If you’re healing from something you can’t explain, these 8 quotes will speak to you

Isabella Chase by Isabella Chase | July 15, 2025, 7:53 pm

Healing is a personal journey, often filled with confusion and isolation, especially when you can’t quite put your finger on what’s causing your pain.

Sometimes, it’s easier to turn to the wisdom of others who’ve walked similar paths. The right words at the right time can shed light on our struggles and provide comfort that we’re not alone.

These eight quotes aim to do just that. If you’re healing from something you can’t explain, these quotes might be the gentle whispers of understanding you’ve been seeking. They might not solve everything, but they can offer a sense of hope and validation.

Ready to dive in? Let’s begin.

1) “Healing takes courage, and we all have courage, even if we have to dig a little to find it.” – Tori Amos

Healing, especially from something you can’t explain, can feel like an insurmountable task. The journey is often riddled with moments of self-doubt and hopelessness.

This quote by singer-songwriter Tori Amos serves as a gentle but powerful reminder of the courage that resides within us. It’s not always apparent, and sometimes we need to dig deep to find it, but it’s there.

Remembering this can help us when the path to healing feels daunting or when we struggle to understand our pain. We all possess the strength to face our unexplainable hardships and heal from them.

Yes, it takes courage to heal. But never forget that you have that courage within you, always ready to be summoned when times get tough.

2) “The wound is the place where the Light enters you.” – Rumi

This quote from the ancient poet Rumi has been a beacon of light for me during some of my darkest times.

I remember a time when I was grappling with a profound sense of loss. I couldn’t explain it, and I couldn’t understand why it was happening. It felt like a wound that wouldn’t heal.

One day, while scrolling aimlessly online, I stumbled upon this quote. The words resonated with me deeply. They suggested that my unexplained wound wasn’t just a source of pain, but also a potential source of growth and transformation.

I started to look at my situation differently. Instead of seeing my wound as something negative, I began to view it as an opportunity for the light to enter and illuminate parts of me that needed healing.

In time, I started to feel better. In the depth of my wound, I found strength and resilience I didn’t know I had. And I believe that’s what Rumi meant – our wounds, our pain, can be gateways to our growth and healing.

3) “Out of suffering have emerged the strongest souls; the most massive characters are seared with scars.” – Khalil Gibran

This quote from Khalil Gibran, a Lebanese-American writer and philosopher, speaks volumes about the transformative power of suffering. It suggests that our deepest pains and scars can shape us into stronger individuals.

Interestingly, there’s a psychological principle that supports this notion. It’s called post-traumatic growth. This concept explains how people can grow and find personal development through adversity and other challenging life circumstances.

Gibran’s quote essentially encapsulates this principle. It reminds us that our unexplained pains aren’t meaningless but can be catalysts for personal growth and strength. Our scars aren’t just reminders of our sufferings but badges of our resilience and fortitude.

4) “Healing is an art. It takes time, it takes practice. It takes love.” – Maza Dohta

Healing, as this quote by poet Maza Dohta suggests, is far from a linear process. It’s not something that happens overnight, and it doesn’t follow a set timeline.

It’s more akin to an art form, requiring time and practice. Just like you wouldn’t expect to paint a masterpiece on your first try, you shouldn’t expect to heal immediately from something you can’t explain.

Moreover, it emphasizes the role of love in the healing process. Love for oneself and one’s journey can be a potent salve for unexplained wounds. It teaches us patience and compassion towards ourselves as we navigate through the healing process.

So remember, healing is an art. Give it time, keep practicing self-love and patience, and soon enough, you’ll see how far you’ve come.

5) “Although the world is full of suffering, it is full also of the overcoming of it.” – Helen Keller

This profound quote comes from Helen Keller, a woman who faced unimaginable adversities and yet, emerged as an iconic symbol of courage and resilience.

In the face of suffering, especially the kind we can’t put into words, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed and swallowed by the darkness. It may seem like there’s no end in sight, and that healing is a far-off dream.

But Keller’s words offer a comforting perspective. Yes, the world holds suffering, and sometimes it feels too heavy to bear. But it also holds countless stories of individuals overcoming their pain, their unexplainable sufferings.

These stories serve as beacons of hope, reminding us that if others have healed and overcome their struggles, so can we. No matter how deep our wounds run or how confounding our pain is, we have within us the capacity to heal and triumph over our sufferings.

These words may not take away your pain, but I hope they provide you with a sense of hope and resilience to continue your healing journey.

6) “We do not heal the past by dwelling there; we heal the past by living fully in the present.” – Marianne Williamson

There was a time in my life when I was engulfed by a sense of regret and guilt. I was stuck in a cycle of replaying past mistakes and agonizing over things I couldn’t change. It was a painful road, one that felt like it was leading nowhere.

Then, I came across this quote by Marianne Williamson. It was like a breath of fresh air, a beacon of light in the darkness I was stuck in.

It made me realize that my fixation on the past was not helping me to heal. Instead, it was keeping me tethered to my pain. The key to healing wasn’t in ruminating over my past but in focusing on living fully in the present.

This shift in perspective helped me break free from my cycle of regret and guilt. I began to focus on the now, to live each day as it comes, and slowly but surely, I started to feel lighter, more at peace with myself.

Remember, revisiting the past is part of the healing process, but dwelling there is not. The true healing begins when we start living fully in the present.

7) “It’s okay to feel your feelings and to heal. In fact, it’s not just okay, it’s necessary.” – Iyanla Vanzant

Author and speaker Iyanla Vanzant shares a critical message in this quote. Often, when we’re healing from something we can’t explain, we tend to suppress our feelings. We might think it’s easier to ignore our pain rather than confront it.

But Vanzant reminds us of the importance of feeling our feelings and allowing ourselves to heal. It’s not just okay; it’s necessary for our wellbeing.

Ignoring or suppressing our emotions can prolong the healing process. It’s like putting a band-aid on a wound that needs thorough cleaning and care.

By allowing ourselves to feel—to experience the pain, confusion, and all the complex emotions that come with healing—we can navigate through our journey more effectively.

So, let yourself feel. Let yourself heal. It’s more than okay—it’s necessary.

8) “Healing doesn’t mean the damage never existed. It means the damage no longer controls our lives.” – Akshay Dubey

This quote by Akshay Dubey encapsulates an essential truth about healing. Healing doesn’t mean erasing the damage or pain we’ve experienced. It doesn’t mean we’ll never feel the sting of our past wounds.

What it does mean is that we’ve reached a point where our past no longer has a hold on us. It means we’ve managed to take back control of our lives from the damage that once dictated our every move.

This understanding is crucial. It’s not about striving for a state where our past no longer exists, but aiming for a place where it no longer controls us.

Remember this as you navigate your healing journey. You’re not working to erase your past, but to reach a point where it no longer holds power over you.

Final thoughts: Healing is a journey

The journey of healing, especially from something you can’t explain, is a personal and often complex process. It’s filled with ups and downs, moments of hope and despair, clarity and confusion.

Each of these eight quotes presents a unique perspective on healing. They offer comfort, validation, and hope, reminding us that we’re not alone in our struggles.

While they may not provide all the answers, these quotes serve as gentle guideposts on your healing journey. They remind us that it’s okay to feel our feelings, that our past doesn’t have to control our present, and that healing is an art that requires time, practice, and love.

Remember the words of Leonard Cohen: “There is a crack in everything. That’s how the light gets in.” Your unexplained pain might just be the crack that allows the light to enter and guide you towards healing.

As you navigate your path towards healing, remember that it’s a journey. Don’t rush yourself or suppress your feelings. Allow yourself to feel, to heal, and to grow. Remember that you’re stronger than you think and that healing is not just possible—it’s within your reach.

Isabella Chase

Isabella Chase

Isabella Chase, a New York City native, writes about the complexities of modern life and relationships. Her articles draw from her experiences navigating the vibrant and diverse social landscape of the city. Isabella’s insights are about finding harmony in the chaos and building strong, authentic connections in a fast-paced world.