--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: People don't just get upset. They…" description: "\"People don't just get upset. They contribute to their upsetness.\" — Albert Ellis" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b22/albert-ellis-3379_depression_people-don-t-just-get-upset-they-contrib_218543.jpg" --- # People don't just get upset. They contribute to their… ![“People don't just get upset. They contribute to their upsetness.” quote by Albert Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b22/albert-ellis-3379_depression_people-don-t-just-get-upset-they-contrib_218543.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b22/albert-ellis-3379_depression_people-don-t-just-get-upset-they-contrib_218543.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b22/albert-ellis-3379_depression_people-don-t-just-get-upset-they-contrib_218543.jpg) > “People don't just get upset. They contribute to their upsetness.” [Albert Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-ellis/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Emotions arise from personal contributions, not just external events; we shape our own upsetness. **In simple terms:** We create our own upset. Key Takeaway Take responsibility for emotional reactions. Themes psychology self‑responsibility emotion cognition Mood analytical empowering Type psychological philosophical When to use this quote - stress management - conflict resolution - personal growth Key Concepts cognitive‑behavioral theory personal agency Questions to Reflect On - What personal beliefs fuel your upset? - How can you change your emotional response? A Different Perspective Oversimplifies complex emotional triggers. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Depression](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/depression/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Perspective](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/perspective/) ## Related quotes > [People don't just get upset. They contribute to their upsetness. They always have the power to think, and to think about their thinking, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-ellis/people-don-t-just-get-upset-they-contribute-to-their-upsetness-they-2/) [Albert Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-ellis/) > [People don't just get upset. They contribute to their upsetness. They always have the power to think, and to think about their thinking, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-ellis/people-don-t-just-get-upset-they-contribute-to-their-upsetness-they/) [Albert Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-ellis/) > [Just because I'm upset doesn't mean I don't care.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/savannah-sopsher/just-because-i-m-upset-doesn-t-mean-i-don-t-care/) [Savannah' Sopsher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/savannah-sopsher/) > [I should just keep me mouth shut, I just upset people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-moore/i-should-just-keep-me-mouth-shut-i-just-upset-people/) [Alan Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-moore/) > [I said to my parents that I don't even know if there should be an Israel. And they were just so upset and hurt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-soloway/i-said-to-my-parents-that-i-don-t-even-know-if-there-should-be-an/) [Jill Soloway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-soloway/) > [People are fed up - and I think quite rightfully so. But what are they proposing as an alternative to just being upset or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scarlett-johansson/people-are-fed-up-and-i-think-quite-rightfully-so-but-what-are-they/) [Scarlett Johansson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scarlett-johansson/) > [I'm not very firey, but when I go, I go. I don't shout, I just get upset.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikki-sanderson/i-m-not-very-firey-but-when-i-go-i-go-i-don-t-shout-i-just-get-upset/) [Nikki Sanderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikki-sanderson/) > [I'm just upset that we've been distracted by so much noise and vulgarity when we could be trying to talk about how our country…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie-portman/i-m-just-upset-that-we-ve-been-distracted-by-so-much-noise-and/) [Natalie Portman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie-portman/) > [“It will just upset you." No my freaking way! He didn't just tell me I'm weak to him, did he? "Yes, Ian. Thanks for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cyndi-goodgame/it-will-just-upset-you-no-my-freaking-way-he-didn-t-just-tell-me-i-m/) [Cyndi Goodgame](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cyndi-goodgame/) > [For that again, is what all manner of religion essentially is: childish dependency. If something is irrational, that means it won't work. 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You do not blame them on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-ellis/the-best-years-of-your-life-are-the-ones-in-which-you-decide-your/) [Albert Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-ellis/) > [“REBT’s Insight No. 1 holds that you have both healthy and unhealthy emotions”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-ellis/rebt-s-insight-no-1-holds-that-you-have-both-healthy-and-unhealthy/) [Albert Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-ellis/) > [Failure doesn't have anything to do with your intrinsic value as a person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-ellis/failure-doesn-t-have-anything-to-do-with-your-intrinsic-value-as-a/) [Albert Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-ellis/) > [So I'd better stop my whining and help myself cope better with even the worst Adversities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-ellis/so-i-d-better-stop-my-whining-and-help-myself-cope-better-with-even/) [Albert Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-ellis/) > [I'm one of the best-loved psychologists in the United States, but I'm also probably the most hated one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-ellis/i-m-one-of-the-best-loved-psychologists-in-the-united-states-but-i-m/) [Albert Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-ellis/) > [I thought foolishly that Freudian psychoanalysis was deeper and more intensive than other, more directive forms of therapy, so I was trained in it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-ellis/i-thought-foolishly-that-freudian-psychoanalysis-was-deeper-and-more/) [Albert Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-ellis/) > [I'm very happy. I like my work and I like the various aspects of it - going around the world, teaching the gospel according…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-ellis/i-m-very-happy-i-like-my-work-and-i-like-the-various-aspects-of-it/) [Albert Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-ellis/) > [Let's suppose somebody abused you sexually. You still had a choice, though not a good one, about what to tell yourself about the abuse.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-ellis/let-s-suppose-somebody-abused-you-sexually-you-still-had-a-choice/) [Albert Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-ellis/) > [“The concept of deservingness for one’s “sins” implies that certain acts are unquestionably under all conditions “sinful.” And this is impossible to prove.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-ellis/the-concept-of-deservingness-for-one-s-sins-implies-that-certain-acts/) [Albert Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-ellis/) > [The art of love is largely the art of persistence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-ellis/the-art-of-love-is-largely-the-art-of-persistence/) [Albert Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-ellis/) > [I teach people to be flexible, scientific and logical in their thinking and therefore to be less prone to brainwashing by the therapist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-ellis/i-teach-people-to-be-flexible-scientific-and-logical-in-their/) [Albert Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-ellis/) > [For that again, is what all manner of religion essentially is: childish dependency. 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Failure can lead to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-ellis/people-are-terrified-of-other-people-or-difficult-projects-because/) [Albert Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-ellis/) > [Needing leads to bleeding - to almost all inevitable suffering.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-ellis/needing-leads-to-bleeding-to-almost-all-inevitable-suffering/) [Albert Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-ellis/) [Explore all 132 Albert Ellis quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-ellis/) ## More Depression quotes > [These joys were so trifling as to be as imperceptible as grains of gold among the sand, and in moments of depression she saw…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/these-joys-were-so-trifling-as-to-be-as-imperceptible-as-grains-of/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [“As ofttimes as it rains on my little spot of earth, you'd think I'd grow accustomed to the gloom.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-e-goodrich/as-ofttimes-as-it-rains-on-my-little-spot-of-earth-you-d-think-i-d/) [Richelle E. 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