Today is the beginning of whatever you want.

If you’ve ever felt the urge to leave everything behind, to start a new life, to become a brand new person — you are not alone.

Some of us want to leave everything behind out of frustration, boredom, or unfulfillment. Some simply out of curiosity and enthusiasm for life.

No matter why you’re here, here’s a collection of 47 quotes that will inspire you to take action (and not feel so guilty about it).

Enjoy!

Leave everything behind quotes

There will come a time when you believe everything is finished; that will be the beginning.

Louis L’Amour

Step out of the history that is holding you back. Step into the new story you are willing to create.

Oprah Winfrey

Reinvent yourself over and over and over and over and over until you find home. There is no timeline for the soul.

Malebo Sephodi

There is no shame in beginning again, for you get a chance to build bigger and better than before.

Leon Brown

It’s painful and it’s messy. But sometimes you just have to make the break and start again.

Tony Parsons

Keep on beginning and failing. Each time you fail, start all over again, and you will grow stronger until you have accomplished a purpose — perhaps not the one you began with, but one you’ll be glad to remember.

Anne Sullivan

I am not what happened to me. I am what I choose to become.

Carl Jung

That is one good thing about this world: there are always sure to be more springs.

Lucy Maud Montgomery

The first step toward getting somewhere is to decide you’re not going to stay where you are.

John P. Morgan

At times you have to leave the city of your comfort and go into the wilderness of your intuition. What you’ll discover will be wonderful. What you’ll discover is yourself.

Alan Alda

Forget past mistakes. Forget failures. Forget everything except what you’re going to do now, and do it.

William Durant

Once you realize you deserve a bright future, letting go of your dark past is the best choice you will ever make.

Roy T. Bennett

Man cannot discover new oceans unless he has the courage to lose sight of the shore.

Andre Gide

Letting go means to come to the realization that some people are a part of your history, but not a part of your destiny.

Steve Maraboli

The secret of change is to focus all of your energy not on fighting the old, but on building the new.

Socrates

Leaving home, in a sense, involves a sort of second birth in which we give birth to ourselves.

Robert Bellah

It’s hard to be clear about who you are when you are carrying around a bunch of baggage from the past. I’ve learned to let go and move more quickly into the next place.

Angelina Jolie

Do not wait until the conditions are perfect to begin. Beginning makes the conditions perfect.

Alan Cohen

And suddenly you know: it’s time to start something new and trust the magic of beginnings.

Meister Eckhart

The beautiful journey of today can only begin when we learn to let go of yesterday.

Steve Maraboli

It happens to everyone as they grow up. You find out who you are and what you want, and then you realize that people you’ve known forever don’t see things the way you do. So you keep the wonderful memories, but find yourself moving on.

Nicholas Sparks

Don’t be afraid of new beginnings. Don’t shy away from new people, new energy, new surroundings. Embrace new chances at happiness.

Unknown

Don’t die without embracing the daring adventure your life was meant to be.

Steve Pavlina

If you’re brave enough to say goodbye, life will reward you with a new hello.

Paulo Coelho

The greatest power you possess in life is your understanding that life gives you a fresh start any moment you choose.

Guy Finley

Short leave everything behind quotes

Today is the beginning of whatever you want.

Unknown

It’s only after we’ve lost everything that we’re free to do anything.

Tyler Durden

The past does not equal the future unless you live there.

Tony Robbins

The bad news is time flies. The good news is you’re the pilot.

Michael Altshuler

The life in front of you is far more important than the life behind you.

Joel Osteen

Create your future from your future, not your past.

Werner Erhard

If we were meant to stay in one place, we’d have roots instead of feet.

Rachel Wolchin

We travel not to escape life, but for life not to escape us.

Unknown

It’s never too late to be what you might have been.

George Eliot

Don’t be afraid to give up the good to go for the great.

John D. Rockefeller

Leave everything behind quotes (YouTube comments)

A collection of random comments on YouTube from people who either left everything behind (and never regret it) or were planning to do so at the time.

I left everything behind in Louisiana and moved to Northern California. That was the best decision I’ve made because I finally escaped all the negativity that was around me. Yes, I took a leap of faith, and it worked out very well for me. I have a very good job and a nice place that’s super comfy and cozy to come home to. My state of mind is at the best it has ever been. Yes, it is scary to just up and leave everything behind, but if you stay positive and focused you will be fine.

Cool Chris

Put the past behind you, and then move forward. It’s like learning how to walk again. It’s not easy, but it’s the only way to really change your life!

Chris Rees

For younger people: I’m 48, I have started over many times as have many very successful people. Embrace it.

Clare King

After my divorce I was tired of everything. I was tired of where I was living, my job, and how life was going. I decided to pick up and move to a new city and state where no one knew who I was. It felt like a real fresh start. It was one of the best decisions I had ever made. My life is so much happier now.

Shatteredsoldier81

I’m 42 and about to start life all over again completely from scratch. Never too late to go for it.

Matt Watts

I am starting over at 34. It is a must, I can’t stand the way things keep falling apart. I can’t wait to see where life will take me. To anyone feeling like this, please believe that you can do it! I never thought I would be able to!

Bee Bryant

I’ve moved across the USA three times alone. Once without a reason (no job, friends, or family at the final destination). It’s challenging and hard, and I would advise everyone to do it at least once in their lives. The life lessons and skills you learn are almost too many to count.

Deb B

Back in 2014, I did exactly the same thing: quit my job, apartment, and left for South America. I was supposed to return in four months, but stayed two years. I came back to gather more money and soon plan to leave for Africa. I don’t want to wait until I’m old to try to follow my exploration/adventure dreams because I may not get to that age, besides I refuse to play the trap/game of living to work.

Keko M

I always change that thought of “it will end” into “it will forever be in my memories and bring me happiness and hope in moments of sadness or disorientation”, and that has never proven itself wrong.

Wolves howling

I left when I was 18. Moved across the country to get away from my crazy, abusive home life. Had 300 dollars in my pocket, no friends or family. Learned a lot of hard lessons, and I don’t regret it for a second.

Casey the Sparky

I turn 30 next month, and I want to start my life over with a new slate! From scratch! No ties to anything negative, no grudges, no looking back! I am a new person!

Shannon Rae

I’ve been thinking about this. New name, new city, new life, new identity. I really just want to start all over in life, and build and create what I’ve always desired, without the baggage of my past.

Alexis Alexis

Things you may realize once you leave everything behind

  • Great is better than good. Meaning: so far, you may have had, overall, a pretty good life. But there may be a great life out there if you have the courage to go for it. You don’t always need to leave everything behind, but it certainly helps.
  • The past only exists in your head. Once you immerse yourself in your new life, and all its experiences, you’ll tend to forget the past. You’ll basically be a new person. Almost as if the old you had died. That’s rebirth, and it’s incredibly liberating.
  • You don’t know that you don’t know. You might have a more fulfilling life, you might become a new person, you might realize everything you’ve done so far wasn’t that great… if you start a new life. But you don’t know. There’s only one way to find out.
  • You don’t need much to be happy. We tend to assume that the more (money, things, friends) we have in our life, the happier we’ll be. But it’s not always true. When you leave everything behind, you’ll find out that having all these things isn’t necessarily a prerequisite to happiness.

Psst — don’t forget to check out my 5 tips to leave everything behind and start a new life!