55+ 'You Matter' Quotes For When You (Or A Loved One) Need Them Most

Life can be tough, and sometimes you just need some good “you matter” quotes to remind you that you’re important. And worthy. A little something to help you get through the day and into the next one. Having a mantra or a go-to self-care quote to pull out when you need a bit of motivation might seem silly to some people, but ask a therapist or mental health expert, and they’ll likely tell you the same: that how you talk to yourself genuinely does matter. It can change your entire perspective on a day! The same goes for how you talk to your kids — you can immensely empower your tween or teen by reminding them of their self-worth. It’s something they probably need to hear more often than not at this oh-so-challenging and often awkward stage.

“Each of us has a set of messages that play over and over in our minds. This internal dialogue, or personal commentary, frames our reactions to life and its circumstances. One of the ways to recognize, promote, and sustain optimism, hope, and joy is to intentionally fill our thoughts with positive self-talk,” explains Gregory L. Jantz, Ph.D., for Psychology Today. But sometimes, we all need a little boost to get that positive self-talk going. So, feel free to take one of these you matter quotes to get you started, help a friend in need, or caption that selfie on Instagram.

Remember, though, if your self-talk is sounding super negative and these quotes don’t pull you out of your slump, you might want to reach out to a mental health professional to talk things through. Because truly, friend, you matter — and you are worth it.

You Matter Quotes to Internalize (Or Share With Someone Who Needs Them)

1. “You matter. You are good enough. You are loved.” — Unknown
2. “You matter as much as the things that matter to you do.” — John Green
3. “You are living. You occupy space. You have a mass. You matter.” — Albert Einstein
4. “Act as if what you do makes a difference. It does.” — William James
5. “Do something good for yourself today. You matter.” — Virginia Madsen
6. “Make yourself a priority.” — Unknown
7. “You are not a drop in the ocean. You are the entire ocean in a drop.” — Rumi
8. “You were seen, you were heard, and you matter.” — Oprah Winfrey
9. “You matter. That smile you shared could be the sun on someone’s darkest day.” — Amy Leigh Mercree
10. “It does not matter how slowly you go, as long as you do not stop.” — Confucius
11. “I alone cannot change the world, but I can cast a stone across the waters to create many ripples.” — Mother Teresa
12. “You matter to somebody, even if you don’t know it yet.” — Unknown
13. “One day you will tell your story of how you overcame what you went through and it will be someone else’s survival guide.” — Brené Brown
14. “You, yourself, as much as anybody in the entire universe, deserve your love and affection.” — Buddha
15. “Don’t allow expectations to put a limit on your actions. You are able to achieve remarkable things, regardless of what others may believe. So head out there, fight, and show the world how amazing you are.” — Nicole Addison
16. “You have a right to be you. It is a privilege for others to be around you.” — Janna Cachola
17. “You need to really believe in what you’ve got to offer, what your talent is, and if you believe, that gives you strength.” — Dolly Parton
18. “You are so much stronger than you realize. Don’t let anyone ever tell you that you’re not. Not even you.” — J.W. Lynne
19. “No matter what your age, or what your circumstances might be, you are special, and you still have something unique to offer. Your life, because of who you are, has meaning.” — Barbara De Angelis
20. “You matter. How you feel matters. What you say, do, and think matters. It all matters.” — Richelle E. Goodrich
21. “Despite where you stand in life at the moment, always remember that your presence on earth matters as much as everyone else’s.” — Edmond Mbiaka
22. “You are a divine being. You matter, you count. You come from realms of unimaginable power and light, and you will return to those realms.” — Terence McKenna
23. “No matter how far life pushes you down, no matter how much you hurt, you can always bounce back.” — Sheryl Swoopes
24. “Be kind to yourself. Be proud of yourself. Because you matter. What you do matters. You make a difference.” — Unknown
25. “No one will hit you harder than life itself. It doesn’t matter how hard you hit back. It’s about how much you can take, and keep fighting, how much you can suffer and keep moving forward. That’s how you win.” — Anderson Silva
26. “You are enough. You have influence. You are genius. You have a contribution to make. You have a gift the others need. You are the change. Your actions define your impact. You matter.” — Angela Maiers
27. “Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don’t matter and those who matter don’t mind.” — Bernard Baruch
28. “You are worth finding, worth knowing, worth loving. You and all your one million layers. Always hold that close.” — Danielle Doby
29. “Never lose faith in yourself; you can do anything in this universe. Never weaken; all power is yours.” — Swami Vivekananda, My Idea of Education
30. “Self-trust is the first secret of success.” — Ralph Waldo Emerson
31. “When kids grow up wanting to be you, you matter.” — Seth Godin
32. “You matter! You might be but one drop in a bigger ocean, but even that drop causes ripples which affect every other drop.” — Sue Krebs
33. “Always remember you matter. You’re important and you are loved, and you bring to this world things no one else can.” — Charlie Mackesy
34. “You matter. You are visible. You are wanted. You are needed. You are appreciated. Your life makes a difference.” — Dr. Gayle Joplin Hall
35. “Your personal growth is the only thing that matters. You own and write your story; no one else does. Believe in your unique steps up the mountain.” — Brittany Burgunder
36. “The biggest lie we fall for is that it doesn’t matter. Your opinion doesn’t matter. Your existence doesn’t matter. You don’t matter. It is the worst, most destructive lie we ever believe, and in consequences, it wreaks extensive damage to more lives than your own. Don’t fall for that evil lie. Don’t forget that everything about you absolutely does matter.” — Richelle E. Goodrich
37. “You may think that you are completely insignificant in this world. But someone drinks coffee from the favorite cup that you gave them. Someone heard a song on the radio that reminded them of you. Someone read the book that you recommended and plunged headfirst into it. Someone smiled after a hard day’s work because they remembered the joke that you told them today. Someone loves themselves a little bit more because you gave them a compliment. Never think you have no influence whatsoever. Your trace, which you leave behind with every good deed, cannot be erased.” — Unknown
38. “Because of your smile, you make life more beautiful.” — Thich Nhat Hanh
39. “If you are feeling low, or trampled, unappreciated, or forgotten, and you are reading this, realize it is an illusion. The hope is real. You are valued… and what lies ahead is brilliance.” — Tom Althouse
40. “Stop acting so small; you are the universe in ecstatic motion.” — Rumi
41. “Do not ever let anyone make you feel like you don’t matter.” — Michelle Obama
42. “What lies behind us and what lies before us are small matters compared to what lies within us. And when we bring what is within us out into the world, miracles happen.” — Ralph Waldo Emerson
43. “Seeing a miracle will inspire you, but knowing you are a miracle will change you.” — Deborah Brodie
44. “The two most important days in your life are the day you are born and the day you find out why.” — Mark Twain
45. “The magic is inside you. There ain’t no crystal ball.” — Dolly Parton
46. “You have to believe in yourself when no one else does; that’s what makes you a winner.” — Venus Williams
47. “I wish I could show you when you are lonely or in darkness the astonishing light of your own being.” — Hafez
48. “Just by being you, you make a profound difference. Don’t ever forget that you matter.” — Unknown
49. “You alone are the judge of your worth, and your goal is to discover infinite worth in yourself, no matter what anyone else thinks.” — Deepak Chopra
50. “You matter, unless you multiply yourself by the speed of light squared, then you energy.” — Neil deGrasse Tyson
51. “If you matter to each other, you will always find a way to make things work.” — Unknown
52. “Just in case you have forgotten today: You matter. You are loved. You are worthy. You are magical.” — Unknown
53. “Love yourself. It is important to stay positive because beauty comes from the inside out.” ― Jenn Proske
54. “You matter because you are you, and you matter to the end of your life.” ― Cicely Saunders
55. “Your happiness is meaningless unless it is linked with the total liberation of people around you! You matter; others also matter. Live life so well!” — Israelmore Ayivor
56. “Your world needs you right now… you matter, you are enough, and you are more.” — Olawale Daniel
57. “Because you are alive, everything is possible.” — Thich Nhat Hanh
58. “You can’t get away from yourself by moving from one place to another.” — Ernest Hemingway, The Sun Also Rises
59. “After years of trying to adopt the opinions of others, I finally rebelled. I am an invisible man.” — Ralph Ellison, Invisible Man
60. “I was looking for the key for years. But the door was always open.” — Aravind Adiga, The White Tiger