--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Trying to change before you're ready…" description: "\"Trying to change before you're ready isn't likely to be productive. For example, most New Year's resolutions don't last because people spring into acti..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/463/amy-morin-4409_action_trying-to-change-before-you-re-ready-isn_27186.jpg" --- # Trying to change before you're ready isn't likely to be… ![“Trying to change before you're ready isn't likely to be productive. For example, most New Year's resolutions don't last because people spring into action without being prepared for the work it's going to take. Forcing change based on a date on the calendar, rather than a true readiness to…” quote by Amy Morin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/463/amy-morin-4409_action_trying-to-change-before-you-re-ready-isn_27186.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/463/amy-morin-4409_action_trying-to-change-before-you-re-ready-isn_27186.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/463/amy-morin-4409_action_trying-to-change-before-you-re-ready-isn_27186.jpg) > “Trying to change before you're ready isn't likely to be productive. For example, most New Year's resolutions don't last because people spring into action without being prepared for the work it's going to take. Forcing change based on a date on the calendar, rather than a true readiness to transform, can be a setup for failure.” [Amy Morin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-morin/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Change requires genuine readiness; imposing it on arbitrary dates leads to unsustainable effort and likely failure. **In simple terms:** Readiness matters more than timing. Key Takeaway Preparation beats forced deadlines. Themes self-improvement motivation goal-setting psychology habit formation Mood reflective cautious motivational Type advice observation psychological insight When to use this quote - starting a new habit - setting New Year's resolutions - career transitions - health goals - personal development Key Concepts readiness sustainability self-awareness Practical Applications - designing realistic change plans - coaching clients on readiness Questions to Reflect On - How can you assess true readiness before committing to change? - What signals indicate you are prepared for a transformation? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Action](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/action/) [Change](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/change/) [Christmas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christmas/) [Failure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/failure/) [New year's resolutions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/new-year-s-resolutions/) [Spring](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spring/) [Trying to change](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trying-to-change/) [Work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work/) [Year Resolutions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/year-resolutions/) [Year'S Resolutions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/year-s-resolutions/) ## Related quotes > [I hope the world ends in 2012 so I can't be held accountable for my New Year's resolutions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-hope-the-world-ends-in-2012-so-i-can-t-be-held-accountable-for-my/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Many people have trouble sticking to their resolutions, and there is a simple scientific explanation for this. In 1987, a team of psychologists conducted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-barry/many-people-have-trouble-sticking-to-their-resolutions-and-there-is-a/) [Dave Barry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-barry/) > [“NOEL: And even when I don't stay up until midnight, I still enjoy the tradition of New Year's resolutions. What can I say? I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-depiano/noel-and-even-when-i-don-t-stay-up-until-midnight-i-still-enjoy-the/) [Hillary DePiano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-depiano/) > [I'm a very thoughtful, forward-thinking, planner kind of person. I love Excel spreadsheets and five-year-plans, and I love to review every year how my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenna-fischer/i-m-a-very-thoughtful-forward-thinking-planner-kind-of-person-i-love/) [Jenna Fischer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenna-fischer/) > [Make as many New Year's resolutions as possible so you have lots of future failures to choose from.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/make-as-many-new-year-s-resolutions-as-possible-so-you-have-lots-of/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I know what I'm giving up for Lent: my New Year's resolutions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henny-youngman/i-know-what-i-m-giving-up-for-lent-my-new-year-s-resolutions/) [Henny Youngman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henny-youngman/) > [I hope one of your New Year's resolutions is to stop tagging me in New Year's photos.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-hope-one-of-your-new-year-s-resolutions-is-to-stop-tagging-me-in/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The difference between New Year's and Birthday's resolutions is that, New Year's resolutions are consciously taken and followed WHILE Birthday's are taken and followed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-mark/the-difference-between-new-year-s-and-birthday-s-resolutions-is-that/) [Terry Mark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-mark/) > [May all your troubles last as long as your New Year's resolutions!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/may-all-your-troubles-last-as-long-as-your-new-year-s-resolutions/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [You make New Year's resolutions. And you make them into the teeth of old resolutions which were different. Then you don't keep your new…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-ron-hubbard/you-make-new-year-s-resolutions-and-you-make-them-into-the-teeth-of/) [L. Ron Hubbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-ron-hubbard/) > [Within 7 days, 75% of people will have given up on their New Year's resolutions; that's tomorrow. Evaluate yourself. Don't be one of them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-kiyosaki/within-7-days-75-of-people-will-have-given-up-on-their-new-year-s/) [Robert Kiyosaki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-kiyosaki/) > [New Year's resolutions have always been something to beat myself up with by the second week of January. It seems perverse to set yourself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/romesh-ranganathan/new-year-s-resolutions-have-always-been-something-to-beat-myself-up/) [Romesh Ranganathan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/romesh-ranganathan/) > [For many years, I tried to make New Year's resolutions. I made lists and shot for great heights: I would show altruism and exert…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-rollins/for-many-years-i-tried-to-make-new-year-s-resolutions-i-made-lists/) [Henry Rollins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-rollins/) > [New Year's resolutions are pointless to cause most people only stick to them for about a month and then go back to their old…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/new-year-s-resolutions-are-pointless-to-cause-most-people-only-stick/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I don't want to become this lazy person, a guy who thinks in terms of New Year's resolutions. I really do want to see…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blake-mills/i-don-t-want-to-become-this-lazy-person-a-guy-who-thinks-in-terms-of/) [Blake Mills](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blake-mills/) ## More by Amy Morin > [“When you learn to let go of the details you can’t control, the amount of time and energy you’ll be able to devote to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-morin/when-you-learn-to-let-go-of-the-details-you-can-t-control-the-amount/) [Amy Morin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-morin/) > [You certainly can't prevent all mental health problems - factors like genetics and traumatic life events certainly play a role. But everyone can take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-morin/you-certainly-can-t-prevent-all-mental-health-problems-factors-like/) [Amy Morin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-morin/) > [Even though your emotions aren't wrong, that doesn't mean you have to stay stuck in a particular mood. You can certainly choose to make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-morin/even-though-your-emotions-aren-t-wrong-that-doesn-t-mean-you-have-to/) [Amy Morin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-morin/) > [Building mental strength is about learning to regulate your thoughts, manage your emotions, and behave productively despite whatever circumstances you find yourself in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-morin/building-mental-strength-is-about-learning-to-regulate-your-thoughts/) [Amy Morin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-morin/) > [If you quit every time you face a new challenge, giving up can change how you view yourself. You may begin to think you're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-morin/if-you-quit-every-time-you-face-a-new-challenge-giving-up-can-change/) [Amy Morin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-morin/) > [A lot of problems stem from a desire to avoid discomfort. For example, people who fear failure often avoid new challenges in an effort…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-morin/a-lot-of-problems-stem-from-a-desire-to-avoid-discomfort-for-example/) [Amy Morin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-morin/) > [“When you notice yourself trying to control something that you can’t, ask yourself, What am I so afraid of? Do you worry someone else…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-morin/when-you-notice-yourself-trying-to-control-something-that-you-can-t/) [Amy Morin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-morin/) > [Narcissists - people with an inflated self-concept and a strong sense of uniqueness and superiority - seek attention and affirmation on Facebook.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-morin/narcissists-people-with-an-inflated-self-concept-and-a-strong-sense/) [Amy Morin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-morin/) > [Empowering yourself is an essential component to building mental strength and creating the kind of life you want to live.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-morin/empowering-yourself-is-an-essential-component-to-building-mental/) [Amy Morin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-morin/) > [“Retaining your power is about evaluating feedback to determine if it has any validity.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-morin/retaining-your-power-is-about-evaluating-feedback-to-determine-if-it/) [Amy Morin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-morin/) > [Idealizing the reality of past romances won't do you any favors as you face Valentine's Day alone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-morin/idealizing-the-reality-of-past-romances-won-t-do-you-any-favors-as/) [Amy Morin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-morin/) > [Mentally strong people don't shy away from change - nor do they expect immediate results.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-morin/mentally-strong-people-don-t-shy-away-from-change-nor-do-they-expect/) [Amy Morin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-morin/) > [Engaging in good habits 90 percent of the time, while indulging in bad habits 10 percent of time, places you at risk of being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-morin/engaging-in-good-habits-90-percent-of-the-time-while-indulging-in-bad/) [Amy Morin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-morin/) > [When self-doubt creeps in, don't ignore it - address it. Respond to harsh self-criticism with something more compassionate. Talk to yourself like a trusted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-morin/when-self-doubt-creeps-in-don-t-ignore-it-address-it-respond-to-harsh/) [Amy Morin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-morin/) > [Whether you want to exercise more often, or you're hoping to become debt-free, real change happens in stages. Slow and steady progress is great…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-morin/whether-you-want-to-exercise-more-often-or-you-re-hoping-to-become/) [Amy Morin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-morin/) [Explore all 111 Amy Morin quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-morin/) ## More Action quotes > [I always say there are two things to be successful. 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If you know these…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-bernbach/nothing-is-so-powerful-as-an-insight-into-human-nature-what/) [William Bernbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-bernbach/) > [Every thought I have imprisioned in expression I must free by my deeds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kahlil-gibran/every-thought-i-have-imprisioned-in-expression-i-must-free-by-my-deeds/) [Kahlil Gibran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kahlil-gibran/) > [It took me 20 years to buy an electric typewriter, because I was afraid it would be too sensitive. I like to bang the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elmore-leonard/it-took-me-20-years-to-buy-an-electric-typewriter-because-i-was/) [Elmore Leonard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elmore-leonard/) > [Every action that helps us manifest our divine nature more and more is good; every action that retards it is evil.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/every-action-that-helps-us-manifest-our-divine-nature-more-and-more/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [As you begin changing your thinking, start immediately to change your behaviour. Begin to act the part of the person you would like to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/as-you-begin-changing-your-thinking-start-immediately-to-change-your/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [It's easy to say, let's go in and get the bad guys. But you have a divided country of Sunnis and Shias. The United…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tulsi-gabbard/it-s-easy-to-say-let-s-go-in-and-get-the-bad-guys-but-you-have-a/) [Tulsi Gabbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tulsi-gabbard/) > [For comedy action, I must know the language.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sammo-hung/for-comedy-action-i-must-know-the-language/) [Sammo Hung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sammo-hung/) > [Believing with you that religion is a matter which lies solely between man and his God, that he owes account to none other for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/believing-with-you-that-religion-is-a-matter-which-lies-solely/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [“Action is a powerful thing. When you smile through your sadness, it can completely change your outlook. Try it! Smile :) Now hold onto…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leticia-rae/action-is-a-powerful-thing-when-you-smile-through-your-sadness-it-can/) [Leticia Rae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leticia-rae/) > [I reject criticism because the last thing I wanted was to sit there and look at people talking. 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