Quotes That Carry Us: Inspiration from the Center for Creativity and Healing

For Mental Health Awareness Month this May, our team wanted to create a meaningful blog post that reflects both our shared values and personal inspirations. We asked each staff member to contribute their favorite quote—words that have guided, comforted, or motivated them in their work as mental health professionals. These quotes not only offer insight into what grounds us individually but also speak to the heart of our collective mission: to support healing, growth, and resilience. By sharing the words that move us, we hope to honor the spirit of the month and invite others to reflect on the messages that uplift them, too.

Ashleigh Howard | Undergraduate Intern

“Mental health problems don’t define who you are. They are something you experience. You walk in the rain and you feel the rain, but, importantly, YOU ARE NOT THE RAIN.” Matt Haig

What this quote means to me is that experiencing a mental health problem doesn’t define who you are as a person, but rather a temporary state or condition that can be overcome. As someone with an anxiety disorder, it is important to remind myself that I am not my anxiety and that my anxiety is temporary and can be overcome.

Darabeth Freiberg | Office & Programs Coordinator

“What you seek is seeking you.” Rumi

This quote suggests that if you're seeking peace or healing during a challenging time, or if things feel overwhelming and you've hit a slump, there is a path to feeling better and moving forward. Likewise, if you're in a good place, doing all the right things, and aiming for achievements in school, work, or your personal life, you can also accomplish those goals. You can reach your aspirations no matter what you’re striving to achieve.

Joey Barnes | Counseling Intern & Visit Facilitator

“Yesterday is history. Tomorrow is a mystery. But today is a gift, that's why they call it the present.” Jonathan Aibel

Once I stop thinking about things in the past and things in the future, I find peace in the present moment. Try your best to stay grounded in the present. Whenever my anxiety or depression about the past or future start to creep in, deep breathing, mindfulness, and being in nature grounds me back in the present. This present moment is all that matters; focus on the here and now. 

Yesterday is gone. And tomorrow may never come. Focus on the present and enjoy life today.

Keegie Berger | Counseling Intern

"The best way out is always through." Robert Frost

This quote resonates with me both personally and professionally. It reminds me that no matter what life throws your way, facing it head-on is the only way to move through it—even when it’s tough. As a therapist, it highlights the importance of allowing clients to sit with those difficult moments and, when they’re ready, work through those challenges. It’s in those moments that true growth happens, and real progress is made.

Kelsey Cahill | M.Ed., LCMHCA

"What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us." Ralph Waldo Emerson

What lies within us has the ability to be powerful in the healing process. Once we understand our inner world of thoughts, emotions, and beliefs, we are better equipped to face challenges in our external worlds. Discovering and embracing our inner selves can create lasting change and a better understanding of who we truly are and what we are capable of.

Maria Curran | M.Ed., Ph.D., LCMHCS Master's-Level Counselor 

"No one can make you feel inferior without your consent." Eleanor Roosevelt

A client once asked me how I show up in such a cheerful manner, given the work that I do. I shared this quote with him, as I have with many others.   Eleanor's words resonate with me because I choose not to allow others to dictate how I behave or feel about myself.  We are often confronted with others' misperceptions of our self-worth or our intentions, especially when there is conflict.  I encourage clients to be grounded in who they know themselves to be rather than how someone else may label them.

Ridgely Chapman | M.A. LCMHCA

"We cannot direct the wind, but we can adjust the sails." Dolly Parton

This quote speaks to me and my work with clients as it fosters self-empowerment. It focuses on the importance of adaptability and resilience in the face of challenges. It reminds us that while we can't always control external circumstances, we have the power to adjust our mindset, actions, and feelings to navigate through them.