100 Inspirational Instagram Captions to Motivate Your Followers

Many people portray social media as a shallow celebration of narcissism, but it definitely doesn’t have to be that way! Be the change you want to see and commit to posting inspirational Instagram captions that lift your followers up — because we all rise by inspiring others!

Have you decided to start a Motivational Monday series, or would you like to inspire others as you work hard to improve your own life? There’s no question that writing captions that inspire and motivate is a challenging art to master. That’s what this guide is for!

Scroll down to discover a massive list of inspirational captions for Instagram for every occasion (or just because, because that’s fair, too).

How to Make Your Instagram Captions Inspirational

Let’s start with the obvious. Even if you’re on a mission to inspire others, you don’t have to make all your Instagram captions inspirational! Most people enjoy motivational messages in small doses, and a single hard-hitting Instagram caption can stick in their minds for a long time.

Here’s what else to keep in mind as you craft positive captions for Instagram:

• Dare to show your imperfections and struggles, because people who succeed because they work hard (but are still exhausted afterward!) are more inspirational than people who have it easy. Make your motivational captions relatable!
• Keep your inspirational Instagram captions authentic. Only share motivational messages that resonate with you and that guide your own life, because Instagram users can spot “fake” motivational messages from a mile off.
• Motivational messages don’t have to be deep or poetic. They can be raw and real — and even dark and funny. You’ll see some examples in action on our list! Your inspirational Instagram captions don’t have to be about life’s big topics (like career success, wealth, and love), either! Sometimes, the best inspirational captions just help Instagram users tick the last items off their to-do lists on Friday afternoons.
• If you know what you want to say but you’re not sure how, never be afraid to incorporate great inspirational quotes. It’s best if you can find quotes that aren’t ridiculously overshared, because even the most inspiring words lose some of their power after you read them thousands of times.
• When appropriate, end your motivational Instagram captions with a challenge for your followers to participate in a challenge to improve their lives. This can be as simple as, “Who’s with me? Drop your plans in the comments.”

Have fun crafting inspirational captions for Instagram! Still lost? Don’t worry; we’ve got you covered. Sometimes, all you need to spark the next great caption idea is some great examples!

Positive Captions for Instagram to Lift Your Followers’ Spirits

1. Play your favorite music, turn the volume up, and make yourself a nice cup of tea. You deserve it!
2. P.S.: You can do it. Just in case you didn’t know.
3. It’s never too late to start living your best life.
4. Life’s a story, and you’re the author. Make it a good one.
5. Don’t chase your dreams. Clear the way and boldly step ahead.
6. The best thing about Mondays? They end. It’ll be over before you know it.
7. Find what you love. Then do that.
8. Remember — you’re just one big smile away from making someone’s day better.
9. Shoot for the moon, and you’ll at least make it to space.
10. Take a nap. You deserve it.

Inspirational Captions for Instagram About Overcoming Struggles

11. Don’t wait for success to hit you over the head one day. Work hard and don’t stop.
12. Not sure how to solve it? Start by making it better, one step at a time.
13. Struggling? One day, you’ll look back and think, “Wow, I made it through that.”
14. Remember — you’re stronger than you think and tougher than you know. Keep going.
15. When the trail sign reads “path of least resistance,” pick the other one. Beyond every challenge is a well-deserved sense of accomplishment.
16. Work hard now, play hard later.
17. Feel the pain, keep going, and take the win.
18. Be there for it all. Feel the fear. Push through the pain. Celebrate the wins, but do it in good company.
19. On the positive side, if you’re running out of excuses… at least you’re running.
20. The best breaths are sighs of relief, knowing you’ve done it and won it.

Inspiring Instagram Captions About Gratitude

21. Grateful for all the little things that add up to big things. What are you happy about today?
22. This one’s for all the people who quietly make others’ lives better without ever expecting a “thank you.”
23. Thanks, Mom — and all the moms out there. You keep everything together.
24. Seriously. Thanks for the laughter, the memories, and the mischief. Everything’s better with you.
25. Every sunrise offers a brand new start, and that’s enough.
26. Look for the beauty in the little things and smile. Life is amazing.
27. Every day is a gift. Give back!
28. Challenge: Dedicate today to everything you’re grateful for, and forget about the things you wish you had.
29. There’s a crack in everything, but that’s how the light gets in, remember?
30. Grateful for everything, starting with Instagram memes. You should see my smile.

Self-Improvement Motivation Captions for Instagram

31. Work now, rest when it’s done.
32. Limits? Those are for breaking.
33. Not sure what to work on next? Start with yourself, and you can never go wrong.
34. The best time to start? Probably ages ago, but failing that, right now works, too.
35. Life: Perfection impossible, getting rich optional, beautiful moments with friends priceless.
36. Win or learn. There’s no losing either way.
37. Dive head-first into your wildest dreams and never look back unless it’s to smile.
38. Living my best life. How are you leveling up your dreams today?
39. Just awesome. Nothing else matters.
40. Believe in yourself and your dreams, no matter how crazy they seem.

Fitness Motivation Instagram Captions

41. Friends don’t let friends skip leg day.
42. Building success, one sad little rep at a time. It all adds up! How are you getting closer to your fitness goals?
43. Today’s pains are tomorrow’s gains.
44. Always push yourself to be better.
45. Just think about it. Nobody says, “I wish I didn’t go to the gym” on their deathbed.
46. Let’s go from fitness noob to gym pro, one rep at a time!
47. Don’t dream of it. Work for it.
48. Everything’s a win when you’re your own fiercest competition.
49. When you think you’re done, do one more.
50. Sure, go home. But go big first.

Motivational Instagram Captions About Career Success

51. Elbow grease and coffee, the secrets to success.
52. Turn every “I wish” into “I can.”
53. The road to success is paved with failures. Turn them into stepping stones.
54. Hustle hard, relax harder.
55. Work it like you own it, and one day you will.
56. My favorite room? Room for improvement.
57. Don’t give up until your haters beg you for a job.
58. Measure your success in dreams made real, and you can never go wrong.
59. Start where you are, don’t stop until you make it.
60. The wildest dreams are made of hard work, sweat, and tears but celebrated with success.

Inspiring Captions for Instagram About Adventure and Travel

61. Skip the shortcuts and go for the scenic route.
62. Don’t wait for adventure to call! Set sail, and don’t look back.
63. They told me to get lost, so I did!
64. This beach is my new office, and these seagulls my new coworkers.
65. Because the best adventures never end.
66. Keep going until the Wi-Fi’s gone.
67. Touch grass? Nah. Explore the world and never stop.
68. Take a walk on the wild side and prepare to be surprised.
69. Every grand adventure starts with an impossible dream. What’s yours?
70. Let reality go to voicemail. Answer adventure’s call.

Beautiful Quotes for Motivational Captions for Instagram

71. “It always seems impossible until it’s done.” — Nelson Mandela
72. “Don’t be pushed around by the fears in your mind. Be led by the dreams in your heart.” ― Roy T Bennett
73. “Spread love everywhere you go.” — Mother Teresa
74. “Keep your face always toward the sunshine, and shadows will fall behind you.” — Walt Whitman
75. “Nothing in the world is ever completely wrong. Even a stopped clock is right twice a day.” ― Paulo Coelho
76. “You don’t always need a plan. Sometimes you just need to breathe, trust, let go and see what happens.” — Mandy Hale
77. “The only thing standing between you and your goal is the bullshit story you keep telling yourself as to why you can’t achieve it.” ― Jordan Belfort
78. “When someone tells me ‘No,’ it doesn’t mean I can’t do it, it simply means I can’t do it with them.” ― Karen E Quinones Miller
79. “It is not a daily increase, but a daily decrease. Hack away at the inessentials.” ― Bruce Lee
80. “Don’t wait. The time will never be just right.” — Napoleon Hill

Short Inspirational Captions for Instagram

81. Believe you can do it. Everything starts there.
82. Live, mess up, learn, win, and repeat.
83. Go for it like your life depends on it.
84. You know the drill: Just do it.
85. You’ve got this.
86. Yes, you can.
87. Never give up.
88. My secret? Relentless perseverance with a side of strong black coffee.
89. Find that one thing that doesn’t feel like work, and you’ll never have to choose between working to live and living to work again.
90. Look for inspiration in the weirdest of places.

Creative Writing Prompts for Inspirational Instagram Captions

Still looking for fresh, new ways to make Instagram captions motivational for your followers? That makes sense! After all, the best way to reach your audience is to stay authentic. If you didn’t find  motivational captions for Instagram that match your voice on this list, we’ll help you write your own!

Allow these creative writing prompts to spark new ideas, and come up with unique and original inspiring captions for Instagram on the spot!

91. Your journey to success begins with…
92. Listen for the whispers of… and let… guide your path forward.
93. It all started with…
94. Today’s blood, sweat, and tears pay for tomorrow’s…
95. Every step is a reminder that…
96. Successes are just dreams people were too stubborn to give up on, and I…
97. Your journey? Yours to make. Your heart? Your compass to…
98. Rise like the sun and…
99. Push the chaos aside and decide to…
100. The one lesson about life I wish everyone would live by? ….

FAQ About Inspirational Instagram Captions

How do I make sure my inspirational captions for Instagram resonate with my followers?

You can start with a strong, attention-grabbing hook your Insta followers can’t ignore and write an authentic, inspirational caption with lessons you’ve discovered the hard way. However, always remember that not every message will resonate with everyone. That’s OK. You make an impact even if you inspire just one person to make a big change (or simply remember to enjoy the day).

Should I use emojis in my positive captions for Instagram?

Definitely! Emojis are Instagram’s love language. They add character and power to your motivational Instagram captions. Make sure they match the tone of your caption perfectly — and if possible, match them to the color palette of your photo!

Should all my inspiring Instagram captions be deep?

Not at all! A quick reminder to enjoy the weather or take a break can be just as motivational as overarching messages about the keys to a successful and happy life.

What hashtags should I add to my motivation Instagram captions?

Your hashtags add context and infuse your captions with personality, so it’s important to get them right! Some of our favorite options include #positivevibes, #mindsetmatters, #inspirationalquotes, #believeinyourself, and #dailymotivation.

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