--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Forgiveness is a choice. You control how…" description: "\"“Forgiveness is a choice. You control how you respond to something or someone. You can't change things that happened in the past, but you can decide ho..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3d9/amalie-howard-37827_change-things_forgiveness-is-a-choice-you-control-how_1217323.jpg" --- # Forgiveness is a choice. You control how you respond to… ![“Forgiveness is a choice. You control how you respond to something or someone. You can't change things that happened in the past, but you can decide how you let them affect you.” quote by Amalie Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3d9/amalie-howard-37827_change-things_forgiveness-is-a-choice-you-control-how_1217323.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3d9/amalie-howard-37827_change-things_forgiveness-is-a-choice-you-control-how_1217323.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3d9/amalie-howard-37827_change-things_forgiveness-is-a-choice-you-control-how_1217323.jpg) > ““Forgiveness is a choice. You control how you respond to something or someone. You can't change things that happened in the past, but you can decide how you let them affect you.”” [Amalie Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amalie-howard/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Forgiveness is an active decision to control one's emotional response, separating past events from current impact. **In simple terms:** Forgiveness is a personal choice to control impact. Key Takeaway Choose how to let go. Themes forgiveness personal agency emotional health resilience Mood empathetic encouraging Type motivational practical When to use this quote - conflict resolution - personal therapy - relationship counseling - stress management - spiritual practice Key Concepts Cognitive reframing mindfulness psychological autonomy Questions to Reflect On - What steps help you reclaim agency after hurt? - When is forgiveness not the healthiest option? A Different Perspective Forgiveness may be difficult when trauma is severe or safety is at risk. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Choice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/choice/) [Forgiveness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/forgiveness/) [Past](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/past/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [We almost always have choices, and the better the choice, the more we will be in control of our lives.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-glasser/we-almost-always-have-choices-and-the-better-the-choice-the-more-we/) [William Glasser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-glasser/) > [“Choice- Everyone has them, so take control!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mordakhi/choice-everyone-has-them-so-take-control/) Mordakhi > [Don’t consent to be hurt and you won’t be hurt – this is a choice over which you have control](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epictetus/don-t-consent-to-be-hurt-and-you-won-t-be-hurt-this-is-a-choice-over/) [Epictetus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epictetus/) > [You can get over a broken past if you decide to believe that there's nothing in your past that can keep you from having…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-meyer/you-can-get-over-a-broken-past-if-you-decide-to-believe-that-there-s/) [Joyce Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-meyer/) > [“Forget the past. Decide who you are today. Discover who you will be tomorrow.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-march/forget-the-past-decide-who-you-are-today-discover-who-you-will-be/) [Emily March](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-march/) > [“People who live in the past should not decide the course of the future.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shon-mehta/people-who-live-in-the-past-should-not-decide-the-course-of-the-future/) [Shon Mehta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shon-mehta/) > [I'm going to tell you a secret. Our lives are shaped by the future, not by the past. Once you decide how you want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendy-mass/i-m-going-to-tell-you-a-secret-our-lives-are-shaped-by-the-future-not/) [Wendy Mass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendy-mass/) > [Here's the thing about your past: You decide how long it lasts; present mind may seem blurred, but you're far more conscious when your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-timbre/here-s-the-thing-about-your-past-you-decide-how-long-it-lasts-present/) [Jamie Timbre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-timbre/) > [Love is a choice. Forgiveness is a choice too.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mich-pastor/love-is-a-choice-forgiveness-is-a-choice-too/) Mich Pastor > [“(Summarized) Forgiveness is a choice that presents itself to us in the form of three critical questions: 1) Can I give up the hope…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-smart/summarized-forgiveness-is-a-choice-that-presents-itself-to-us-in-the/) [Elizabeth Smart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-smart/) > [“Forgiveness is a choice you can make to free yourself from the shackles of your past, from pain, hurt and resentment. Forgiveness is your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sasha-samy/forgiveness-is-a-choice-you-can-make-to-free-yourself-from-the/) Sasha Samy > [“Forgiveness is a choice that presents itself to us in the form of three critical questions: 1) Can I give up the hope of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-smart/forgiveness-is-a-choice-that-presents-itself-to-us-in-the-form-of/) [Elizabeth Smart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-smart/) > [“Forgiveness is a choice. It is not a feeling– don't try and feel forgiving. It is an act of the will. 'Don't wait to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stasi-eldredge/forgiveness-is-a-choice-it-is-not-a-feeling-don-t-try-and-feel/) [Stasi Eldredge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stasi-eldredge/) > [“Forgiveness is freedom. Forgiveness is liberation. Forgiveness is a choice. If you forgive and forget you are free but, if you keep it, you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-agyemang-yeboah/forgiveness-is-freedom-forgiveness-is-liberation-forgiveness-is-a/) [Ernest Agyemang Yeboah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-agyemang-yeboah/) > [Forgiveness is a choice, but it is not an option.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-osteen/forgiveness-is-a-choice-but-it-is-not-an-option/) [Joel Osteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-osteen/) ## More by Amalie Howard > [“I know what you are, but I also know who you are too. And the ‘who’ is the part that defines us.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amalie-howard/i-know-what-you-are-but-i-also-know-who-you-are-too-and-the-who-is/) [Amalie Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amalie-howard/) > [“Sometimes you just need to go out in the world and live a little first.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amalie-howard/sometimes-you-just-need-to-go-out-in-the-world-and-live-a-little-first/) [Amalie Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amalie-howard/) > [“Then Christian made the fatal mistake of looking into her eyes. Suddenly he couldn’t move a muscle. They smoldered with a terrible black anger…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amalie-howard/then-christian-made-the-fatal-mistake-of-looking-into-her-eyes/) [Amalie Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amalie-howard/) > [“The same beautiful receptionist greeted Christian who had met him before and she extended the same lush invitation as she had the last time.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amalie-howard/the-same-beautiful-receptionist-greeted-christian-who-had-met-him/) [Amalie Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amalie-howard/) > [“After a while Lucian spoke curiosity evident in his tone. 'So why do you care so much Giving in to the temptation of a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amalie-howard/after-a-while-lucian-spoke-curiosity-evident-in-his-tone-so-why-do/) [Amalie Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amalie-howard/) > [“Don't be afraid of who you are. You cannot hope to control your power if you do not understand it and who you are.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amalie-howard/don-t-be-afraid-of-who-you-are-you-cannot-hope-to-control-your-power/) [Amalie Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amalie-howard/) > [“My father was quiet ' she told him. 'My mother was not. They were polar opposites but you'd think they were a match made…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amalie-howard/my-father-was-quiet-she-told-him-my-mother-was-not-they-were-polar/) [Amalie Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amalie-howard/) > [“Don't let someone else decide who you are. You decide. You are free to make that choice no matter where you've come from. Blood…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amalie-howard/don-t-let-someone-else-decide-who-you-are-you-decide-you-are-free-to/) [Amalie Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amalie-howard/) > [“I already fear for my life just because of who I am, you think adding a little inconsequential vampire to the equation will change…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amalie-howard/i-already-fear-for-my-life-just-because-of-who-i-am-you-think-adding/) [Amalie Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amalie-howard/) > [“Blood is a fickle thing, but so is truth, which can be bent to suit all purposes.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amalie-howard/blood-is-a-fickle-thing-but-so-is-truth-which-can-be-bent-to-suit-all/) [Amalie Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amalie-howard/) > [“You don't have to know where you're going every step of the way, or the destination. Trust in yourself to do what's right and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amalie-howard/you-don-t-have-to-know-where-you-re-going-every-step-of-the-way-or/) [Amalie Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amalie-howard/) [Explore all 12 Amalie Howard quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amalie-howard/) ## More Change things quotes > [I can't believe that I'm sitting in meetings with Steven Spielberg, Tom Hanks, and Annette Bening. I want to take on that responsibility to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ross-williams/i-can-t-believe-that-i-m-sitting-in-meetings-with-steven-spielberg/) [Roger Ross Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ross-williams/) > [“…progress isn't necessarily about change but about things turning out as we want them to”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-hogan/progress-isn-t-necessarily-about-change-but-about-things-turning-out/) Phil Hogan > [“I’m not saying Jesus won’t come back; I’ve just decided I can’t keep hoping to be rescued from my life. Maybe it’s up to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-hartzler/i-m-not-saying-jesus-won-t-come-back-i-ve-just-decided-i-can-t-keep/) [Aaron Hartzler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-hartzler/) > [What really distinguishes this generation in all countries from earlier generations ... is its determination to act, its joy in action, the assurance of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hannah-arendt/what-really-distinguishes-this-generation-in-all-countries-from/) [Hannah Arendt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hannah-arendt/) > [“why would white dudes want to change things when they held all the cards?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wally-lamb/why-would-white-dudes-want-to-change-things-when-they-held-all-the/) [Wally Lamb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wally-lamb/) > [“Gandhi is best remembered for his adherence to the principle of nonviolence; but no less important was his adherence to non-demonization. Even when he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-truett-anderson/gandhi-is-best-remembered-for-his-adherence-to-the-principle-of/) [Walter Truett Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-truett-anderson/) > [Simply having rules does not change the things that people want to do. You have to change incentives.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-wales/simply-having-rules-does-not-change-the-things-that-people-want-to-do/) [Jimmy Wales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-wales/) > [I used to believe that prayer changes things, but now I believe that prayer changes us and we change things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-used-to-believe-that-prayer-changes-things-but-now-i-believe-that/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [You cannot change the things, so you don't need to stress if you're going to change them. So why complain? It looks so simple…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrey-rublev/you-cannot-change-the-things-so-you-don-t-need-to-stress-if-you-re/) [Andrey Rublev](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrey-rublev/) > [I'm always trying to change things - change my character, change my look, change my hair, change my facial hair, change my costumes, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-jericho/i-m-always-trying-to-change-things-change-my-character-change-my-look/) [Chris Jericho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-jericho/) > [When something doesn't go your way, never lose hope in Allah. That faith could be just enough for Him to change things around for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/when-something-doesn-t-go-your-way-never-lose-hope-in-allah-that/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [When you're a black superhero, you can't erase the notion that you're black. If you're black, living in the community, and you want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cheo-hodari-coker/when-you-re-a-black-superhero-you-can-t-erase-the-notion-that-you-re/) [Cheo Hodari Coker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cheo-hodari-coker/) > [It's crazy how much time can change things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alaska/it-s-crazy-how-much-time-can-change-things/) [Alaska](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alaska/) > [The point of the essay is to change things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-tufte/the-point-of-the-essay-is-to-change-things/) [Edward Tufte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-tufte/) > [“You may not control all the events that happen to you, but you can decide not to be reduced by them. Try to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/you-may-not-control-all-the-events-that-happen-to-you-but-you-can/) [Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/) Browse all 661 Change things quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Forgiveness is a choice. You control how you respond to something or someone. 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