--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We are not determined by our experiences…" description: "\"We are not determined by our experiences, but are self-determined by the meaning we give to them; and when we take particular experiences as the basis ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e9f/alfred-adler-4921_bases_we-are-not-determined-by-our-experiences_1805196.jpg" --- # We are not determined by our experiences, but are… ![“We are not determined by our experiences, but are self-determined by the meaning we give to them; and when we take particular experiences as the basis for our future life, we are almost certain to be misguided to some degree. Meanings are not determined by situations. We determine ourselves by the…” quote by Alfred Adler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e9f/alfred-adler-4921_bases_we-are-not-determined-by-our-experiences_1805196.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e9f/alfred-adler-4921_bases_we-are-not-determined-by-our-experiences_1805196.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e9f/alfred-adler-4921_bases_we-are-not-determined-by-our-experiences_1805196.jpg) > “We are not determined by our experiences, but are self-determined by the meaning we give to them; and when we take particular experiences as the basis for our future life, we are almost certain to be misguided to some degree. Meanings are not determined by situations. We determine ourselves by the meanings we ascribe to situations.” [Alfred Adler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-adler/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Self‑identity is shaped by the meanings we assign to experiences, not the experiences themselves; relying on them can mislead. **In simple terms:** We define ourselves by meaning, not events. Key Takeaway Choose empowering meanings. Themes identity meaning self‑determination psychology Mood reflective inspirational Type philosophical psychological When to use this quote - career planning - relationship counseling - education - therapy - goal setting Key Concepts existentialism cognitive appraisal personal growth Questions to Reflect On - How do you assign meaning to setbacks? - What alternative meanings could empower you? A Different Perspective Meanings can be influenced by external pressures, limiting true self‑determination. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bases](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bases/) [Certain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/certain/) [Degrees](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/degrees/) [Determine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/determine/) [Determine Meanings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/determine-meanings-2067220/) [Determined](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/determined/) [Determined Situations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/determined-situations-2067221/) [Future life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/future-life/) [Giving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/giving/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Meanings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/meanings/) [Meanings Determined](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/meanings-determined-2067219/) [Misguided](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/misguided/) [Our future](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/our-future/) [Particular](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/particular/) [Self](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self/) [Situation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/situation/) [Situations Determine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/situations-determine-422778/) ## Related quotes > [Meanings are not determined by situations, but we determine ourselves by the meanings we give to situations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-adler/meanings-are-not-determined-by-situations-but-we-determine-ourselves/) [Alfred Adler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-adler/) > [We knew before we came (to earth) that there would be many adverse circumstances to test us: accidents, sickness, and disease to prove us;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-e-wells/we-knew-before-we-came-to-earth-that-there-would-be-many-adverse/) [Robert E. 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And yet-I am inclined to expect…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/i-have-never-seen-what-to-me-seemed-an-atom-of-proof-that-there-is-a/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [Masonry inculcates faith in immortality as indispensable to moral living and urges its members to qualify for eternal life by the practice of those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-e-hammond/masonry-inculcates-faith-in-immortality-as-indispensable-to-moral/) [William E Hammond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-e-hammond/) > [“Actually, the substitution of the reality-principle for the pleasure-principle denotes no dethronement of the pleasure-principle, but only a safeguarding of it. A momentary pleasure,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sigmund-freud/actually-the-substitution-of-the-reality-principle-for-the-pleasure/) [Sigmund Freud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sigmund-freud/) > [Your current thoughts are creating your future life. What you think about the most or focus on the most will appear as your life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rhonda-byrne/your-current-thoughts-are-creating-your-future-life-what-you-think/) [Rhonda Byrne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rhonda-byrne/) ## More by Alfred Adler > [Play is a child's work and this is not a trivial pursuit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-adler/play-is-a-child-s-work-and-this-is-not-a-trivial-pursuit/) [Alfred Adler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-adler/) > [There is a law that man should love his neighbor as himself. 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