote #14

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

Quote #15

”At the end of the day, you can either focus on what’s tearing you apart or what’s keeping you together. ” ― Anonymous

Quote #16

“Courage is resistance to fear, mastery of fear, not absence of fear.” ― Mark Twain

Quote #17

“Recovery is hard. Regret is harder.” ― Brittany Burgunder

Quote #18

“Every worthy act is difficult. Ascent is always difficult. Descent is easy and often slippery.” ― Mahatma Gandhi

Quote #19

“The most common way people give up their power is by thinking they don’t have any.” ― Alice Walker

Quote #20

“Don’t let the past steal your present.” ― Terri Guillemets

Quote #21

“Hardships often prepare ordinary people for an extraordinary destiny.” ― C.S. Lewis

Quote #22

“Turn your face to the sun and the shadows fall behind you.” ― Charlotte Whitton

Quote #23

“The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.” ― Lao Tzu

Quote #24

“We can’t solve problems by using the same kind of thinking we used when we created them.” ― Albert Einstein

Quote #25

“When everything seems to be going against you, remember that the airplane takes off against the wind, not with it.” ― Henry Ford

Recover in Love

Recovery does not pause for the holidays—and neither does growth. Whether Christmas feels joyful, complicated, or somewhere in between, healing remains possible. Each small choice toward self-care and connection matters.

If this season brings challenges, support is available. Recovery thrives with compassion, encouragement, and the reminder that no one has to navigate hard moments alone. Ready to take the next step? Explore addiction treatment programs near you and find care that supports your recovery—during the holidays and throughout the year.

If you’re ready to find addiction treatment for yourself or a loved one, we’re here to help. Browse top medical detox centers in the US, inpatient addiction treatment facilities, aftercare options, and more to start on the path to recovery. You can search for rehab by insurance carrier, location, amenities, and more for free. Don’t wait. Get help today.