Reality can often be harsher than what we wish or dream for. Sometimes it’s easy to get caught up in our own thoughts and emotions, losing sight of what’s real.
Periodically stepping back to take an objective look at our situation, known as a “reality check” is important for growth and progress.
In this post, I’m sharing reality check quotes on life, love, and inspirational quotes.
These quotes offer thoughtful perspectives on both the value and sometimes painful aspects of reality checks.
Whether you’re feeling lost, overwhelmed, or just need a little push in the right direction, these quotes can help you gain a better perspective on life, remind you of what really matters, and help you stay grounded.
Inspirational Reality Check Quotes
#1. “Knowing yourself is the beginning of all wisdom.” – Aristotle
#2. “In a dark time, the eye begins to see.”- Theodore Roethke
#3. “Don’t wish for a good life if you’re not ready to suffer.”- Maxime Lagacé
#4. “Knowing your own darkness is the best method for dealing with the darknesses of other people.” – Carl Jung.
#5. “The first step toward change is awareness. The second step is acceptance.” – Nathaniel Branden.
#6. “Reality is merely an illusion, albeit a very persistent one.” – Albert Einstein.
#7. “The only true wisdom is in knowing you know nothing.” – Socrates
#8. “Reality is that which, when you stop believing in it, doesn’t go away.” – Philip K. Dick
#9. “The more you try to avoid suffering, the more you suffer, because smaller and more insignificant things begin to torture you, in proportion to your fear of being hurt. The one who does most to avoid suffering is, in the end, the one who suffers most.” – Thomas Merton
Reality Check Quotes On Life
#10. “Life is what happens when you’re busy making other plans.” – John Lennon
#11. “The reality of life is that your perceptions – right or wrong – influence everything else you do. When you get a proper perspective of your perceptions, you may be surprised how many other things fall into place.” – Roger Birkman
#12. “Enjoy the little things, for one day you may look back and realize they were the big things.” – Robert Brault
#13. “Life is not a problem to be solved, but a reality to be experienced.” – Søren Kierkegaard
#14. “One of the most courageous decisions you’ll ever make is to finally let go of what is hurting your heart and soul.” – Brigitte Nicole
#15. “Life is not always a matter of holding good cards, but sometimes, playing a poor hand well.” – Jack London
#16. “The world as we have created it is a process of our thinking. It cannot be changed without changing our thinking.” – Albert Einstein.
#17. “The moment you take responsibility for everything in your life is the moment you can change anything in your life.”- Hal Elrod.
#18. “In the long run, we shape our lives, and we shape ourselves. The process never ends until we die. And the choices we make are ultimately our own responsibility.” – Eleanor Roosevelt.
#19. “The biggest wake-up call in life is when you realize you are responsible for your own happiness and no one else.”
Reality Check Quotes On Love
Here are some quotes that offer a reality check on the complex and sometimes challenging nature of love:
#20. “The course of true love never did run smooth.” – William Shakespeare
#21. “Real love doesn’t meet you at your best. It meets you in your mess.” – J.S. Park
#22. “The emotion that can break your heart is sometimes the very one that heals it.” – Nicholas Sparks
#23. “Love is an endless mystery, for it has nothing else to explain it.” – Rabindranath Tagore
#24. “A healthy relationship will never require you to sacrifice your friends, your dreams, or your dignity.” – Mandy Hale
#25. “Love doesn’t make the world go ’round. Love is what makes the ride worthwhile.” – Franklin P. Jones
#26. “Don’t settle for a relationship that won’t let you be yourself.” – Oprah Winfrey
#27. “Love is not about possession. Love is about appreciation.” – Osho
Sad Reality Check Quotes
Here are some quotes that reflect a more somber and introspective perspective, providing a sad reality check:
#28. “Reality continues to ruin my life.” – Bill Watterson
#29. “The world breaks everyone, and afterward, some are strong at the broken places.” – Ernest Hemingway
#30. “The saddest thing about love is that not only the love cannot last forever, but even the heartbreak is soon forgotten.” – William Faulkner.
#31. “One day, you will wake up, and there won’t be any more time to do the things you’ve always wanted. Do it now.” – Paulo Coelho
#32. “The saddest summary of life contains three descriptions: could have, might have, and should have.” – Louis E. Boone.
#33. “The truth is everyone is going to hurt you. You just got to find the ones worth suffering for.” – Bob Marley.
#34. “The tragedy of life is not that it ends so soon, but that we wait so long to begin it.” W.M. Lewis
#35. “The reality is that you will grieve forever. You will not ‘get over’ the loss of a loved one; you will learn to live with it. You will heal, and you will rebuild yourself around the loss you have suffered. You will be whole again, but you will never be the same. Nor should you be the same, not would you want to.” – Elisabeth Kübler-Ross
Reality Check Quotes on Growth and Resilience
#36. “The only way to grow is to step out of your comfort zone.”
#37. “Strength doesn’t come from what you can do. It comes from overcoming the things you once thought you couldn’t.” – Rikki Rogers.
#38. “In the middle of difficulty lies opportunity.” – Albert Einstein
#39. “The only time you fail is when you fall down and stay down.” – Stephen Richards.
#40. “The difference between a successful person and others is not a lack of strength, not a lack of knowledge, but rather a lack in will.”- Vince Lombardi.
#41. “Perseverance is not a long race; it is many short races one after the other.” – Walter Elliot.
Funny Reality Check Quotes
Here are some more funny reality check quotes:
#42. “Reality check: You can never please everyone. So, just focus on making yourself laugh and be happy. It’s cheaper than therapy.”
#43. “Reality check: I thought growing up would involve a lot more napping.”
#44. “I’m not lazy; I’m in energy-saving mode.”
#45. “My superpower is making things awkward.”
#46. “I’m not arguing; I’m just explaining why I’m right. You should understand it’s a reality check.”
#47. “Reality check: I’m not antisocial; I’m just pro-solitude.”
48. “I’m not short; I’m just more down to earth than most people.”
#49. “My reality check bounced.”
#50. “I don’t feel old. I don’t feel anything until I’ve had my coffee.”
Conclusion
In conclusion, reflecting on these reality check quotes can help cultivate a grounded mindset.
It’s all too easy to get caught up in unrealistic hopes, fantasies, and expectations. However, true happiness and success come from accepting life as it is, focusing on what we can control, and making the most of each present moment.
If you enjoy reading these quotes, here are some more quotes you might like to read: