Created by Mike & Mollie. If you enjoy our work, please subscribe here.
I don’t think you can fake happiness by pretending that everything will always work out perfectly. My experience has been that you need a robust worldview that accepts hard things, while remaining hopeful, realistic, and kind to yourself. That means allowing space for both gratitude and grief, for joy and discouragement—sometimes even in the same breath. It means being honest about what’s hard without giving all your power to it.
Over the years, I’ve found that the words I say to myself—especially in tough seasons—can shape my perspective more than any external advice ever could. The way we talk to ourselves matters. So I started collecting phrases that helped me stay steady without shutting down. Phrases that made me feel grounded and human—not just positive for the sake of being positive. Here are ten that I’ve come back to again and again. I hope a few of them stick with you too.
This is hard, but I’ve done hard things before
When life hits you with something heavy, it can feel like you’re starting from scratch—like you’re unequipped to handle what’s in front of you. But that’s rarely true. You’ve faced tough situations before—things you weren’t sure you’d get through—and yet here you are. Reminding yourself of past resilience isn’t about minimizing your current struggle. It’s about proving to yourself that you’ve done the impossible before, and that same strength is still inside you now. This phrase helps you reframe your current challenge not as the end of your rope, but as another chapter in a story where you’ve overcome time and time again.
I can feel this and still move forward
You don’t need to wait for clarity, motivation, or peace before you take the next step. That’s one of the more sneaky lies our minds tell us—“I’ll do it when I feel ready.” But often, the feeling never comes. Or it comes after you’ve already taken action. This phrase is about separating emotions from momentum. It gives you permission to feel sad, confused, or tired and still carry on. Even baby steps count. Progress doesn’t require perfection—it just requires movement. And your feelings, while valid, don’t get to vote on whether you take action toward what matters.
Joy can exist even here
It’s tempting to think of joy as something you get to experience once everything is settled. Once the situation improves, once the stress lifts, once the uncertainty fades. But the truth is, joy doesn’t have to wait. It can show up in the middle of your mess. It can surprise you in the middle of a hard conversation, a stressful day, or a stretch of loneliness. This phrase reminds you that joy isn’t something you earn—it’s something you notice. And when you open yourself to it, you’ll find it more often than you think, hiding in plain sight, right in the cracks of your ordinary life.
It’s okay if today isn’t amazing
There’s so much pressure to have good days—productive days, fulfilling days, Instagram-worthy days. But most of life is made up of the in-between. Some days are just… okay. And some days are a little worse than that. This phrase gives you permission to stop evaluating every day like a performance review. It reminds you that your worth isn’t measured by how well today goes. You don’t have to extract meaning from every minute. Some days are about surviving, keeping the rhythm, and getting to tomorrow. That’s not failure—that’s life. And it’s enough.
I’m doing the best I can with what I have
Self-criticism is almost always louder than self-compassion. We look at the ways we fall short and assume it’s because we’re not trying hard enough. But this phrase interrupts that cycle. It gently reminds you that context matters—that your energy, circumstances, responsibilities, and emotional load aren’t always visible to others (or even to yourself in the moment). This isn’t an excuse to stop growing, but an invitation to be honest. You may not be thriving right now, but that doesn’t mean you aren’t showing up. If you’re doing your best with the capacity you have, then you’re already succeeding.
I don’t have to earn my right to rest
Rest isn’t a reward for having a perfect day. It’s a biological and emotional necessity. And yet so many of us operate as if we have to “deserve” rest—like it’s something we get access to after we’ve proven ourselves useful. This mindset creates burnout and guilt and does nothing to make us better. This phrase reminds you that being tired is reason enough to rest. That taking a break is an act of wisdom, not laziness. You’re not a machine that exists to produce. You’re a human being. And rest is part of what keeps you whole.
Other people’s joy doesn’t diminish mine
It’s so easy to slip into comparison mode—especially when you’re feeling stuck. You see someone else achieving something, having fun, or posting their highlight reel, and suddenly your life feels smaller. But this phrase is a gentle reminder that happiness isn’t a zero-sum game. Someone else’s good fortune doesn’t mean you’ve missed out. Their joy doesn’t take away your capacity for your own. In fact, learning to celebrate others can actually deepen your own contentment. There’s room for everyone to thrive. You don’t have to be the best to be blessed.
I’m allowed to grow out of what used to make me happy
It’s a strange feeling when something you used to love starts to feel like a chore—or when a dream you once chased no longer fits who you are. There’s a quiet kind of grief in that, but also a beautiful kind of freedom. This phrase reminds you that it’s okay to evolve. It’s okay to outgrow certain roles, ambitions, or identities that once felt essential. You’re not betraying your past—you’re honoring your growth. Happiness often lives on the other side of honesty. And part of being honest is letting go of what no longer lights you up, even if it once did.
Small things count too
Not everything that matters shows up big and bold. In fact, most of what makes life rich is quiet and easy to overlook—your first sip of coffee, a good playlist, the sunlight through the window. This phrase is about shifting your attention. It’s about noticing that happiness often arrives in whispers, not shouts. By paying attention to the small joys, you train your mind to see abundance rather than lack. You create a daily rhythm of appreciation that’s immune to big-picture disappointments. And over time, those tiny moments become the foundation of a life that feels good to live.
I can be grateful without pretending everything is okay
Gratitude isn’t about slapping a silver lining on your struggles. It’s not about forcing a smile or denying the hard stuff. It’s about recognizing that even in pain, there are still things worth appreciating. This phrase lets you hold both truths: life can be difficult, and life can be beautiful. You can be in the middle of a mess and still feel thankful for your support system. You can be grieving and still feel moved by something lovely. Gratitude doesn’t mean everything’s fine—it just means you’re willing to see what’s still good, even when things aren’t.
