Cheryl Strayed Quotes That Will Change Your Life (2024)

I’m someone who’s deeply affected by books, movies, poetry, music, dance…you name it. When I’m reading a good book or watching a great movie, I lose myself in the story. And if it’s a truly great story, I carry it with me after its ended. One of those great stories would be fromthe movie Wild, which is based on Cheryl Strayed’s memoirWild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail.The story chronicles Cheryl’s solo hike of the Pacific Crest Trail after the death of her mother and the end of her marriage. Cheryl’s story is raw and sad and beautiful, but her grit and sheer determination to keep going against all odds inspired me at a particularly rough point in my life.

After being awe-struck with the Wild movie, I ravenously devoured the book. After reading the book, I was even more inspired, so I ordered her other three books:Tiny Beautiful Thing: Advice on Love And Life from Dear Sugar,Torch, andBrave Enough. Each book is filled with Cheryl’s signature no-BS tough love, and if you’re a book nerd like me, you’ll find yourself bookmarking and highlighting a line from almost every page. Whether or not you’re a reader, you need to buyBrave Enough. It’s a collection of Cheryl’s best quotes, and it’s one of the best $10 purchases I’ve ever made. Today I’m sharing ten of my favorite quotes from the book, and be prepared, they’re kinda life-changing.

The Best Cheryl Strayed Quotes

Momentum is a beautiful thing. When you start forgiving others, it becomes easier to forgive. When you practice kindness, it becomes easier to resist anger. Stretch yourself in the direction that you want to go. It seems simple, but it works.
When you help others, you help yourself. And when you are grateful for what you have, you suddenly want less. Give back, and you’ll reap the rewards.

It may not always seem like it, but there is enough for all of us. We rise by lifting others.

I love this quote for so many reasons. First of all, if you’re living your life based on the approval of others, you’re not going to have a fulfilling life. You will never get the approval that you’re looking for. Cheryl isn’t saying that you shouldn’t work hard or be responsible. She’s saying that financial success, social status, and approval from others is not what matters in the long run. It’s nice to have a perfect credit score, but being a good human being is all that matters in the end. As long as you put out love and kindness into the world and maintain your relationships, you’re going to be OK. Everything on top of those things are just icing on the cake.

This quote made me laugh, and then it made me sigh in acceptance. Forgiveness doesn’t magically appear one day. It’s a daily battle that we have to choose, but the fight is worth the result. Holding onto anger and resentment only hurts us in the end, and the uphill battle of forgiveness strengthens our emotional muscles and makes us a better person.
This quote shows exactly why I love Cheryl. She doesn’t say the walk will be easy or pretty or fun, but she knows that she just has to survive and keep going without knowing what’s ahead of us.

If you’re going through a hard time and feel like there’s no hope for tomorrow, I promise you that there are better days ahead. Even if it seems impossible. Even if you can’t think about anything but the bad things that have happened to you. It’s not too late, and your life is not over. It’s just beginning. Choose to make today the day that things change.

It’s so tempting to wallow in self-pity, but it’s a bottomless pit that will only drag you down. Accept that you’ve been dealt a rough hand and do the best you can with what you have. Keep moving forward, and you’ll gain positive momentum.
We can’t always be perfect. We can’t always be the superhero. Sometimes, we can only make a small change, but even a small change is better than nothing. Use what you have to do something – even if it seems insignificant. Baby steps add up over time.

As you can see, Cheryl tells it like it is. She doesn’t sugarcoat or ignore reality. Instead, she encourages us to face reality directly and push through each day with sheer grit. Life is always sunshine and rainbows, and recovery takes time; however, things can and will get better if we keep moving forward. If you’d like to get your hands on more of Cheryl Strayed’s brilliance, I highly recommend all of her books!

CHERYL STRAYED BOOKS THAT YOU NEED TO READ

For more inspirational quotes, follow myMake It Happen board on Pinterestor check out these posts:10 Quotes That Showcase The Brilliance of Tina Fey and Amy Poehler,Leap And The Net Will Appear, andSay Yes, Do More, And Be Better.