--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: What distracts us will begin to define…" description: "\"What distracts us will begin to define us. We don't need to swing at every pitch.\" — Bob Goff" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/592/bob-goff-1182_baseball_what-distracts-us-will-begin-to-define-u_1590267.png" --- # What distracts us will begin to define us. We don't need… ![“What distracts us will begin to define us. We don't need to swing at every pitch.” quote by Bob Goff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/592/bob-goff-1182_baseball_what-distracts-us-will-begin-to-define-u_1590267.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/592/bob-goff-1182_baseball_what-distracts-us-will-begin-to-define-u_1590267.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/592/bob-goff-1182_baseball_what-distracts-us-will-begin-to-define-u_1590267.png) > “What distracts us will begin to define us. We don't need to swing at every pitch.” [Bob Goff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-goff/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. We become defined by what captures our attention; constant distraction shapes identity. **In simple terms:** Distractions shape who we become. Key Takeaway Limit distractions to shape yourself. Themes focus identity attention habits Mood reflective thoughtful Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - work - social media - personal growth - decision making Key Concepts psychology behavioral economics Questions to Reflect On - What distractions are shaping your life? - How can you turn necessary distraction into focus? A Different Perspective Distractions can also bring necessary breaks and creativity. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Baseball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/baseball/) [Distracts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/distracts-257409/) [Distracts Begin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/distracts-begin-6025733/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Need Swing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/need-swing-2347598/) [Needs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/needs/) [Pitch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pitch/) [Swing Pitch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/swing-pitch-1858210/) [Swings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/swings/) ## Related quotes > [You can watch videos and hit off the tee, stuff like that, but at the same time, it's you against the pitcher. I just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nelson-cruz/you-can-watch-videos-and-hit-off-the-tee-stuff-like-that-but-at-the/) [Nelson Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nelson-cruz/) > [You don't swing at any pitch. You swing at the ones you can hit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-lyga/you-don-t-swing-at-any-pitch-you-swing-at-the-ones-you-can-hit/) [Barry Lyga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-lyga/) > [As Graham, Dodd and Buffett have all said, you should always remember that you don't have to swing at every pitch. You can wait…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-klarman/as-graham-dodd-and-buffett-have-all-said-you-should-always-remember/) [Seth Klarman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-klarman/) > [There's a bunch of different ways to play the game of golf. You don't need to play it one way. It doesn't need to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryson-dechambeau/there-s-a-bunch-of-different-ways-to-play-the-game-of-golf-you-don-t/) [Bryson DeChambeau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryson-dechambeau/) > [What's nice about investing is you don't have to swing at every pitch.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-buffett/what-s-nice-about-investing-is-you-don-t-have-to-swing-at-every-pitch/) [Warren Buffett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-buffett/) > [The stock market is a no-called-strike game. You don’t have to swing at everything – you can wait for your pitch.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-buffett/the-stock-market-is-a-no-called-strike-game-you-don-t-have-to-swing/) [Warren Buffett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-buffett/) > [Failure is just part of the process, and it's not just okay; it's better than okay. God doesn't want failure to shut us down.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-goff/failure-is-just-part-of-the-process-and-it-s-not-just-okay-it-s/) [Bob Goff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-goff/) > [The body distracts your soul.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-adamson/the-body-distracts-your-soul/) [Peter Adamson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-adamson/) > [“It is often the case that matters less important but more pressing distracts us from the things that press less upon us but are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/galen-beckett/it-is-often-the-case-that-matters-less-important-but-more-pressing/) [Galen Beckett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/galen-beckett/) > [“The scrutiny on our bodies distracts us from what's really going on here: control. The emphasis on our appearance distracts us from the real…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alok-vaid-menon/the-scrutiny-on-our-bodies-distracts-us-from-what-s-really-going-on/) [Alok Vaid-Menon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alok-vaid-menon/) > [I think Trump has made it really hard for people to read, period. He's made it hard for me anyway. Part of his evil…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-raymond/i-think-trump-has-made-it-really-hard-for-people-to-read-period-he-s/) [Jonathan Raymond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-raymond/) > [I never look back, darling. It distracts from the now.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-never-look-back-darling-it-distracts-from-the-now/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I rarely listen to music while writing. I wish I could, but it distracts me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-roach/i-rarely-listen-to-music-while-writing-i-wish-i-could-but-it/) [Mary Roach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-roach/) > [Outside the classroom, the use of mobile phones distracts from healthy exercise and good old-fashioned play.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gavin-williamson/outside-the-classroom-the-use-of-mobile-phones-distracts-from-healthy/) [Gavin Williamson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gavin-williamson/) > [To add to truth distracts from it,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-toth/to-add-to-truth-distracts-from-it/) [Alex Toth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-toth/) ## More by Bob Goff > [I used to think I could shape the circumstances around me, but now I know Jesus uses circumstances to shape me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-goff/i-used-to-think-i-could-shape-the-circumstances-around-me-but-now-i/) [Bob Goff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-goff/) > [Next to grace, I bet God thinks making us need each other was one of His best ideas.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-goff/next-to-grace-i-bet-god-thinks-making-us-need-each-other-was-one-of/) [Bob Goff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-goff/) > [The battle for our hearts is fought on the pages of our calendar.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-goff/the-battle-for-our-hearts-is-fought-on-the-pages-of-our-calendar/) [Bob Goff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-goff/) > [If we pick recognition over influence we'll be known for all the wrong stuff.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-goff/if-we-pick-recognition-over-influence-we-ll-be-known-for-all-the/) [Bob Goff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-goff/) > [“As I sit on my island, it becomes clears that we need to stop plotting the course and instead just land the plane on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-goff/as-i-sit-on-my-island-it-becomes-clears-that-we-need-to-stop-plotting/) [Bob Goff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-goff/) > [“You become like the people you hang around, and to a great degree, you end up going wherever they’re headed.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-goff/you-become-like-the-people-you-hang-around-and-to-a-great-degree-you/) [Bob Goff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-goff/) > [The way we love people we disagree with is the best evidence of what we really believe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-goff/the-way-we-love-people-we-disagree-with-is-the-best-evidence-of-what/) [Bob Goff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-goff/) > [No book is a chapter, no chapter tells the whole story, no mistake defines who we are. Hope makes our lives page turners.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-goff/no-book-is-a-chapter-no-chapter-tells-the-whole-story-no-mistake/) [Bob Goff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-goff/) > [Every time we see people as ordinary, we turn the wine back into water.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-goff/every-time-we-see-people-as-ordinary-we-turn-the-wine-back-into-water/) [Bob Goff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-goff/) > [Faith isn't figuring out what we're able to do, it's deciding what we're going to do - even when we think we can't.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-goff/faith-isn-t-figuring-out-what-we-re-able-to-do-it-s-deciding-what-we/) [Bob Goff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-goff/) > [I'm trying to surround myself during my life with the eight people I'd surround my bed with on my death.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-goff/i-m-trying-to-surround-myself-during-my-life-with-the-eight-people-i/) [Bob Goff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-goff/) > [Most of our decisions are driven by either love or fear. Figure out who's doing the talking, then decide what you'll do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-goff/most-of-our-decisions-are-driven-by-either-love-or-fear-figure-out/) [Bob Goff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-goff/) > [Jesus lets us be real with our life and our faith.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-goff/jesus-lets-us-be-real-with-our-life-and-our-faith/) [Bob Goff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-goff/) > [I used to think being loved was the greatest thing to think about, but now I know love is never satisfied just thinking about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-goff/i-used-to-think-being-loved-was-the-greatest-thing-to-think-about-but/) [Bob Goff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-goff/) > [Don't let uncertainty talk you into pursuing a backup plan instead of your purpose.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-goff/don-t-let-uncertainty-talk-you-into-pursuing-a-backup-plan-instead-of/) [Bob Goff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-goff/) [Explore all 277 Bob Goff quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-goff/) ## More Baseball quotes > [I'd always have grease in at least two places, in case the umpires would ask me to wipe one off. I never wanted to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gaylord-perry/i-d-always-have-grease-in-at-least-two-places-in-case-the-umpires/) [Gaylord Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gaylord-perry/) > [When you're in the middle of a pennant race, you can't go up there thinking about home runs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sammy-sosa/when-you-re-in-the-middle-of-a-pennant-race-you-can-t-go-up-there/) [Sammy Sosa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sammy-sosa/) > [Thinking about the things that happened, I don't know any other ball player would could have done what he (Jackie Robinson) did. To be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pee-wee-reese/thinking-about-the-things-that-happened-i-don-t-know-any-other-ball/) [Pee Wee Reese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pee-wee-reese/) > [Spring training means flowers, people coming outdoors, sunshine, optimism and baseball. Spring training is a time to think about being young again.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernie-banks/spring-training-means-flowers-people-coming-outdoors-sunshine/) [Ernie Banks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernie-banks/) > [Pitchers pitch differently. Hitters, hardly anyone has the same stance. That's just how it is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-zimmerman/pitchers-pitch-differently-hitters-hardly-anyone-has-the-same-stance/) [Ryan Zimmerman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-zimmerman/) > [Five World Series rings, 3000-plus hits, the fame, the fortune and playing for the second most historic franchise in baseball... These are just some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mookie-betts/five-world-series-rings-3000-plus-hits-the-fame-the-fortune-and/) [Mookie Betts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mookie-betts/) > [I don't want the electronic strike zone. I like the element of sometimes pitches don't get called. Guys don't receive it well or whatever…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kyle-schwarber/i-don-t-want-the-electronic-strike-zone-i-like-the-element-of/) [Kyle Schwarber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kyle-schwarber/) > [I sang the National Anthem at Dodger Stadium - at a baseball game - which was crazy; there was, like, 60,000 people there, which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-devine/i-sang-the-national-anthem-at-dodger-stadium-at-a-baseball-game-which/) [Adam DeVine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-devine/) > [If I was going to make one rule change, I would bring the DH to the National League.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-brett/if-i-was-going-to-make-one-rule-change-i-would-bring-the-dh-to-the/) [George Brett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-brett/) > [In all honesty, once you become a professional, number one, you're no longer a fan. I don't root for the Dodgers, really. I just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vin-scully/in-all-honesty-once-you-become-a-professional-number-one-you-re-no/) [Vin Scully](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vin-scully/) > [I'll tell you what's helped me my entire life. I look at baseball as a game. It's something where people can go out, enjoy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-caray/i-ll-tell-you-what-s-helped-me-my-entire-life-i-look-at-baseball-as-a/) [Harry Caray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-caray/) > [When I step into the batters box. The fans, the noise, the cheers, they all disappear. For that moment, the world is just a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-wollstonecraft-shelley/when-i-step-into-the-batters-box-the-fans-the-noise-the-cheers-they/) [Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-wollstonecraft-shelley/) > [What we should have done is kept the same team that played in the '95 World Series. Those trades (Eddie Murray & Carlos Baerga)…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-belle/what-we-should-have-done-is-kept-the-same-team-that-played-in-the-95/) [Albert Belle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-belle/) > [“I can buy baseball cards to view an entire career on the back of a little square of cardboard. But nobody sells major league…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ortberg-jr/i-can-buy-baseball-cards-to-view-an-entire-career-on-the-back-of-a/) [John Ortberg Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ortberg-jr/) > [The wind always seems to blow against catchers when they are running.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-garagiola/the-wind-always-seems-to-blow-against-catchers-when-they-are-running/) [Joe Garagiola](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-garagiola/) [Browse all 7,461 Baseball quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/baseball/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "What distracts us will begin to define us. 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