100+ Letting Go Quotes You Need to Use as Art Journal Prompts (for Self-Care)

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Use these 100+ letting go quotes as art journal prompts for self-care and finally free yourself from the past, enjoy the present, and embrace the future!

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Letting Go Quotes for Self-Care

Are you feeling weighed down by your past? Do you tend to keep reliving painful experiences again and again. Do you want to let go, so you can finally enjoy the present, but find it difficult? Gah, I hear you! 

Letting go can be an emotional rollercoaster – especially if you have a tendency to ruminate. But I’ve just discovered a powerful tool that can help: art journaling.

Imagine a safe space where you can express your deepest emotions, fears, and hopes without judgment. A place where you can explore your inner world and find solace in the creative process. Art journaling is that sanctuary – and all you have to do is use pens, paints, paint pens, brushes, pencils, cutouts (anything you want!) to create something straight from yourself.

Maybe you’re new to art journaling, or perhaps you’re seeking fresh inspiration to rekindle your artistic flame. Regardless of your experience level, I have curated 100+ inspiring quotes on letting go that can serve as the perfect prompts for your self-care practice.

These quotes will help you find the strength and courage to let go of whatever doesn’t serve you anymore and guide you on a transformative journey of self-discovery. They will encourage you to explore your emotions, confront the pain of the past, and embrace the beauty of the present moment.

Each quote will challenge you to reflect, to release, and to envision a future filled with joy and possibility. As you immerse yourself in the therapeutic process of art journaling, you’ll create a space where healing and self-expression thrive, and where the past no longer holds you captive.

So, are you ready to embark on this artistic voyage of self-care? Let’s get started!

How to Use These Letting Go Quotes as Art Journal Prompts for Self-Care

Using these quotes as art journal prompts to help you let go of things that no longer serve you is a powerful self-care practice. We can’t move forward if we’re chained to the past. Here are a few tips to get you started: 

Step 1: Select a Quote.

Selecting a quote that resonates with you or sparks a reaction in you – something that makes you think, feel, or see things in a new light – is your first step. I’ve added 100+ quotes from different people, and organized them under ten categories to make the information easier to consume. 

Step 2: Reflect on the Quote.

Before you start drawing or writing, take a moment to reflect or meditate on the quote. Why do you think you reacted to this quote? Is there an image that came to mind as you read it? Did you feel anything? Did it trigger a memory? What does the quote mean to you?

Step 3: Create Your Art.

Use your chosen quote as a springboard for your artwork. Perhaps choose a color that represents what you feel when you read this quote. Use that as a background or even a theme. You could even write the quote somewhere on the page. Again, there are no rules here. The idea is to express your interpretation of the quote.

Step 4: Add Your Insights.

Once you’re done with your artwork – and it has dried (if it needs to dry), you may want to also write your personal reflections somewhere on the page. How does the finished artwork make you feel? Are you feeling better or worse? Writing down these reflections can give you greater insight into your own self, a gift that art journaling often gives.

Step 5: Do It All Over Again.

As you continue your art journal therapy, you may want to select another quote or prompt to work on. Check out our posts below: 

• 100+ One Word Art Journal Prompts You Need To Try For Self-Care
• 100+ Inspiring Jim Rohn Quotes to Use as Art Journal Prompts For Self-Care

100+ Letting Go Quotes for Self-Care

Ready to let go of the past, enjoy the present, and look forward to the future? Take a look at the quotes below!

Quotes about Moving On

Moving on is often a difficult process, but the quotes below can remind us that life continues. It doesn’t stop – no matter how much we may want it to. So, we must journey forward, even if it’s sometimes painful.

1. “In three words I can sum up everything I’ve learned about life: it goes on.” – Robert Frost
2. “The first step towards getting somewhere is to decide that you are not going to stay where you are.” – J.P. Morgan
3. “Sometimes the hardest part isn’t letting go but rather learning to start over.” – Nicole Sobon
4. “Sometimes you have to take a step back to move forward.” – Erika Taylor
5. “The only thing more unthinkable than leaving was staying; the only thing more impossible than staying was leaving.” – Elizabeth Gilbert
6. “Once you make the decision to move on, don’t look back. Your destiny will never be found in the rear view mirror.” – Mandy Hale
7. “Take all the time you need to heal emotionally. Moving on doesn’t take a day. It takes a lot of little steps to be able to break free of your broken self.” – Tere Arigo
8. “The truth is, unless you let go, unless you forgive yourself, unless you forgive the situation, unless you realize that the situation is over, you cannot move forward.” – Steve Maraboli
9. “You have been assigned this mountain to show others it can be moved.” – Unknown
10. “We keep moving forward, opening new doors, and doing new things, because we’re curious and curiosity keeps leading us down new paths.” – Walt Disney

Quotes about Letting Go of the Past

Remember that the past is something we can’t change; it’s something we learn from. These quotes will help you let go of your past and move into your future with grace and strength.

1. “Anything you can’t control is teaching you how to let go.” – Jackson Kiddard
2. “The only real battle in life is between hanging on and letting go.” – Shannon L. Alder
3. “Once you realize you deserve a bright future, letting go of your dark past is the best choice you will ever make.” – Roy T. Bennett
4. “Renew, release, let go. Yesterday’s gone. There’s nothing you can do to bring it back. You can’t ‘should’ve’ done something. You can only DO something. Renew yourself. Release that attachment. Today is a new day!” – Steve Maraboli
5. “Don’t let the past steal your present. Your past has not defined, deterred or defeated you. It has only strengthened who you are today.” – Karen Salmansohn
6. “The past is like an anchor holding us back. You have to let go of who you are to become who you will be.” – Unknown
7. “When we think we have been hurt by someone in the past, we build up defenses to protect ourselves from being hurt in the future. So the fearful past causes a fearful future and the past and future become one.” – Gerald Jampolsky
8. “Holding on is believing that there’s only a past; letting go is knowing that there’s a future.” – Daphne Rose Kingma
9. “Remember, you can’t reach what’s in front of you until you let go of what’s behind you.” – Unknown
10. “The beautiful journey of today can only begin when we learn to let go of yesterday.” – Steve Maraboli

Quotes about Healing and Growth

Can letting go and moving on be painful? Yes! To succeed, we need to heal and grow, which is a journey filled with moments of self-discovery and resilience. These quotes provide solace and guidance as you navigate your path towards healing.

1. “Healing takes time, and asking for help is a courageous step.” – Mariska Hargitay
2. “We do not heal the past by dwelling there; we heal the past by living fully in the present.” – Marianne Williamson
3. “Healing is an art. It takes time, it takes practice. It takes love.” – Maza Dohta
4. “If you didn’t love him, this never would have happened. But you did. And accepting that love and everything that followed it is part of letting it go.” – Sarah Dessen
5. “Letting go doesn’t mean that you don’t care about someone anymore. It’s just realizing that the only person you really have control over is yourself.” – Deborah Reber
6. “We can’t be afraid of change. You may feel very secure in the pond that you are in, but if you never venture out of it, you will never know that there is such a thing as an ocean, a sea.” – C. JoyBell C.
7. “There is a time for departure even when there’s no certain place to go.” – Tennessee Williams
8. “Your past does not equal your future.” – Tony Robbins
9. “Life moves forward. The old leaves wither, die and fall away, and the new growth extends forward into the light.” – Bryant McGill
10. “The greatest step towards a life of simplicity is to learn to let go.” – Steve Maraboli

Quotes about Embracing Change

Change is a constant part of life. Embracing it, instead of fearing it, can lead to new opportunities and experiences. These quotes inspire courage and acceptance in the face of change.

1. “The only way to make sense out of change is to plunge into it, move with it, and join the dance.” – Alan Watts
2. “In the process of letting go you will lose many things from the past, but you will find yourself.” – Deepak Chopra
3. “Change is the essence of life; be willing to surrender what you are for what you could become.” – Reinhold Niebuhr
4. “The mental and physical space we create by letting go of things that belong in our past gives us the option to fill the space with something new.” – Susan Fay West
5. “Let go of certainty. The opposite isn’t uncertainty. It’s openness, curiosity and a willingness to embrace paradox, rather than choose up sides.” – Tony Schwartz
6. “When one door of happiness closes, another opens; but often we look so long at the closed door that we do not see the one which has been opened for us.” – Helen Keller
7. “It’s not the daily increase but daily decrease. Hack away at the unessential.” – Bruce Lee
8. “It is only through labor and painful effort, by grim energy and resolute courage, that we move on to better things.” – Theodore Roosevelt
9. “The art is not one of forgetting but letting go. And when everything else is gone, you can be rich in loss.” – Rebecca Solnit
10. “Letting go gives us freedom, and freedom is the only condition for happiness.” – Thich Nhat Hanh

Quotes about the Power of Perspective

Perspective can be a powerful tool in healing and growth. Changing our viewpoint can change our reality. These quotes remind us that our perspective can transform our pain into lessons and strength.

1. “Sometimes, you have to look back in order to understand the things that lie ahead.” – Yvonne Woon
2. “It’s not a matter of letting go – you would if you could. Instead of ‘Let it go’ we should probably say ‘Let it be’.” – Jon Kabat-Zinn
3. “The only thing a person can ever really do is keep moving forward. Take that big leap forward without hesitation, without once looking back. Simply forget the past and forge toward the future.” – Alyson Noel
4. “You can’t keep dancing with the devil and ask why you’re still in hell.” – Unknown
5. “There is a time for departure even when there’s no certain place to go.” – Tennessee Williams
6. “We don’t see things as they are, we see them as we are.” – Anaïs Nin
7. “The greatest step towards a life of simplicity is to learn to let go.” – Steve Maraboli
8. “It is only through labor and painful effort, by grim energy and resolute courage, that we move on to better things.” – Theodore Roosevelt
9. “It’s not the daily increase but daily decrease. Hack away at the unessential.” – Bruce Lee
10. “The beautiful journey of today can only begin when we learn to let go of yesterday.” – Steve Maraboli

Quotes about Inner Strength and Resilience

Inner strength and resilience are often built through adversity. These quotes inspire courage, resilience and the inner strength to face and overcome pain.

1. “What feels like the end is often the beginning.” – Unknown
2. “I demolish my bridges behind me…then there is no choice but to move forward.” – Fridtjof Nansen
3. “Pain will leave you, when you let go.” – Jeremy Aldana
4. “Today is the first day of the rest of your life.” – Charles Dederich
5. “Never regret. If it’s good, it’s wonderful. If it’s bad, it’s experience.” – Victoria Holt
6. “The only real loss is what we cling to most. So let go, and let life strengthen you. The freedom is worth the fear.” – Beau Taplin
7. “If you didn’t love him, this never would have happened. But you did. And accepting that love and everything that followed it is part of letting it go.” – Sarah Dessen
8. “Letting go doesn’t mean that you don’t care about someone anymore. It’s just realizing that the only person you really have control over is yourself.” – Deborah Reber
9. “Someone I loved once gave me a box full of darkness. It took me years to understand that this too, was a gift.” – Mary Oliver
10. “The only thing more unthinkable than leaving was staying; the only thing more impossible than staying was leaving.” – Elizabeth Gilbert

Quotes about Self-Love and Acceptance

Self-love and self-acceptance are vital when letting go of past pain. These quotes remind us to be kind to ourselves and embrace our worthiness.

1. “Accept yourself, love yourself, and keep moving forward. If you want to fly, you have to give up what weighs you down.” – Roy T. Bennett
2. “Courage is the power to let go of the familiar.” – Raymond Lindquist
3. “The truth is, unless you let go, unless you forgive yourself, unless you forgive the situation, unless you realize that the situation is over, you cannot move forward.” – Steve Maraboli
4. “The most difficult aspect of moving on is accepting that the other person already did.” – Faraaz Kazi
5. “If you bury the pain deep down, it will stay with you indefinitely. But if you open yourself to it, experience it, and deal with it head-on, you’ll find it begins to move on after a while.” – Greg Behrendt
6. “You are worthy of love and belonging, just as you are.” – Brené Brown
7. “We must be willing to let go of the life we planned so as to have the life that is waiting for us.” – Joseph Campbell
8. “The most courageous act is still to think for yourself. Aloud.” – Coco Chanel
9. “The day I understood everything was the day I stopped trying to figure everything out. The day I knew peace was the day I let everything go.” – C. JoyBell C.
10. “Your task is not to seek for love, but merely to seek and find all the barriers within yourself that you have built against it.” – Rumi

Quotes about Finding Joy in the Present

Finding joy in the present moment is a powerful antidote to the pain of the past. These quotes inspire us to embrace the beauty of the present and create a fulfilling future.

1. “Breathe. Let go. And remind yourself that this very moment is the only one you know you have for sure.” – Oprah Winfrey
2. “Don’t dwell on what went wrong. Instead, focus on what to do next.” – Denis Waitley
3. “Yesterday is not ours to recover, but tomorrow is ours to win or lose.” – Lyndon B. Johnson
4. “You can only lose what you cling to.” – Buddha
5. “Don’t let yesterday take up too much of today.” – Will Rogers
6. “The best way out is always through.” – Robert Frost
7. “Inhale the future, exhale the past.” – Unknown
8. “The only real battle in life is between hanging on and letting go.” – Shannon L. Alder
9. “Letting go isn’t a one-time thing; it’s something you have to do every day, over and over again.” – Dawson’s Creek
10. “The day you let go of the past and embrace the present, the possibilities for the future become endless.” – Unknown

Quotes about Hope and Optimism

We’re only able to move forward and find new possibilities if we embrace hope and believe in the brighter future that awaits us. If your past pain threatens your ability to see the silver lining, may the quotes below give you refuge.

1. “The past should be the past. It can destroy the future. Live life for what tomorrow has to offer, not for what yesterday has taken away.” – Unknown
2. “When you let go, you create space for better things to enter your life.” – Unknown
3. “Even as I hold you, I am letting you go.” – Alice Walker
4. “Sometimes the door closes on a relationship, not because we failed but because something bigger than us says this no longer fits our life. So, lock the door, shed a tear, turn around and look for the new door that’s opened. It’s a sign that you’re no longer that person you were; it’s time to change into who you are. It’s going to be okay.” – Lee Goff
5. “The only real loss is what we cling to most. So let go, and let life strengthen you. The freedom is worth the fear.” – Beau Taplin
6. “What feels like the end is often the beginning.” – Unknown
7. “Today is the first day of the rest of your life.” – Charles Dederich
8. “Never regret. If it’s good, it’s wonderful. If it’s bad, it’s experience.” – Victoria Holt
9. “There is a time for departure even when there’s no certain place to go.” – Tennessee Williams
10. “The beautiful journey of today can only begin when we learn to let go of yesterday.” – Steve Maraboli

Quotes about Setting Boundaries

Finally, letting go of past pain and creating a healthier future requires us to set boundaries – so, we don’t keep going back to the source of our pain. These quotes emphasize the importance of establishing and maintaining healthy boundaries.

1. “Love yourself enough to set boundaries. Your time and energy are precious. You get to choose how you use it. You teach people how to treat you by deciding what you will and won’t accept.” – Anna Taylor
2. “Your personal boundaries protect the inner core of your identity and your right to choices.” – Gerard Manley Hopkins
3. “When someone treats you poorly, keep in mind that there is something wrong with them, not with you. Normal people don’t go around destroying other human beings.” – Unknown
4. “You are allowed to terminate toxic relationships. You are allowed to walk away from people who hurt you. You are allowed to be angry and selfish and unforgiving. You don’t owe anyone an explanation for taking care of yourself.” – Unknown
5. “People who consistently and consciously hurt you do not deserve more chances. They deserve less access.” – Morgan Richard Olivier
6. “It’s okay to say no to things that drain you emotionally, physically, and spiritually. Protect your energy and set boundaries that support your well-being.” – Unknown
7. “Boundaries are a part of self-care. They are healthy, normal, and necessary.” – Doreen Virtue
8. “Set boundaries. You get to decide what’s acceptable in your life.” – Unknown
9. “Boundaries are not selfish. They are self-care.” – Unknown
10. “You get to set your own standards and what you accept from others. You don’t have to be okay with things that don’t align with your values or make you feel uncomfortable.” – Unknown

Start an Art Journal Therapy for Self-Care With These Jim Rohn Quotes Now!

So, what’s the next step?

Because this is your own self-care practice, you get to decide what you want to do.

The important thing is to act – choose a quote. Any quote that spoke to you, and let it inspire your next art journal entry. 

So, grab your journal, your pens, paints, or paint pens, and let these beautiful words guide you on your self-care journey. Enjoy!

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If you or the person you are concerned about appear at risk of self-harm or harm to others, please seek immediate professional assistance.

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