--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The point is to change one's life. The…" description: "\"The point is to change one's life. The point is not to give some vent to the emotions that have been destroying one; the point is so to act that one ca..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fdc/barbara-deming-14719_destroying_the-point-is-to-change-one-s-life-the-po_997201.jpg" --- # The point is to change one's life. The point is not to… ![“The point is to change one's life. The point is not to give some vent to the emotions that have been destroying one; the point is so to act that one can master them now.” quote by Barbara Deming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fdc/barbara-deming-14719_destroying_the-point-is-to-change-one-s-life-the-po_997201.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fdc/barbara-deming-14719_destroying_the-point-is-to-change-one-s-life-the-po_997201.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fdc/barbara-deming-14719_destroying_the-point-is-to-change-one-s-life-the-po_997201.jpg) > “The point is to change one's life. The point is not to give some vent to the emotions that have been destroying one; the point is so to act that one can master them now.” [Barbara Deming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-deming/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. True change requires active mastery of emotions, not just venting; one must act to transform destructive feelings into constructive power. **In simple terms:** Act to master emotions, not just vent. Key Takeaway Take decisive action to transform feelings. Themes change emotions action mastery self‑improvement Mood thoughtful empowering Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - personal crises - conflict resolution - creative projects - stressful situations Key Concepts psychology self‑control empowerment Questions to Reflect On - What actions can you take to channel anger productively? - How does mastery change your emotional landscape? A Different Perspective Venting alone may reinforce negative patterns. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Change](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/change/) [Emotion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/emotion/) [Giving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/giving/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) ## Related quotes > [Thank God I have music to vent my emotions. I'd be in a prison if I didn't.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paula-cole/thank-god-i-have-music-to-vent-my-emotions-i-d-be-in-a-prison-if-i/) [Paula Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paula-cole/) > [Vengeance is not the point: change is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-deming/vengeance-is-not-the-point-change-is/) [Barbara Deming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-deming/) > [Concentrate your narrative energy on the point of change. This is especially important for historical fiction. When your character is new to a place,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hilary-mantel/concentrate-your-narrative-energy-on-the-point-of-change-this-is/) [Hilary Mantel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hilary-mantel/) > [The whole point for me is to change as much as possible. If I've done one movie, I've done that, move on.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keira-knightley/the-whole-point-for-me-is-to-change-as-much-as-possible-if-i-ve-done/) [Keira Knightley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keira-knightley/) > [Philosophy studies the world, but the point is to change it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-marx/philosophy-studies-the-world-but-the-point-is-to-change-it/) [Karl Marx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-marx/) > [The philosophers have only interpreted the world, in various ways: the point, however, is to change it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-marx/the-philosophers-have-only-interpreted-the-world-in-various-ways-the-2/) [Karl Marx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-marx/) > [Don't live in the past. There's no point. You can't change anything. What a waste of time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-newhart/don-t-live-in-the-past-there-s-no-point-you-can-t-change-anything/) [Bob Newhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-newhart/) > [“Sometimes you hit a point where you either change or self destruct.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-stevens/sometimes-you-hit-a-point-where-you-either-change-or-self-destruct/) Sam Stevens > [Singularity is the point at which "all the change in the last million years will be superseded by the change in the next five…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-kelly/singularity-is-the-point-at-which-all-the-change-in-the-last-million/) [Kevin Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-kelly/) > [The Day you change your mind it will change your life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stankyrich/the-day-you-change-your-mind-it-will-change-your-life/) Stankyrich > [Don't be afraid to take an unfamiliar path, sometimes they're the ones that take you to the best places. Sometimes it's the smallest decisions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keren-zhims/don-t-be-afraid-to-take-an-unfamiliar-path-sometimes-they-re-the-ones/) [Keren Zhims](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keren-zhims/) > [“Then he asked me if I wasn’t interested in a change of life. I said that people never change their lives, that in any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-camus/then-he-asked-me-if-i-wasn-t-interested-in-a-change-of-life-i-said/) [Albert Camus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-camus/) > [If you don't change your life; your life will change you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-you-don-t-change-your-life-your-life-will-change-you/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“That story you're scared to share --- that story has the power to change both your life and the lives of others.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jo-ann-fore/that-story-you-re-scared-to-share-that-story-has-the-power-to-change/) [Jo Ann Fore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jo-ann-fore/) > [“Amazing how a small choice can change your life forever.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-c-dockens/amazing-how-a-small-choice-can-change-your-life-forever/) Randy C. Dockens ## More by Barbara Deming > [Nonviolent tactics can move into action on our behalf men not naturally inclined to act for us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-deming/nonviolent-tactics-can-move-into-action-on-our-behalf-men-not/) [Barbara Deming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-deming/) > [Our own pulse beats in every stranger's throat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-deming/our-own-pulse-beats-in-every-stranger-s-throat/) [Barbara Deming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-deming/) > [To resort to power one need not be violent, and to speak to conscience one need not be meek. The most effective action both…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-deming/to-resort-to-power-one-need-not-be-violent-and-to-speak-to-conscience/) [Barbara Deming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-deming/) > [I think the only choice that will enable us to hold to our vision. . . is one that abandons the concept of naming…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-deming/i-think-the-only-choice-that-will-enable-us-to-hold-to-our-vision-is/) [Barbara Deming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-deming/) > [Nonviolent action does not have to get others to be nice. It can in effect force them to consult their consciences.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-deming/nonviolent-action-does-not-have-to-get-others-to-be-nice-it-can-in/) [Barbara Deming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-deming/) > [Think first of the action that is right to take, think later about coping with one's fears.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-deming/think-first-of-the-action-that-is-right-to-take-think-later-about/) [Barbara Deming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-deming/) > [Surely all of us are nerved by one another, catch courage from one another.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-deming/surely-all-of-us-are-nerved-by-one-another-catch-courage-from-one/) [Barbara Deming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-deming/) > [We cannot live without our lives](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-deming/we-cannot-live-without-our-lives/) [Barbara Deming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-deming/) > [Let me be really here, here in this place and this time where I am.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-deming/let-me-be-really-here-here-in-this-place-and-this-time-where-i-am/) [Barbara Deming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-deming/) > [The injunction that we should love our neighbors as ourselves means to us equally that we should love ourselves as we love our neighbors.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-deming/the-injunction-that-we-should-love-our-neighbors-as-ourselves-means/) [Barbara Deming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-deming/) > [Vengeance is not the point: change is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-deming/vengeance-is-not-the-point-change-is/) [Barbara Deming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-deming/) > [A liberation movement that is nonviolent sets the oppressor free as well as the oppressed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-deming/a-liberation-movement-that-is-nonviolent-sets-the-oppressor-free-as/) [Barbara Deming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-deming/) > [People may find it more comfortable to listen to us if we equivocate, but in the long run only words that discomfort them are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-deming/people-may-find-it-more-comfortable-to-listen-to-us-if-we-equivocate/) [Barbara Deming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-deming/) > [Our task, of course, is to transmute the anger that is affliction into the anger that is determination to bring about change. I think,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-deming/our-task-of-course-is-to-transmute-the-anger-that-is-affliction-into/) [Barbara Deming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-deming/) > [Punishment cannot heal spirits, can only break them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-deming/punishment-cannot-heal-spirits-can-only-break-them/) [Barbara Deming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-deming/) [Explore all 45 Barbara Deming quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-deming/) ## More Change quotes > [Only within yourself exists the other reality for which you long. I can give you nothing that has not already its being within yourself.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hermann-hesse/only-within-yourself-exists-the-other-reality-for-which-you-long-i/) [Hermann Hesse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hermann-hesse/) > [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/) > [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 > [Nobody can tell me that no changes are necessary in Washington.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-weld/nobody-can-tell-me-that-no-changes-are-necessary-in-washington/) [William Weld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-weld/) > [If my campaign is not in the debate, we will not be talking about how we really fix this problem of endless and expanding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-stein/if-my-campaign-is-not-in-the-debate-we-will-not-be-talking-about-how/) [Jill Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-stein/) > [When you walk down the street of Kabul your values for life changes, they do change.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marco-pierre-white/when-you-walk-down-the-street-of-kabul-your-values-for-life-changes/) [Marco Pierre White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marco-pierre-white/) > [Your world will change whether or not you choose to change, but you have the power to choose it's direction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/your-world-will-change-whether-or-not-you-choose-to-change-but-you/) [Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/) > [I hope I continue to evolve.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-flair/i-hope-i-continue-to-evolve/) [Charlotte Flair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-flair/) > [“Stay focused on bringing people together and more on positive messaging so that you can be the change you wish to see in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/germany-kent/stay-focused-on-bringing-people-together-and-more-on-positive/) [Germany Kent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/germany-kent/) > [The biggest change for me as a mom was realizing I needed to put someone else before me. Now the hardest part about the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-alexis/the-biggest-change-for-me-as-a-mom-was-realizing-i-needed-to-put/) [Kim Alexis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-alexis/) > [“After the funeral, my life changed. I felt as if time were suddenly precious, water going down an open drain, and I could not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-albom/after-the-funeral-my-life-changed-i-felt-as-if-time-were-suddenly/) [Mitch Albom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-albom/) > [You practice mindfulness, on the one hand, to be calm and peaceful. On the other hand, as you practice mindfulness and live a life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-practice-mindfulness-on-the-one-hand-to-be-calm-and-peaceful-on/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Irish research will contribute to global progress and have the potential to help all countries realise the potential of their land sectors in addressing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/enda-kenny/irish-research-will-contribute-to-global-progress-and-have-the/) [Enda Kenny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/enda-kenny/) > [No man can change himself into anything from sheer reason; he can only change into what he potentially is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-jung/no-man-can-change-himself-into-anything-from-sheer-reason-he-can-only/) [Carl Jung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-jung/) [Browse all 33,920 Change quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/change/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The point is to change one's life. 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