Big Life Change Quotes

…and one of the best books I have ever read on the subject: The Covenant of Water by Abraham Verghese

I have recently published a list of my favourite Surviving Setbacks Quotes as well as 50 Quotes About Change and a list of Mastering Manifestation Quotes, all these touching on big life changes. On this page, I have made a list of the life change quotes that I find most inspiring, basicalling as the introduction to a book description. A book that has changed my life in its own right, originally recommended to my by my friend (and previous Camino de Santiago walking retreat guests Mary Kay Cocharo.)

Big Life Change Quotes

“A sacred wandering is a wilderness journey. You can find yourself in the midst of life transitions. Major upheavals. A career change. Soul searching. Infertility. Relocation. Illness. Depression. Divorce. Loss of a loved one. Unemployment. Returning to school. The empty nest…A sacred wandering cannot be rushed. It is a life transition. It requires patience and endurance. There are valuable lessons to be learned.” ― Dana Arcuri

“The only way that we can live, is if we grow. The only way that we can grow is if we change. The only way that we can change is if we learn. The only way we can learn is if we are exposed. And the only way that we can become exposed is if we throw ourselves out into the open. Do it. Throw yourself.” — C. JoyBell

“Primed to expect that our lives will follow a predictable path, we’re thrown when they don’t. We have linear expectations but nonlinear realities… We’re all comparing ourselves to an ideal that no longer exists and beating ourselves up for not achieving it.”― Bruce Feiler,

“When we least expect it, life sets us a challenge to test our courage and willingness to change; at such a moment, there is no point in pretending that nothing has happened or in saying that we are not yet ready. The challenge will not wait. Life does not look back. A week is more than enough time for us to decide whether or not to accept our destiny.” — Paulo Coelho

“Your big life change is going to force you to level up in every way imaginable, and the way to overcome the initial fear of stepping into the unknown is to familiarize yourself with it, to make it a part of you, one that you are certain you are prepared for—and that you deserve.”
― Brianna Wiest

“Change can be frightening, and the temptation is often to resist it. But change almost always provides opportunities – to learn new things, to rethink tired processes, and to improve the way we work.” — Klaus Schwab

“…sometimes changes bring rivers of tears, feelings of helplessness and despair, but paradoxically, it is precisely in the transition that we build our power and our happiness. Not a power and a happiness ‘external’ and therefore fragile, but ‘internal’, deep and stable…” ― Micaela Becattini

“And when the event, the big change in your life, is simply an insight—isn’t that a strange thing? That absolutely nothing changes except that you see things differently and you’re less fearful and less anxious and generally stronger as a result: isn’t it amazing that a completely invisible thing in your head can feel realer than anything you’ve experienced before? You see things more clearly and you know that you’re seeing them more clearly. And it comes to you that this is what it means to love life, this is all anybody who talks seriously about God is ever talking about. Moments like this.” ― Jonathan Franzen

“Change is inevitable in life. You can either resist it and potentially get run over by it, or you can choose to cooperate with it, adapt to it, and learn how to benefit from it. When you embrace change you will begin to see it as an opportunity for growth.” — Jack Canfield

“A lot of people resist transition and therefore never allow themselves to enjoy who they are. Embrace the change, no matter when it is; once you do, you can learn about the new world you’re in and take advantage of it.” — Nikki Giovanni

“Life changes us, with its twists and turns, in ways we don’t always see coming. It changes what we want, what we dream, lays blessings in our hands better than anything we could’ve imagined.”― Emma Chase

“Stepping onto a brand-new path is difficult, but not more difficult than remaining in a situation, which is not nurturing to the whole woman.” — Maya Angelou

“In other words, change is situational. Transition, on the other hand, is psychological. It is not those events, but rather the inner reorientation and self-redefinition that you have to go through in order to incorporate any of those changes into your life. Without a transition, a change is just a rearrangement of the furniture. Unless transition happens, the change won’t work, because it doesn’t “take.” ― William Bridges

“In daily life there is an inner transition I can consciously practice. This is the transition from fear to faith. Faced with ambiguity and uncertainty, I can choose to believe things will work out for the best.” ― Julia Cameron

“The future is always all around us, waiting, in moments of transitions, to be born in moments of revelation. No one knows the shape of that future or where it will take us. We know only that it is always born in pain.” — J. Michael Straczynski

“As a rule, I found that each person is especially good at one of these three phases and especially bad at one. Each of us has a transition superpower, if you will, and a transition kryptonite. Our research suggests that people gravitate to the phase they’re naturally adept at and bog down in the one they’re weakest at. If you’re comfortable saying goodbye, you might knock that off quickly and move on to the next challenge; but if you’re conflict averse and don’t like to disappoint people, you might remain in a situation that’s toxic far longer than you should. The same applies to the messy middle: Some people thrive in chaos; others are paralyzed by it. As for new beginnings, some people embrace the novelty; others dread it—they like things the way they were.” ― Bruce Feiler

“Times of transition are strenuous but I love them. They are an opportunity to purge, rethink priorities, and be intentional about new habits. We can make our new normal any way we want.” — Kristin Armstrong

“Progress is impossible without change, and those who cannot change their minds cannot change anything.”  – George Bernard Shaw

“Today, I take the time to get my friends and acquaintances current on the shifts in my inner life. I communicate clearly and openly. I allow time for people to adjust to the ways in which I have changed. I, too, adjust to the change in others.” ― Julia Cameron

“Change the changeable, accept the unacceptable, and remove yourself from the unacceptable.” – Denis Waitley

“To exist is to change, to change is to mature, to mature is to go on creating oneself endlessly.” – Henri Bergson

“Life is full of crises, we all know that. It’s how we learn, how we grow. They help form character, mould the man (or woman), as it were. As an opposite to good times, they even help us appreciate life a little more; and a person without strife is a person without passion, for trauma both tests and strengthens moral fibre, becomes a measure of human depth. There is no adversity on this earth that cannot be overcome with fortitude and positive will.” ― James Herbert

The Covenant of Water by Abraham Verghese

One of the best books, in general, and specifically about big life changes that I have read in the last decade was this book. From the New York Times-bestselling author of Cutting for Stone comes The Covenant of Water, a sweeping, luminous epic of love, faith, and medicine set in Kerala, South India. Spanning three generations, this novel unravels a haunting family mystery: in every generation, at least one person drowns.

The story begins in 1900, when a twelve-year-old girl from Kerala’s Christian community, mourning the loss of her father, is sent by boat to meet her forty-year-old husband for the first time. From this unlikely start, she grows into Big Ammachi, the formidable matriarch of a family that will bear witness to profound change—triumphs and tragedies, joy and sorrow, all anchored by love and an unshakable faith.

The Covenant of Water by Abraham Verghese captures the inevitability of change—across generations, relationships, and personal identities. Here’s why it stands out, to me, as an exceptional book on this subject:

1. The novel follows three generations of a family, showing how traditions, struggles, and even unexplained mysteries shape each new member. Life transitions aren’t just personal but collective, as every character must navigate the weight of the past while forging their own path. Big Ammachi’s journey—from a child bride to a revered matriarch—exemplifies how we grow into roles we never imagined for ourselves.

2. One of the most striking aspects of the novel is how characters transform over time, whether through marriage, loss, or newfound purpose. Big Ammachi begins as a powerless girl but evolves into the strong, wise center of her family. Similarly, other characters—doctors, healers, and seekers—reinvent themselves in response to the shifting tides of life.

3. Throughout the novel, love—both romantic and familial—acts as an anchor amidst upheaval. Faith, too, provides continuity, even as the world around the characters modernizes. The book explores how belief systems, whether religious or scientific, help people endure uncertainty and loss.

4. Spanning nearly 80 years, the novel illustrates how time reshapes lives in ways both painful and beautiful. As progress in medicine advances, the family’s mysterious affliction (drowning in every generation) gains new context. This mirrors how understanding—of history, of ourselves—deepens over time.

5. The novel doesn’t shy away from tragedy, but it also celebrates endurance. Whether through the loss of loved ones, societal shifts, or personal reckonings, characters must learn to heal and move forward, making The Covenant of Water a deeply moving meditation on human strength.

This novel speaks to anyone experiencing major life changes—marriage, grief, aging, new responsibilities—because it reminds us that transformation is inevitable, but growth is possible. With its rich storytelling and deeply human characters, The Covenant of Water is a masterful reflection on what it means to transition through life with grace, love, and resilience.

It’s definitely worth reading.

Final Thoughts

Reading big life change quotes is like getting free, bite-sized therapy from people who’ve already survived the chaos. They remind you that yes, quitting your job to become a goat farmer might feel terrifying now, but someone, somewhere, has probably done it before—and thrived.

These little nuggets of wisdom remind you that, yes, moving across the country, switching careers, or realizing your favourite jeans no longer fit are survivable moments. They offer perspective, humor, and sometimes just the reassurance that someone else has also questioned their entire existence while standing in the cereal aisle.

So, whether you’re embarking on a thrilling new adventure or just trying to survive Monday, I hope one of these quotes will give you the pep talk you didn’t know you needed.