I found 7 inspirational poems about life that might help you find a new perspective about how to move forward during hard times because let’s face it – Life can be hard, and it can throw us curve balls that question how to move forward. Sometimes the only answer is to just do it. Keep putting one foot in front of the other and do not lose sight of your dreams.

I just recently read a quote that says, “If we can keep on moving forward despite our biggest doubts, the reward is just around the corner.” I have it hanging on my bulletin board. So, when I read the following inspirational poem about life, it just drove the idea in even further.

Don’t Quit

When things go wrong as they sometimes will,
When the road you’re trudging seems all up hill,
When the funds are low and the debts are high
And you want to smile, but you have to sigh,
When care is pressing you down a bit,
Rest if you must, but don’t you quit.
Life is strange with its twists and turns
As every one of us sometimes learns
And many a failure comes about
When he might have won had he stuck it out;
Don’t give up though the pace seems slow—
You may succeed with another blow.
Success is failure turned inside out—
The silver tint of the clouds of doubt,
And you never can tell just how close you are,
It may be near when it seems so far;
So stick to the fight when you’re hardest hit—
It’s when things seem worst that you must not quit.
John Greenleaf Whittier

Fear can stop you in your tracks and keep you from reaching your goals and dreams. It is during hard times that we start to re-prioritize our lives and decide that we need to let go of fear.

Take the time we have in our lives and live it. These next two inspirational poems about life motivate you to do just that.

I Lost My Fear

And then I realized
that to be
more alive
I had to
be less
afraid
so
I did it…
I lost my
fear
and gained
my whole life.

Rudy Francisco

Be The Boss of Your Fear

Fear is loud and bossy.
She can be vicious at times.
And the worst of it is that
she often mingles truth with fiction.
But you must learn to challenge
the stories she feeds you.
You get to be the boss of your thoughts.
You can learn to question
whether or not
everything she tells you
is truth,
whole truth,
and nothing but the truth.
Since you have done the work
to deepen self-awareness
and self-compassion,
when she throws all your past failings
in your face you won’t crumble
because you already know you are imperfect…
AND you are beautiful
and resilient
and worthy
of building a
thoughtfully crafted life.
— Krista O’Reilly Davi-Digui of A Life in Progress

During hard times we tend to dwell on the negative. But it is actually a great time to just pause and discover what is really important in your life.

Make Time the Gift It Is

Go into this week
with the attitude that
your peace,
your health of mind,
and your heart
mean more than
getting everything else done.
That your smile matters,
That feeling rested matters.
That holding the hand
of your loved ones matter.
So pause lots,
function at a pace
that doesn’t pull you apart.
Honor the things that
make you feel good inside,
the things that make you feel alive.
Give time to those things this week.
Make time the gift it is,
by giving it to what really matters to you.
— S.C. Lourie of Butterflies and Pebbles

Having some control over what is happening in your life can keep you from spending too much time in hardship. The following inspirational poem about life is a great reminder of what we can control every day.

What You Can Control

Your Beliefs
Your attitude
Your thoughts
Your perspective
How honest you are
Who your friends are
What books you read
How often you exercise
The type of food you eat
How many risks you take
How you interpret the situation
How kind you are to others
How kind you are to yourself
How often you say “I love you.”
How often you say “thank you.”
How you express your feelings
Whether or not you ask for help
How often you practice gratitude
How many times you smile today
The amount of effort you put forth
How you spend / invest your money
How much time you spend worrying
How often you think about your past
Whether or not you judge other people
Whether or not you try again after a setback
How much you appreciate the things you have
— Caleb LP Gunner

Love is almost always the answer. Do not let the hard times make you retreat or feel small.

Love yourself, love others and you will be loved.

Love

Remember when you go into the world to
keep your eyes and ears wide open.
And be kind.
Love one another.
Take care of each other.
Tell the truth.
Always do your best.
Listen to the big people and the little people.
Explore new paths and have fun.
Know that you are loved like crazy.
Give thanks for all your blessings.
Above all else,
Love and you will do
wonderful things in this world.
— Rebecca Puig

And finally, my Love Yourself First poem. Know that you were born to be exactly who you are. To live and to triumph through the hard times. To learn what you can and to keep going shining your bright light for all of the world to see!

I hope these 7 inspirational poems about life in hard times give you some motivation to keep moving forward. Everything will come to an end, be ready for the other side!

Other Inspirational Poems You Might Enjoy:

The Desiderata Poem – A Beautiful Lesson for Life

A Beautiful Life – A Poem

The Living Marvelously Poem – A Simple Message