--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If you look at your past, you will never…" description: "\"If you look at your past, you will never go anywhere. If you look at your feet, you will hit a wall. If you look at your goal, you will fall over in a ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/310/anonymous-1_goals_if-you-look-at-your-past-you-will-never_524030.jpg" --- # If you look at your past, you will never go anywhere. If… ![“If you look at your past, you will never go anywhere. If you look at your feet, you will hit a wall. If you look at your goal, you will fall over in a pit. Instead, find a balance. Look far enough ahead that you can reach you goals, and close enough that you can see your pits.” quote by Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/310/anonymous-1_goals_if-you-look-at-your-past-you-will-never_524030.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/310/anonymous-1_goals_if-you-look-at-your-past-you-will-never_524030.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/310/anonymous-1_goals_if-you-look-at-your-past-you-will-never_524030.jpg) > “If you look at your past, you will never go anywhere. If you look at your feet, you will hit a wall. If you look at your goal, you will fall over in a pit. Instead, find a balance. Look far enough ahead that you can reach you goals, and close enough that you can see your pits.” [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Focusing solely on past, present, or future without balance leads to stagnation or obstacles; balance perspective to navigate goals and avoid pitfalls. **In simple terms:** Balance focus across time to achieve goals and avoid traps. Key Takeaway Maintain balanced perspective for progress. Themes balance goal‑setting awareness Mood reflective cautious Type philosophical advice When to use this quote - career planning - personal development - project management - learning new skills Key Concepts time perception strategic focus Questions to Reflect On - What balance of past, present, future works for you? - How do you spot hidden pitfalls? A Different Perspective Over‑balancing may cause indecision. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Goals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/goals/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [Sometimes you may feel like you are just about to realize your goal only to fall short. That is no reason to quit. 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You know, you've gotta just look at the goal,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stefano-langone/the-first-thing-you-have-to-do-is-take-everything-with-a-grain-of/) [Stefano Langone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stefano-langone/) > [Part of executive functions is the ability to look to a goal deadline and assess where an organization is in meeting it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-cloud/part-of-executive-functions-is-the-ability-to-look-to-a-goal-deadline/) [Henry Cloud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-cloud/) > [At a very young age, I wrote down the goals that I had so I could always see what I wanted to accomplish. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-phelps/at-a-very-young-age-i-wrote-down-the-goals-that-i-had-so-i-could/) [Michael Phelps](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-phelps/) > [Always look at what your goal is. Understand that there are going to be days when you feel like crap. There are going to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwight-howard/always-look-at-what-your-goal-is-understand-that-there-are-going-to/) [Dwight Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwight-howard/) > [I look for a goal and I try to keep my focus on it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcelo/i-look-for-a-goal-and-i-try-to-keep-my-focus-on-it/) [Marcelo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcelo/) > [If it comes it comes. But you can't look for a finish. If you look for a home run ball you'll never hit the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benson-henderson/if-it-comes-it-comes-but-you-can-t-look-for-a-finish-if-you-look-for/) [Benson Henderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benson-henderson/) > [When I look at my goal, my goal is peace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malala-yousafzai/when-i-look-at-my-goal-my-goal-is-peace/) [Malala Yousafzai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malala-yousafzai/) > [Before you see the rainbow, you see the rain. If you want to reach your goals, you have to be able to put up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/before-you-see-the-rainbow-you-see-the-rain-if-you-want-to-reach-your/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Confidence is the key concept of life to reach goals in what you want to do in life. Quoted by Barack Obama and Brandon…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/confidence-is-the-key-concept-of-life-to-reach-goals-in-what-you-want/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [You measure the size of the accomplishment by the obstacle you had to overcome to reach your goals.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-measure-the-size-of-the-accomplishment-by-the-obstacle-you-had-to/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [If you don't reach your goals the first time don't give up, keep trying and keep pushing yourself to reach them, never give up!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-you-don-t-reach-your-goals-the-first-time-don-t-give-up-keep/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Sometimes we give up hope before we reach our goals. But you don't know how far you've come. Never give up on a dream.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/sometimes-we-give-up-hope-before-we-reach-our-goals-but-you-don-t/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Sometimes you have to cut people off that are distractions to reach your goals and aspirations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/sometimes-you-have-to-cut-people-off-that-are-distractions-to-reach/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Anonymous > [And a tear rolled down her cheek, as she said goodbye; because she's walking away, and she's never looking back](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/and-a-tear-rolled-down-her-cheek-as-she-said-goodbye-because-she-s/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Life is full of change. That's how we learn and grow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/life-is-full-of-change-that-s-how-we-learn-and-grow/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [You'll seldom experience regret for anything that you've done. It is what you haven't done that will torment you. The message, therefore, is clear.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-ll-seldom-experience-regret-for-anything-that-you-ve-done-it-is/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Scrabble - The game is available in Braille. That’s a nice fact. This makes me feel better about humanity for some reason. I can’t…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/scrabble-the-game-is-available-in-braille-that-s-a-nice-fact-this/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Everyone needs someone to love, and I choose you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/everyone-needs-someone-to-love-and-i-choose-you/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“THIS tale of my sore-troubled life I write,    To thank the God of nature, who conveyed    My soul to me, and with such care…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/this-tale-of-my-sore-troubled-life-i-write-to-thank-the-god-of-nature/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Put on my J's and dance the whole night away Im naughty by nature like Im hip-hop hooray With my hands in the sky,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/put-on-my-j-s-and-dance-the-whole-night-away-im-naughty-by-nature/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Me.. I have been through a lot, but I still manage to have a smile on my face. Im not worried about the past…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/me-i-have-been-through-a-lot-but-i-still-manage-to-have-a-smile-on-my/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Distance is a test of love. many will fail for those who can't withstand it, but for those who can, theres only one answer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/distance-is-a-test-of-love-many-will-fail-for-those-who-can-t/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Im sorry I ever tried...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/im-sorry-i-ever-tried/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Being betrayed by the one you love is the worst feeling in the world...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/being-betrayed-by-the-one-you-love-is-the-worst-feeling-in-the-world/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Let children support their parents or be imprisoned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/let-children-support-their-parents-or-be-imprisoned/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The only person I've ever purposely caused pain here is myself...By simply sharing, caring too much.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-only-person-i-ve-ever-purposely-caused-pain-here-is-myself-by/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Start a business, not a startup”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/start-a-business-not-a-startup/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The truth is, of course, that the curtness of the Ten Commandments is an evidence, not of the gloom and narrowness of a religion,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-truth-is-of-course-that-the-curtness-of-the-ten-commandments-is/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) [Explore all 162,899 Anonymous quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More Goals quotes > [I always say there are two things to be successful. The first is decide exactly what you want - set your goals - and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-tracy/i-always-say-there-are-two-things-to-be-successful-the-first-is/) [Brian Tracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-tracy/) > [The costs of the Bush-Obama wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are now estimated to run as high as $4.4 trillion - a major victory…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/the-costs-of-the-bush-obama-wars-in-iraq-and-afghanistan-are-now/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [Before I debuted, it was my goal to make my debut, and afterwards, I aimed at winning champion titles on television music shows, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hyuna/before-i-debuted-it-was-my-goal-to-make-my-debut-and-afterwards-i/) [Hyuna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hyuna/) > [I don't really like too much credit. I know nobody's going to believe this, but I'd rather be able to score goals and nobody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bradley-wright-phillips/i-don-t-really-like-too-much-credit-i-know-nobody-s-going-to-believe/) [Bradley Wright-Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bradley-wright-phillips/) > [Leo, Cristiano Ronaldo, Neymar, Eden. Every year, you look at their numbers - score goals, assists, minutes - to see they play very well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pedro/leo-cristiano-ronaldo-neymar-eden-every-year-you-look-at-their/) [Pedro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pedro/) > [“So Jace is my actual family," Kit said. "But I can't go live with him, because him and his hot girlfriend are going off…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/so-jace-is-my-actual-family-kit-said-but-i-can-t-go-live-with-him/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [The goal of spiritual practice is full recovery, and the only thing you need to recover from is a fractured sense of self.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marianne-williamson/the-goal-of-spiritual-practice-is-full-recovery-and-the-only-thing/) [Marianne Williamson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marianne-williamson/) > [Every drop of rain hits its appointed target.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-newton/every-drop-of-rain-hits-its-appointed-target/) [John Newton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-newton/) > [“Achieving mental harmony is one of the greatest goals and experiences in life.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kambiz-mostofizadeh/achieving-mental-harmony-is-one-of-the-greatest-goals-and-experiences/) [Kambiz Mostofizadeh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kambiz-mostofizadeh/) > [I don't think about the press or the crowds or the other leaders of the race. The focus is only on myself. As soon…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/magdalena-neuner/i-don-t-think-about-the-press-or-the-crowds-or-the-other-leaders-of/) [Magdalena Neuner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/magdalena-neuner/) > [Too many times we flitter our energy into too many goals and in the process don't achieve much. Focus is very important in life.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vaishali-kasture/too-many-times-we-flitter-our-energy-into-too-many-goals-and-in-the/) [Vaishali Kasture](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vaishali-kasture/) > [Plainly, the environment must be a living one, directed by a higher intelligence, arranged by an adult who is prepared for his mission.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-montessori/plainly-the-environment-must-be-a-living-one-directed-by-a-higher/) [Maria Montessori](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-montessori/) > [According to the best research, less than 3% of Americans have written goals, and less than 1% review and rewrite their goals on a daily basis.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-tracy/according-to-the-best-research-less-than-3-of-americans-have-written/) [Brian Tracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-tracy/) > [When you have accomplished your goal simply walk away. This is the path way to Heaven.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/when-you-have-accomplished-your-goal-simply-walk-away-this-is-the/) [Laozi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laozi/) > [“What shapes us is not always our achievements but our omissions. Not lies; simply the truths we don’t tell.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-j-tudor/what-shapes-us-is-not-always-our-achievements-but-our-omissions-not/) [C.J. Tudor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-j-tudor/) [Browse all 21,276 Goals quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/goals/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "If you look at your past, you will never go anywhere. If you look at your feet, you will hit a wall. If you look at your goal, you will fall over in a pit. Instead, find a balance. 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