Purpose: The purpose of this study is to analyze the concept of recovery in relation to those living with mental illness and provide a better understanding to the definition, perspectives, and paradigm of recovery in phenomenon, as a conceptual knowledge. Methods: A literature review was conducted to define the concept of recovery from a mental illness by using key words, "recovery", "mental health and illness", "concept analysis" and "recovery-oriented nursing", and searching the Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature, PubMed, Cochrane library and RISS4U database. Concept analysis of recovery was done, by using the Walker and Avant's framework of concept analysis. Results: Attributes of recovery for those living with mental illness included regain, life reconstruction, hope, adjustment, and health. Antecedents of recovery from mental illness included instilling hope, recovery vision, belief, peer support, recovery-oriented services, empowerment, personal accountability, education, human rights and culture. The consequences, as meanings of recovery included self-esteem, hopeful life, positive adjustment, and healthy life. Conclusion: Concept of recovery is important for a nurse to understand when caring for a person living with mental illness. This concept of recovery from mental illness may apply to future studies to develop a recovery-oriented nursing intervention.