Has your heart ever hurt? Chances are, the answer is yes. Very few of us make it through life unscathed by a painful experience. In fact, surveys show that trauma is a nearly universal venture, with over 80% of Americans laying claim to it.

And the road to resilience is a profound one. Below are thirteen quotes illustrating the path from hurt to healing.

Quotes on Hurt & Healing

Hurt people, hurt people. Only healing ends the cycle.

Quote: If you never heal from what hurt you, you’ll bleed on people who didn’t cut you. – Tamara Kulish

The pain we carry makes it difficult to trust and form healthy relationships.

Quote: I push people away because I’m afraid I might not heal again if I get hurt. I push them away and paint my walls so good they can’t recognize me anymore. I don’t give people a chance. – Inspired by Bisma Ijaz

Left unaddressed, it can lead to sadness and manifest as anger towards ourselves and others.

Quote: Someone said, “anger is sadness that has had nowhere to go for a very long time,” and I’ll never forget that. – Unknown

And that anger, fueled by hurt, can creep out in some unsavory ways.

Quote: A person begging for their humanity to be acknowledged can sound an awful lot like rage. – Kalen Dion

Pain clouds the lens we use to interpret the world around us.

Quote: Heal so you can hear what’s being said without the filter of your wound. – Unknown

But it doesn’t need to harden our hearts. We can choose another way.

Quote: I admire people who could have turned cold after everything they’ve been through but still choose love anyway. There’s strength in that. – Keneilwe Dr. Mhlanga

We can heal. While painful temporarily, it’s the only way to stop the hurt.

Quote: Healing doesn’t have to look magical or pretty. Real healing is hard, exhausting, and draining. Let yourself go through it. Don’t try to paint it as anything other than what it is. Be there for yourself without judgment. – Unknown

Healing means being vulnerable. But there’s strength in that.

Quote: Vulnerability is about being brave enough to show up again and again. Even when it’s hard. Even when there’s been hurt. – Lauren Fortenberry

Because it’s the battles that we face that shape us and make us strong.

Quote: She never seemed shattered; to me, she was a breathtaking mosaic of the battles she’s won. – Matt Baker

And in the path from hurt to healing, we can grow.

Quote: If you focus on the hurt, you will continue to suffer. If you focus on the lesson, you will continue to grow. – @MasteringLawofAttraction

We can find meaning.

Quote: Healing never came when I clawed in search of it. Instead, it came when I was willing to listen to the lesson the pain was here to teach me. – Lauren Fortenberry

And while there are no easy paths for solving the hardest in life.

Quote: There are no easy answers. No quick solutions. No clear paths for resolving the hardest in life. But we can choose forgiveness. We can choose grace. No matter what, we can still choose love. – Lauren Fortenberry

You will one day heal from the hurt. And in the journey to that healing, you will become strong.

Quote: You let time pass. That’s the cure. You survive the days. You float like a rabid ghost through the weeks. You cry and wallow and lament and scratch your way back up through the months. And then one day, you find yourself alone on a bench in the sun, and you close your eyes, lean your head back and realize you’re okay. – Cheryl Strayed

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Who hasn’t experienced a bit of confusion and even frustration when their kids display challenging behavior? Behavior that seemingly comes out of nowhere.

Why is my child throwing tantrums, acting out, or refusing to listen?

In these moments, it’s time to put on our detective hats and investigate—there’s always a “why” behind children’s actions.

When we understand the underlying needs driving behaviors, we gain valuable insights—making it easier to address them effectively and navigate difficult moments with empathy.

Unmet Needs, Behavior, & Solutions

Remember, a need met is a challenging behavior solved! Below are possible unmet needs, behaviors stemming from them, and potential solutions.

🤝 Connection

Kids who feel lonely or disconnected may seek attention by interrupting, talking out of turn to connect with others, or acting out negatively.

Pro Tip: Dedicate daily quality time with your little one. Create special rituals, such as reading together before bed or having regular family meals.

📅 Structure

Children who lack structure or routine may struggle with impulsivity or disorganization, leading to problematic behavior.

Pro Tip: Create a predictable daily schedule with regular mealtimes, study or play periods, and a consistent bedtime routine. Use visual cues like charts or calendars to help your child understand and anticipate what comes next.

🛡️ Safety

Kids who don’t feel safe may exhibit clingy or anxious behavior or act aggressively to protect themselves.

Pro Tip: Create a nurturing, physically and emotionally safe environment. Encourage open communication—validating feelings, and reassuring kids when they express worries or concerns.

We foster a trusting relationship by being available, responsive, and supportive.

💪 Autonomy

Children who feel powerless may resist authority by being defiant or oppositional.

Pro Tip: Offer choices within appropriate boundaries, allowing kids to make decisions about their clothing, activities, or chores to give them a sense of control.

Give children age-appropriate responsibilities and recognize their efforts + achievements. And foster a collaborative approach by listening to their perspectives and involving them in problem-solving.

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